8 worst foods to keep in the refrigerator | The State
The worst foods you can store in the refrigerator are not exactly those that take more or less time to decompose. You can have several refrigerated foods that you would think are good for you, but are actually not.
Here are at least 8 popular foods that are the worst thing in your fridge.
1. Flavored yogurt
While yogurt is very nutritious and can be very healthy, not all yogurt is a good choice. Many flavored yogurts, “even those made with real fruit, can look more like junk food in disguise,” notes the Cleveland Clinic.
Some flavored yogurts contain more sugar in a single serving than the recommended amount to consume throughout the day. The American Heart Association suggests a maximum of 6 teaspoons (24 grams of sugar) added per day for women and 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men.
Are sugar-free flavors just as bad? Artificial sweeteners may not be healthier than real sugar. And eating super sweet artificial sweeteners can make you crave more sweet things.
2. Processed meat
Sausages, salami, mortadella, pepperoni, and ham are examples of processed meats that can seriously affect your health. It favors obesity, increases blood pressure, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 42% according to Harvard researchers, it also increases the risk of diabetes and is considered carcinogenic.
The World Health Organization points out that processed meat increases the risk of colon cancer, “50 grams of processed meat consumed per day increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.”
3. Mayonnaise and salad dressings
Most store-bought mayonnaise is primarily saturated fat. As a result, it’s high in calories, so it’s easy for calories and fat to add up quickly when you’re not paying attention to portion sizes. You can pack 360 calories and 40 grams of fat in a 1/4-cup serving.
Dressings like ranch, in addition to unhealthy fats, also tend to add a lot of sodium to your salad. High sodium intake raises blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
4. Sugary drinks
Soft drinks, fruit juice, lemonade, as well as sports and energy drinks sweetened with added sugar and sweeteners, are among the sugary drinks that add calories and health problems.
Routine consumption of these beverages can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. Plus an increased risk of premature death, notes the Harvard Nutrition Source.
5. Alcohol
Alcohol consumption not only adds calories, it affects your immune system. Alcohol, when consumed frequently and without moderation, can cause heart disease, affect your memory, liver disease, including cirrhosis and fatty liver disease, and increase the risk of certain types of cancer.
6. Butter or margarine
Butter is on the list of foods to use in moderation, mainly because it is high in saturated fat. Margarines don’t turn out to be much better than butter. Some margarines are low in saturated fat and free of trans fat, but high in calories.
Better alternatives to include olive oil and other vegetable oil-based spreads with healthy fats.
7. Frozen French Fries
Potatoes are a food that raises your blood glucose quickly. In the long term, diets rich in potatoes and foods high in carbohydrates and similarly fast-digesting can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Frozen fries are an even worse version. According to WebMD, a single small serving (3 ounces) contains 8 to 11 grams of total fat, about 3 grams of saturated fat, 390 to 540 milligrams of sodium, and about 160 to 190 calories.
8. Ice cream
Most ice creams are high in calories and added sugar, while low in nutrients. Although low-fat and no-added sugar options are commonly marketed as healthier, they are still calorie-dense and can contain various sweeteners.
How many of these foods high in unhealthy fats, sugar and salt do you have in your refrigerator?
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