When it comes to losing weight, you would readily find so much help and appropriate food choices all over as it has become completely fashionable to lose weight. We often fix our sight on the “Dos” in this area but tend to skip over the “Don’ts”. Identifying foods that would make you gain weight are just as important and highly influential to your overall health as those necessary for weight loss.
Over the years, there have been instructions on what kinds of foods we should be eating, but few of today’s modern meals adhere to this guidelines. Here’s a list of some foods most likely to make you gain weight:
- Soft drinks
Added sugars have no place in your body’s makeup, so it should be no surprise that sugary soft drinks will make you gain weight. In fact, a can of soda has no nutritional value at all. According to Health line, calories derived from sugar do not make you feel full. Therefore, your body absorbs additional empty calories, but still wants more and hungers for vital nutrients. Meanwhile, high levels of sugar can lead to serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and liver disease.
- Pizza
A staple of the Standard American Diet that has found its way into the Nigerian diet, pizza is now available on most streets in just about every town throughout the country. Pizza may contain a few vegetables, but the other ingredients have little nutritional value. Plus, most pizzas from fast-food restaurants are very high in calories, which contribute to weight gain.
- Whole milk and Yogurt
Not only do dairy products contribute to systemic inflammation, but they are also high in fat. Health Magazine reported that a single serving of plain yogurt with fruit contains approximately 150 calories and 26 grams of sugar. Reducing dairy and other animal products from your diet can help you maintain a healthy weight.
- Bread
White bread is made from refined wheat that causes your body’s blood glucose levels to spike after consumption. The gluten contained in bread can also trigger various immunodeficiency diseases such as celiac disease, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis in sensitive persons. Though whole-grain breads are often advertised as healthy, they are really only healthy in relation to white bread. According to Health line, whole grain breads also cause blood glucose levels to spike. The fiber and nutrient benefits do not outweigh this concern. The nutrients found in whole-grain bread can be easily obtained from other natural foods.
- Processed Fruit juice
Most fruit juices found on grocery store shelves have only a little more nutritional value than a soft drink. In fact, many juices contain just as much added sugar as cola. This is why it is important to read up the nutritional information on these store-bought food products. Even 100 percent fruit juices don’t contain enough nutrients to offset their sugar content as they are usually filled with concentrates and hard-to-pronounce preservatives. Consider replacing your daily glass of such fruit juices with a freshly prepared, raw fruit juice.
- Salad dressing
As with fruit juice, commercial salad dressings contain a lot more sugar than you might imagine. Adding these to a healthy leafy salad is akin to pouring sugar on your vegetable plate. Consider ditching store-bought dressing and make your own. A simple one-to-one ratio of olive oil and balsamic vinegar tastes great and is much less likely to contribute to weight gain.
- Red meat
Red meat tends to be fatty as it consist more of low density cholesterol and its protein contributes to inflammation. Chronic inflammation can make you feel fatigued and may make chronic conditions worse. Red meat should be reduced to the barest minimum. You can always get your protein from raw seeds and nuts instead.
Lastly, all healthy foods can also make you gain weight if eaten in excess and even a ‘good’ food can destroy if consumed way out of proportion. It is important to always remember that moderation is vital not only when it comes to losing weight but also, in living a healthy lifestyle. If you are ready to take that life-changing step towards a transformed healthy lifestyle, contact us or reach out to us in the comments below. Let us help you live and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Enjoy!