The worst foods you could possibly eat

By KIMBERLEY HIBBERT

EVERYONE deserves occasional indulgence, but if you want to avoid damaging your skin, body and waistline, you’ll have to steer clear of certain foods.

Dr Alfred Dawes, laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon, explained that while you may hit out on foods high in fat content, there are others that you may include in your daily diet that do more harm than good.

Nutritionist Donovan Grant said the worst foods you can consume have to be taken into context, but in general they are foods packed with sugars and carbohydrates, which essentially cause the teeth to rot, make the body acidic and cause weight gain.

Here are a few:

Sodas

“Our favourite fizzy drink must top the list as it is loaded with sugars. Very few people drink the serving size shown on the bottle and end up consuming the entire 240 calories or more in one go,” Dr Dawes said. He added that consuming soda with meal can take you up to 1,000 calories “simply because of what you drank with it”. Dr Dawes said simple sugars cause a rapid increase in your blood sugar levels and the body quickly releases insulin that stores that excess sugar as fat.

Bread

Though a common feature of many of our diets, Dr Dawes explained that bread is not a good addition to our diets.

“Even if wholewheat is written on the side of the package, it is still not as good for you as you think. The wheat used to make bread has been genetically modified so much that it would be unrecognisable by the first farmers. This “Frankenwheat” contains high levels of simple sugars and proteins such as gluten which trigger allergies and inflammation throughout the body,” Dr Dawes said.

Milk

Growing up, we were fed this to build our bones, teeth, and make us ‘strong’, but according to the laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon, the reverse often happens.

“There is a reason no other adult mammal drinks milk. It is full of calories that are supposed to make the young grow rapidly. As adults the only thing that will grow rapidly is your waist,” Dr Dawes said.

“The excellent source of calcium we were taught was so good for us may not be so healthy as new research as shown that the high consumption of milk may be associated with weaker bones. There has even been controversy as to whether low fat milk is worse that full cream milk. The verdict: find something else for your cereal,” he said.

Patties

According to Dr Dawes, the real national dish of Jamaica does more harm than good, though it tastes great.

“Patties as they are made now are filled with fillers and less meat. The fat in the filler and crust give patties a whopping 350 to 400 calories. Eat two and wash them down with a soda and you have set yourself the goal of running about eight miles to burn it off,” Dr Dawes explained.

Sugary cereals

Cereals are supposed to be healthy, right? Not really. Dr Dawes explained that manufacturers load their cereals with refined sugars in order to make it not taste like cardboard.

“This increases the amount of calories you are consuming and may explain why your diet is not working. It is better to cut up some fruit with your non-sugary cereal,” he said.

Fast food

Many times people who lead busy lives can’t find the time to cook. However, Dr Dawes explained that where fast foods are concerned, the nutritional value is very poor.

“These are generally poor in essential nutrients and high in calories; some value meals may have as much as 1,400 calories especially when you supersize them,” he said.

Dr Dawes explained that though fast-food joints might sell salads, no one truly purchases them.

“Very few people go to fast-food joints to have a salad and leave with one. The major industry players will tell you that the healthy foods they sell are the worst performing items on their menus. It is best to just not go there at all,” Dr Dawes said.

Processed baked goods

Donuts, muffins and dessert cakes are hard to resist, but regular indulgence in these are akin to sitting in the devil’s lair.

“These contain tons of calories and add loads of unwanted sugar to your diet, plus they aren’t easy to digest. Sugar increases inflammation in the skin, which on top of irritating acne and rosacea, can make you look puffy and bloated. Skip the wrapped stuff and grab fresh fruit for a sweet fix instead,” Dr Dawes said

Frosting

When placed on cakes it may taste superb, but it’s death in a bottle. Dr Dawes explained that these are loaded with trans-fat that increases bad cholesterol, lowers good cholesterol, and causes inflammation, which can lead to belly fat and diseases ranging from heart disease to diabetes.