Whether you are trying to improve your overall health and mood, or trying to lose weight, there are certain foods that weigh you down and affect your mood and energy in a negative way. These foods include some of the staples in your kitchen and you should certainly avoid them to reach your weight loss and wellness goals.
White bread
White bread is a staple in most kitchens, but it is so devoid of nutrition, white bread is not fulfilling, even after eating three slices you’d end up feeling hungry an hour later, much before your lunch time. The white flour in the bread is stripped off nutrients and fiber, therefore you should replace it with whole grain bread that has the bran and germ, as well as the endosperm of a grain that are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. White bread has too much sugar giving you a temporary insulin spike, and it can actually make you gain weight over the period of time. The addition of preservatives and additives in a white bread can also cause problems; the taste of processed bread is also not so good. Whole bread tastes like real food, plus it will help you in maintaining a healthy weight and keeping you full for longer, so you won’t be looking out for snacks before lunch time.
Fried foods
Fried foods are a number one cause of weight gain, fried foods have been linked to giving you a temporary rush and elevated mood and a crash after sometime and depressive mood swings. They are linked with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and are considered one of the major dietary causes of cardiovascular diseases. Fried foods can also cause digestive problems and cause acid reflux and gas pain, bloating and constipation. Therefore, you should not eat deep fried food even at home, whether it’s French fries, nuggets, chicken, onion rings and other fried foods. The fat from fried foods and carbohydrates just stays in your body; the fat cells once made in your body cannot be eliminated. Fried foods are inflammatory, cannot be digested easily and basically block your gut. The healthiest fried food is stirred fried veggies or eggs. The vegetable oils used in fried foods are now considered unhealthy, oils like canola, corn oil, soy and soy products are GMO products in the US that you must avoid.
White rice
Many people are skipping white rice, because just like white bread it gives you a temporary sugar spike, white rice as white bread are deprived of nutrients and don’t keep you fuller for longer. If you have to have rice as a side dish in your menu, switch over to brown rice, brown rice has more fiber, vitamins and nutrients than white rice. In a research, it has been recommended that people who eat brown rice and brown bread are less likely to develop cancer, so there is more to it than losing few pounds. The high fiber content of brown rice keeps you full for longer, so you’ll be satisfied and won’t munch on unhealthy snacks, thus keeping weight in check and having a good digestive system, better skin and better mood.
