The Dirty Dozen - 12 Foods to Avoid

By Johncoc Hermsin

Modern day diets are woefully short on healthy ingredients like fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. We live in a fast paced society that values instant gratification, so it comes as no surprise that we favor fast food and our bodies pay the price. It is very important to create a diet that is both balanced and varied. Indulging in the occasional sinful treat is not going to ruin your health, but making wise food choices can substantially improve your nutrition. If you need to evaluate your daily nutrition, try cutting these 12 foods out of your diet altogether. To lose fat and build muscle you must avoid these 12 foods and remove them from your diet completely.

Deep fried fats and oils: Fats and oils heated to a high temperature raise bad cholesterol levels and are linked to cancer.

White flour: When wheat is stripped of its bran and germ, nearly all the nutrients are lost. The end result is a product that needs enrichment in order to market. Refined white flour products are also associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Sugar: Everyone knows that the calories in sugar will make you gain weight, but many people are unaware that the fructose component in refined sugar will also raise your cholesterol.

Canned soups: Canned soups are flavorful, plentiful and affordable, but many are also loaded down with salt, fat and calories, especially the cream varieties.

Donuts: The pink-frosted orb of delectable goodness offers nothing in the way of nutrition.

Energy drinks: If you need a quick pick-up from one of the many popular energy drinks, be aware that you are also getting high amounts of sugar, caffeine and carbohydrates.

French fries: Extremely high in trans fat, calories, salt and the carcinogen acrylamide, French fires are also responsible for rapidly raising your insulin levels due to the simple sugars found in potatoes.

Granola Bars: Granola may have started out as a health food, but it has evolved into something much worse. The granola bars you find in the supermarket rival candy bars in respect to fat, calorie, and sugar content.

Dried Fruit: You may have munched on it during a hike, or packed it in your lunch, but you might want to forget it altogether. Dried fruit is often coated with sugar and is loaded with additives and preservatives.

Margarine: Once though of as a healthy alternative to butter, the trans fat in margarine is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

Sodas: Sodas and colas are packed with tons of sugar and caffeine. Even diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners that may lead to long-term, unpleasant side effects.

Hot Dogs: Hot dogs are essentially highly processed meat byproducts loaded with unhealthy additives, sodium, fat and calories. - 30414

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