Not only talking about junk food, a wide variety of foods are unhealthy , especially if consumed in excess, in fact, even nutritional foods can be harmful if overused.
It is important to know what factors influence the excess of these foods and what components should be moderated, so we present below a list of 12 unhealthy foods , which you should avoid in excess.
What are unhealthy foods?
There are many foods with which different dishes are prepared, that includes snacks and drinks, regardless of whether it is breakfast, lunch or even a simple dinner, so what are the foods that are really unhealthy? .
Here we present them to you:
1. Fried foods
It is the food group preferred by many, it is a great nutritional pleasure, however the abuse of fried foods can be harmful , therefore it is not considered healthy if it is part of a strict daily diet.
Why? Firstly, excess frying favors obesity (overweight) due to the large accumulation of fat, this includes cardiovascular diseases (such as hyperlipidemia) thanks to the increase in cholesterol and triglycerides.
Note: A healthy fried food also depends on the quality of the oil, as mentioned by a study: “Olive Pomace Oil presents a much better behavior in frying than sunflower oils” . (1)
2. Soft drinks
Also known as soft drinks, they have always been classified as unhealthy drinks, for various reasons. Currently , sodas are divided into two ways : with sugar (high in sugar and caffeine content) and without sugar (with higher levels of sodium).
The problem comes from both sides, one in which excess sugar can cause conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, related to cardiovascular diseases that can be caused by excess sodium in soft drinks.
Important: Soft drinks have so many effects, that an analysis highlights the following: ” The World Health Organization has developed guidelines on the consumption of free sugary drinks based on their effects on weight gain and dental caries” . (two)
3. Junk food
It is usually the one that is obtained in street stalls (fast food), but they are also called that because of their ingredients, where we find mixtures of heavy seasonings , saturated fats, a lot of sodium or, failing that, sugar, sometimes they are reused ingredients. Being the least healthy foods in the diet.
You should know: Junk food can cause cardiovascular conditions, kidney or gastrointestinal problems (such as constipation), not to mention that it increases the development of LDL cholesterol and develops a greater presence of fat in the blood. It is necessary to opt for healthy foods and of natural origin.
4. Box cereals
Not all cereals are usually 100% healthy as promised, they contain a large number of synthetic ingredients where sodium, starch and sometimes a high level of sugar or dyes can be highlighted, with a low content of vitamin C, various vitamins or minerals.
Seeing that box cereals are intended for children, it is necessary to know that excess of these cereals can cause the onset of diabetes , heart-related conditions or tension problems.
Important: A study mentions something very relevant: “Of 371 box cereals, 69% are unhealthy, are high in sugar and sodium, and carry dubious nutritional claims that mislead the consumer . ” (3)
5. Alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages (whether distilled or fermented) have reasons to be consumed moderately and by adults. Alcohol is a depressant component that decreases brain activity and affects self-control in general.
You should know: Excess alcoholic beverages cause diseases such as liver cirrhosis (in the liver), obstruction or bleeding in the stomach and esophagus, as well as can cause death both indirectly and directly, through fatal accidents.
6. White bread
Although bread is a very rich food and is never lacking in diets, excess white bread is harmful in the long run, especially since food industrialization, adding that white bread has glucose (increasing the feeling of hunger) .
Note: What is currently known is that the continuous consumption of white bread can cause cardiovascular conditions , especially in cases of myocardial infarction, but also promotes the development of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).
7. Sweets and industrial pastries
Industrial pastries are all the sweets that we consume from time to time, such as cookies or chocolate bars, which themselves have trans fats and a high sugar content, so their excessive consumption can be harmful.
These sweets can create a certain addiction, which increases the consumption and intake of glucose (or sugar) and sodium , especially leading to heart problems related to hypertension, as well as obesity and even diabetes.
8. Diet foods
It is fair to say that diet foods have been made (to supplement sodas, chewing gums, chocolates, etc.), but these have unreliable manufacturing methods, due to the presence of fat , higher sodium, refined carbohydrates or a lot of glucose.
You should know: Several diet foods or foods labeled “light” further favor overweight, uncontrolled glucose levels, sometimes the appearance of type 2 diabetes, a vast increase in appetite or even the development of bad cholesterol.
9. Red meat
Red meat can be harmful if it is abused (even more so than processed meat), since this type of meat has purine , a high level of cholesterol or saturated fat (depending on which part of the animal is used) and certain toxic substances from cattle.
This can lead to heart problems (heart attacks or clogged arteries), the development of LDL cholesterol , cancer, and can lead to death in the long run, not to mention obesity and arteriosclerosis.
10. Agave nectar
Sugar supplements are a topic of discussion, agave nectar (agave syrup) seeks to be a replacement for sugar consumption , but unnatural processing ruins its natural components, instead having a high level of fructose.
To highlight: Agave nectar can cause diabetes in the long run , heart disease (including hypertension), tissue inflammation (leading to arterial blockages), overweight, and serious liver problems.
11. Dressings and sauces
Digestive problems, inflammation in the stomach or in the mucous walls of the esophagus, are one of the many consequences of the consumption of sauces or heavy dressings, containers of a lot of oil, sodium, glucose or flour.
Note: Many industrialized dressings or sauces cause heartburn, slowness in the digestive process, damage and inflammation to the mucous walls of the stomach (especially hot sauces), despite the fact that some are used in green leafy salads.
12. Powdered and pasteurized juices
Finally, drinks made from powdered juice and industrialized coloring products, which have components that seek to replace sugar , are harmful to health, since they contain care elements such as sodium cyclamate or even saccharin.
In this sense, the components of these juices can alter the functioning of the intestinal flora due to the lack of fiber, as well as generate some intolerance to lactose , as well as cause overweight in a person or diabetes in the long term.
Key Findings
- Some foods become harmful to health when their consumption is excessive in the diet.
- Among the unhealthy foods are fried foods, industrialized drinks, very sugary sweets or junk food.
- They are considered unhealthy foods mainly because of the sodium content, trans fats and finally a lot of glucose.
- Several of these foods cause heart problems , gastrointestinal diseases, blood glucose disturbances, and obesity in general.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.