Unhealthy Foods That Will Do More Harm Than Good

 

Veggie Burgers Can Increase Appetite

Although it's important to find alternatives to red meat, those alternatives might not be as nutritious as expected. Veggie burgers can be made from various foods such as beans and beets and can be a great alternative to regular hamburgers.

There are some brands of veggie burgers that are highly processed and contain a lot of saturated fats, sodium, calories, and cholesterol. Ingredients in veggie burgers, such as disodium inosinate and artificial flavors, actually have the ability to increase appetite so you eat more!

Lemonade Is Almost All Sugar

Sometimes nothing beats an ice-cold cup of lemonade. This sweet drink can hit the spot, but isn't something that people should drink regularly. Most store-bought lemonade brands contain huge amounts of sugar.

Consuming high levels of sugar can lead to fatty liver disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and more. Store-bought brands usually use yellow dyes, which can lead to behavioral issues such as hyperactivity and irritability. The best thing to do is make lemonade at home so you can control the amount of sugar being added.

Granola Bars Have As Much Sugar As Candy Bars

Granola bars are usually marketed as a snack for those on an adventure or long trek. While they are a filling treat, they contain large amounts of added sugar, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and more.

The combination of these unhealthy ingredients can be detrimental to your overall health. According to Greatist, brands such as Quaker Oats and Nature Valley pack their granola bars with so much sugar that it would basically be the same as eating a king-size candy bar.

Salad Dressing Can Block Your Arteries

Salads are one of the healthiest meal options available, but it's important to be aware of the ingredients that are added. Salad dressings can turn a healthy salad into a meal filled with too many calories, sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.

According to Harvard Health, consuming too much salad dressing can spike your cholesterol and lead to blockages in the arteries. Also, many store-bought salad dressings contain huge amounts of high fructose corn syrup, which leads to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and more.

Refried Beans Are Loaded With Lard

Many forms of beans are quite healthy, including black beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans. Refried beans are a different story. These usually contain lard (animal fat) and hydrogenated oil.

These ingredients are high in saturated fats. SFGate says that just a half cup of canned refried beans contains 22 percent of the daily value for sodium. This can increase your risk for hypertension, heart disease, and can cause you to lose bone density. Those who want something similar can replace it with a low-sodium and vegetarian version.

Pizza Has All Sorts Of Negative Health Effects

About 98 percent of Americans regularly eat pizza, so it's considered to be one of the country's top foods. According to Healthline, pizza is high in calories, sugar, fat, and sodium.

Most pizzas contain highly processed ingredients and artificial preservatives. After eating pizza, it's common to crave more foods that have high saturated fats and sodium. Pizza can cause heart disease, slow metabolism, decrease your energy levels, and make the body pump too much insulin.

Cereal Is A Big Bowl Of Sugar

Breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day, so it's crucial that people consume a nutritious one. Cereal is a popular breakfast option, but it's actually one of the unhealthiest things someone could eat.

Healthline says that most cereals are packed with sugar and refined grains. This can be very harmful to your health because regularly eating this much sugar can increase your chances for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Instead, look for cereals that are high in fiber and low in sugar.

French Fries Are Filled With Saturated Fat

French fries are typically paired with a fatty entrée such as a cheeseburger or fried fish, making them one of the unhealthiest side dishes. These crispy potatoes are loaded in saturated fat, high in calories, and often have a lot of sodium.

PubMed Central did a study and found the people who regularly ate French fries gained more weight than those who didn't. Healthline suggests finding a healthier alternative with a satisfying crunch, such as baby carrots or nuts.