Foods To Avoid If You’re Dieting
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011A healthy and successful diet does not prevent you from eating any of your favorite foods, including fried chicken wings, fast foods or simple carbohydrates. It does, however, require you to limit how much of these foods you eat or how often you eat them. Limit your intake of foods linked to negative health effects and containing very few nutrients as they increase the difficulty of losing weight.
Fats:
Your body needs fats to function properly. However, foods containing a lot of fat typically contain more calories per serving than low-fat versions. The American Heart Association recommends limiting your total fat intake to less than 35 percent of your total calorie intake, your saturated fat intake to less than 7 percent of your total calorie intake and your trans fat to less than 1 percent of your total calorie intake. Avoid foods such as fast food, beef, full-fat dairy products, fried foods and most processed foods. Replace these food options with healthier choices like baked or grilled chicken, fish, fresh produce, nuts, seeds or beans.
Sodium:
Foods containing a lot of sodium contribute to high blood pressure and fluid retention. “Fluid retention may decrease your weight loss efforts or make you gain weight,” explains Dr. Michael Hall, a family physician for DuBois Regional Medical Center, in DuBois, Pennsylvania. Just because a food contains relatively few calories, it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Read nutrition labels and track your sodium intake. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans produced by the US Department of Agriculture recommend keeping your sodium intake below 1,500 mg each day if you are over age 51 or have heart disease and below 2,300 mg each day for most healthy adults. Foods high in sodium included boxed dinners, boxed crackers, chips, canned vegetables, soups and most other packaged foods. Avoid adding sodium to food by replacing table salt with fresh herbs and spices.
High-Calorie Drinks:
Drinks containing large amounts of calories, such as soda, milkshakes, energy drinks, fruit flavored drinks and sports drinks, often add empty calories to your diet. Replace these drinks with healthier and lower calorie options, such as water, water with a piece of fruit in it, water flavored with a splash of juice or low-fat milk. Avoid diet drinks sweetened with artificial sugars. Barbara M. Mendez, a nutritional consultant and registered pharmacist based in New York, New York, states, “Artificial sweeteners slow your metabolism by confusing the feedback loop consisting of your stomach, brain and hormones.” When you eat something sweet, you body expects calories. However, when it does not get calories it cannot gauge the number of calories to expect when you eat. As a result, the metabolism slows to ensure your body has enough calories to function properly.
White Grains:
Grains provide your body with carbohydrates, a form of energy your body can use easily. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that you consume mostly carbohydrates in the form of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and peas. White grains, such as those found in white pasta, white bread and white rice, have less nutrients and digest faster than foods containing 100 percent whole grains and have a high fiber content, advises Hall. Whole grains keep you feeling fuller longer decrease your chances of overeating or having sweet cravings.
A healthy diet is really about moderation and balance. No gimmicks required.
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