We all want to feel good as we get older, but some foods are so great at holding us back. They could show up in our daily meals, doing more damage than we realize as our bodies change. Of course, there’s good news: you can turn things around by avoiding these 12 worst foods that are working against your well-being. Let’s dive in!
12. Pasta
Pasta has a high a score on the glycemic index level, similar to other refined carbs like bagels, pretzels, and cereals. This means pasta can cause rapid spikes in your blood sugar levels, which is especially concerning if you’re at risk or already living with diabetes. Elevated blood sugar levels is also linked to other long-term health issues like nerve damage and heart disease.
11. Grapefruit
Although nutritious, grapefruit doesn’t interact well with certain medications. This means it could increase the concentration of certain drugs in your bloodstream. As a result, the adverse reactions you might get from cholesterol-lowering drugs, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications could amplify. This is dangerous if you’re taking multiple medications.
10. Chips
As we age, chips aren’t the best choice for a go-to snack. Many of the chips you’ll find in the market are fried and high in sodium, a combination that sets up the stage for increased risk in heart disease. As anyone would attest, chips are also easy to overeat. You don’t want a snack like that because weight gain makes it harder to manage other chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis.
9. Fried Foods
French fries, donuts, onions rings, and fried chicken are just some of the fried foods you should be avoiding to keep your heart healthy. These fried foods are cooked in oils high in saturated fat or unhealthy trans fat, which contribute to heart disease. Fried foods also produce free radicals and cause inflammation, leading to the aging of skin (puffiness and wrinkles).
8. Store-Bought Smoothies
Many store-bought smoothies have added sugars or high-sugar fruits (pineapples, bananas, and mangoes), which basically make them sugar bombs. And you know how it goes…anything that’s too sweet could increase your blood sugar levels. This could also lead to insulin resistance, putting strain on various organs in your body. Insulin resistance has often been linked to PCOS, obesity, and diabetes.
7. Charred Meats
If you think you can swap fried meats for grilled ones, think again. Charred meats that are grilled at high temperatures contain harmful chemicals formed during the cooking process. Two compounds are highly dangerous—heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—and have been described as carcinogenic. In simpler terms, they could increase your risk of getting cancer.
6. American Cheese
Due to its processed nature, American cheese is known to have high amounts of sodium that could put you at a greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Remember, our bodies just need a small amount of sodium to function well, so too much of it could lead to adverse health effects. When you avoid American cheese, it could also be the start of forgoing fast food items for you.
5. Hot Dogs
Hot dog is another food item that’s high in sodium, along with other processed meats like salami and bacon. It’s time to say goodbye to these meats as diets with a large chunk of them have been linked to the development of diabetes, heart disease, and stomach cancer. Processed meats also contain a preservative called nitrates, which can form into highly carcinogenic nitrosamines.
4. Sugar-Free Snacks
When avoiding sugary treats, the next best options are sugar-free snacks, correct? Not quite. Because sugar-free snacks usually replace sugars with added fats or artificial ingredients. Some experts believe that artificial sugars can pose health hazards, from weight gain to cancer. Also, if the snack has high amounts of trans fat and sodium, these could cancel out any benefits of reduced sugar.
3. Low-Fat Foods
While the goal is to avoid unhealthy saturated and trans fats, you don’t have to remove all fats from your daily meals. Your body needs dietary fat (in moderation) to help with the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, and E. Good fats from fish and avocado have also been linked to improved brain health, as per recent studies.
2. Almond Milk
Older women can benefit from the calcium found in dairy products, so in this case, it may be best to avoid almond milk. Approaching menopause can cause a loss in bone mass, which makes it all the more important to get enough calcium and stay protected from health conditions like osteoporosis. Also, avoid flavored almond milk, as this is often packed with added sugars that can mess with your blood sugar levels.
1. Coffee Ice Cream
Coffee ice cream has the common ingredients you should be avoiding as you get older: saturated fat, sugar, and caffeine. We already know the effects of saturated fat and sugar, but caffeine? When consumed excessively, it can cause anxiety and increased heart rate. Older adults also tend to have difficulty staying asleep, which should be enough reason to drop the coffee ice cream. We all need that sleep to restore the body!