Eating healthy isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. Some foods that appear harmless or even nutritious can actually be making you sick. Whether it’s hidden additives, excessive sodium, or harmful preservatives, these everyday items could be secretly sabotaging your health. Here are some of those foods that might be more harmful than you think.
Deli Meats
Those tasty deli meats in your sandwich are often packed with preservatives like nitrates and nitrites, linked to an increased cancer risk. Plus, they’re sodium bombs that can lead to hypertension and other heart issues.
Canned Soup
Convenient but risky, canned soups often hide high levels of sodium and BPA in the can lining. BPA can mess with your hormones and potentially up your risk of heart disease, while all that sodium isn’t doing your blood pressure any favors.
Artificial Sweeteners
Zero-calorie sweeteners might seem like a diet win, but they can wreak havoc on your gut. Aspartame and sucralose can cause digestive issues and may disrupt the balance of your gut bacteria, leading to other health problems.
Processed Cheese
That ooey-gooey processed cheese is far from wholesome. Filled with artificial ingredients, unhealthy fats, and excessive sodium, it can contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure over time.
Microwave Popcorn
The convenience of microwave popcorn comes with a health cost. The bag lining contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), linked to cancer. Plus, the artificial butter flavor can cause lung issues when inhaled in large amounts.
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are caffeine and sugar powerhouses that spike your blood sugar and cause heart palpitations. Long-term, they can lead to dehydration, sleep disturbances, and even more serious health issues.
Non-Dairy Creamers
Your coffee’s best friend might be your health’s enemy. Non-dairy creamers are often loaded with trans fats, artificial flavors, and sweeteners, raising cholesterol levels and increasing the risk of heart disease.
Fast Food Burgers
Fast food burgers can be a minefield of unhealthy fats, high sodium, and preservatives. The questionable meat quality and cooking methods add to the mix, contributing to a range of health issues.
Instant Noodles
Quick and easy, instant noodles are a nutritional nightmare. High in sodium, MSG, and unhealthy fats, they’re also void of essential nutrients, making them a poor choice for regular meals.
Bottled Salad Dressings
That seemingly healthy salad can turn into a calorie fest with bottled dressings. They’re often loaded with sugar, artificial flavors, and preservatives, undermining your healthy eating efforts.
Frozen Dinners
While convenient, frozen dinners often pack a punch of sodium, unhealthy fats, and preservatives. They also tend to lack essential nutrients, making them a less-than-ideal choice for your diet.
Soda
Soda is more than just sugary fizz. It’s a cocktail of sugar and artificial additives that can lead to obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and dental issues with regular consumption.
Margarine
Once hailed as a healthy alternative, margarine is now known to contain trans fats. These fats raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions.
10 Secretly Dangerous Cooking Methods You Need to Stop Using
Cooking at home is supposed to be a healthy choice, but some techniques can be surprisingly harmful. Whether it’s how you heat your food or the tools you use, hidden dangers could be lurking in your kitchen. Here are a few cooking methods you might want to reconsider to keep your meals safe and healthy.
Read it Here: 10 Secretly Dangerous Cooking Methods You Need to Stop Using
11 ‘Healthy’ Cooking Oils That Are Terrible for You
We all try to make healthier choices, and cooking oils are no exception. But not all oils are as good for you as they seem. Some popular “healthy” options can actually do more harm than good. Here’s a rundown of some cooking oils that might not be as beneficial as you think. Try swapping some of these out for healthier alternatives like olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil instead.
Read it Here: 11 ‘Healthy’ Cooking Oils That Are Terrible for You
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Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
