We all have our comfort go-tos—pizza, fries, chocolate cake, you name it. But here’s the catch: they can also stress your body in ways you don’t feel immediately. Here are 10 classic comfort foods and what they really do behind the scenes.
10. Instant Ramen
Let’s be honest…slurping ramen is cozy and fast. But those instant packs are loaded with refined noodles and sodium-heavy seasoning. This can stress your cardiovascular system and cause water retention, and later on, feeling heavy than usual. A simple upgrade? Use only part of the flavor packet, then add frozen veggies, egg, or lean protein.
9. Sugary Coffee Drinks
A frappe or sweet latte can feel like a daily pick-me-up, but many options are actually sweeter than a soda. That sugar spike, when combined with caffeine, may trigger rapid heart rate, jitters, and later on…fatigue. The quick lift is real, but the crash afterward can leave you feeling anxious or drained.
8. Grilled Cheese
That golden, gooey grilled cheese screams nostalgia in every bite. However, if it’s made with processed cheese and white bread, it can also raise your blood pressure and spike blood sugar. A more balanced version uses whole-grain bread with mozzarella, plus extras like tomato or spinach.
7. Mashed Potatoes
The comfort is real from eating mashed potatoes but it’s made with cream, butter, and refined potatoes, all of which can raise blood sugar. These ingredients digest quickly and can leave you drowsy. A tip? Use olive oil instead of heavy cream to keep your mashed potato lighter.
6. Chocolate Cake
We get it: chocolate cake feels soothing and celebratory, but it’s usually loaded with refined flour and sugar. This combo also spikes blood sugar, followed by a crash that can affect your energy and mood. And guess what? That dip may leave you more stressed than before. A softer alternative would be homemade dark chocolate brownies made with almond or whole-grain flour.
5. French Fries
White potato fries fried in oil are also known to spike blood sugar quickly. The frying also adds oxidized fats, which increases inflammation in the body. While the salty crunch is comforting, the rapid rise and fall in blood sugar can leave you irritable.
4. Fried Chicken
And since we’re already talking about something fried, this list won’t be complete without the deeply comforting fried chicken. Deep-frying chicken adds trans fat and high sodium, which may promote inflammation and raise cardiovascular strain. For a lighter comfort food, air-fry chicken with a seasoned whole-grain coating.
3. Mac and Cheese
Ah, the creamy, gooey mac and cheese…who wouldn’t enjoy this? The thing is it’s often loaded with refined pasta, butter, and processed cheese. The combo tends to spike blood sugar and add saturated fats, which can stress digestion and increase inflammation. A better alternative would be to swap in lentil or whole-grain pasta with a simple cheese sauce (made with milk and sharp cheddar cheese).
2. Pizza
Everyone agrees that pizza is like a warm hug in food form. But we can’t ignore the fact that it’s made with refined flour crusts, processed meats, and heavy cheese. These very ingredients make the pizza high in saturated fats and sodium, stressing the heart and raising inflammation. You don’t have to give up pizza, though. Just enjoying occasionally and balancing with lighter meals can help.
1. Ice Cream
Of course, on the top spot is the easy go-to when you need comfort. Ice cream is cold, creamy, and nostalgic, but it can also be high in sugar and saturated fat. Emotionally, the sugar rush feels good, but the crash later can bring mood dips. Want a gentler option? Try blended frozen banana with a splash of milk or dark chocolate.