Whether you’re trying to shed some kilos or maintain a healthy weight, the advice on what you should eat is often pretty confusing. But there’s one food group that most experts love to hate and that’s processed foods. According to several studies including one published by the UK National Institute of Health, ultra-processed foods cause excess calorie intake and weight gain.
They are no good for your health but somehow all over the aisles in our supermarkets. While we don’t mean to police your grocery cart, some processed foods are really doing no favours to your health or pocket. Here are some foods you should watch out for the next time you go grocery shopping!
Packaged breads and buns
While we love some well-buttered toast, commercial breads often contain chemicals to extend their shelf life. While they may not be actively harmful, your body doesn’t really need them either. Go for freshly baked bread or one with the least number of ingredients on the package.
Breakfast cereal
Colourful boxes of cereal are decorated with so many healthy adjectives that are basically just marketing text. The vitamins and minerals listed on the pack may sound enticing but cereals are heavily processed and often full of sugar. If you want to get the benefits of grains, eat them whole.
Instant soups
If it's soup, it must be healthy, right? Not really! Those flavour packets that can turn into a yummy soup in just a couple of minutes are full of all kinds of chemicals and preservatives. It is often hard to understand the ingredients inside these packs and they generally provide no nutritional benefits.
Ready to fry snacks
Loaded with sodium and saturated fats, ready to fry packages look bright and tasty but they can increase your risk of heart disease and obesity. From frozen nuggets to French fries, these packages take already not-so-healthy food and add a ton of empty calories on top.
Flavoured yoghurt
Fruity and colourful, flavoured yoghurt is generally just an extremely sugary version of a food that’s actually great for your gut and overall health. Stick to good ol’ plain curd and add your own flavours at home to avoid hidden calories.