Sugary Foods to Avoid
Thousands of people are diagnosed daily with illnesses and diseases that could have been prevented with a healthy diet. One of the main culprits---refined sugar--- can lead to heart attack, diabetes, obesity, stroke, tooth decay, abdominal pain, anxiety, chromium deficiency and pancreas damage. Foods containing refined sugar are stocked daily in supermarkets with no warning of the danger that sugar-saturated foods cause. However, by carefully reading labels and educating yourself about certain foods to avoid, you can stave off myriad health problems.
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Foods with White Flour
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Sugary foods made with white flour should be avoided at all costs. White flour is made from whole-wheat flour, but is stripped of all nutritional value in the refining process. Avoid pasta, cakes, pancakes, bread and pies made with white flour; these foods are associated with Type 2 diabetes, digestive problems and obesity.
Canned Fruit
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Canned fruit may seem appealing because of the nutritional value of the fruit. However, up to 20g of sugar may be added, depending on the brand. Choose fresh, whole fruit instead; the sugar in whole fruit is a natural sweetener as opposed to the refined sugar found in the syrup of canned fruit.
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Cookies and Candy
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Sugar-filled candy and cookies are empty calories that can pack as much as 100g of sugar per serving. Eating cookies and candy on a regular basis can open a Pandora's box of illnesses, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke. Substitute healthy snacks such as nuts, fruit and sugar-free desserts.
Fruit-Flavored Yogurt
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One 6 oz. cup of fruit-flavored yogurt can yield up to 31g of sugar per serving. Even though yogurt is a good source of calcium, vitamin D and potassium, the risks far outweigh the benefits. The sugar, saturated fat, and high-fructose corn syrup found in many yogurts can clog your arteries and lead to various health-related problems. Make sure to read labels carefully and choose a yogurt that has no added fruit flavoring or extra sweeteners. Substitute plain low-fat and sugar-free yogurts.
Doughnuts
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Doughnuts are packed with simple carbohydrates, white flour, trans fats and sugar. These tasty treats should be avoided indefinitely as they offer no nutritional value at all, yet contain several harmful ingredients.
Soda
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Filled with sugar and empty calories, soda offers zero health benefits. Most sugary sodas contain up to 22g of sugar and are sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. Consuming too much soda can lead to pancreatic problems, diabetes, kidney problems and obesity.
Sweetened Cereal
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Sweetened cereals, although often high in vitamins and nutrients, contain up to 22g of sugar per serving. Most sweetened cereal advertisements are aimed toward children, but alternative cereals do exist and your children can benefit from the vitamins without all the sugar. Cereals such as Kix, Life and Cheerios are good alternatives.
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