Let's face it: we all have our favorite foods that we crave on a consistent basis. If you have a sweet tooth, maybe you dream of cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, or ice cream. Or maybe you're more of a savory salt-lover who can't wait to get their hands on a bag of chips, an order of French fries, or a crispy piece of bacon. Some of our favorite treats are healthier than others, and some are downright unhealthy. In fact, some of them may be considered some of the unhealthiest foods available, and you may not even be aware.
Unfortunately, even though it's okay to treat yourself to your favorite things, it's also important to make sure you know what is actually in the foods you're eating. This is especially true in the U.S., where so many of our foods are full of added sugars, sodium, saturated and trans fat, and chemicals we don't even know to pronounce.
To help you better understand what is in the foods you love and crave all the time, and why certain ingredients may be harmful, we put together this list of the unhealthiest foods on the planet. And while you're learning more about the potential risks of these items, give yourself some good news by reading about these 21 Superfoods That Are Surprisingly High in Protein.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Mono and diglycerides
The problem with certain unhealthy coffee creamers is that some don't actually have that much cream. For example, the first three ingredients listed on Nestle's Coffee-Mate's Vanilla Bean Liquid Creamer are water, sugar, and vegetable oil. Is that what you want to add to your morning cup of joe? Coffee creamers can also have synthetic additives like mono and diglycerides. Although the FDA says that monoglycerides are safe in small amounts, many monoglycerides contain trans fat. According to the National Library of Medicine, trans fat can potentially raise cholesterol levels, as well as increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Drink this instead: If you are able to drink dairy, cow's milk is an option that can provide a nice protein boost in your morning cup of coffee. If you're wanting something with more flavor, you can also try a low-sugar, plant-based creamer like Natural Bliss Vanilla Almond Milk Creamer or a plant-based powdered creamer like Coconut Cloud Vanilla Coconut Milk Creamer.
RELATED: 8 Coffee Creamers Made With the Highest Quality Ingredients
Unhealthy Ingredient: Bleaching chemicals such as azodicarbonamide
If the ingredients label on your loaf of bread mentions bleached flour, you're very likely munching on some undesirable chemicals. Some manufacturers use an ingredient called azodicarbonamide, a plastic dough conditioner used to make bread dough fluffier. The Center for Science in the Public Interest says you should avoid it, citing evidence that azodicarbonamide breaks down into a chemical called urethane during the baking process, and this chemical is considered a carcinogen—AKA a substance that can lead to cancer.
Eat this instead: There are plenty of whole-grain and whole-wheat breads that don't include bleaching chemicals. Not only that, but they are better for you in a variety of other ways, too because many of them include sprouted or whole grains, providing you with much more fiber. For instance, try one of Dave's Killer Bread loaves or Might Manna bread.
RELATED: The Healthiest Breads To Eat for Weight Loss, According to Dietitians
Unhealthy Ingredient: Added sugars, fiber-less fruit, high-fructose corn syrup
Juice may seem like a healthy choice at first, but not all fruit juices are created equal. While things like 100% pomegranate juice offer tons of antioxidants and vitamins, as well as natural sugars, some store-bought juice brands just sell products that are more added sugar than actual fruit.
For example, Simply Cranberry Cocktail contains 29 grams of added sugar per serving, and according to their website, only 27% of this drink is made with not-from-concentrate cranberry juice. What's more, most of the sweetness in juice comes from fructose, a type of sugar associated with the development of visceral adipose tissue in overweight people—yep, that's belly fat—according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Drink this instead: Stick to 100% juice and avoid things with "cocktail" in the name to cut out added sugars from your drink.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Aspartame
What do artificial colors, flame retardants, and fake sugars all have in common? They're ingredients in your favorite diet fizzy drinks. Nearly all popular diet sodas contain aspartame, an artificial sweetener that was initially developed to aid weight loss, but that has recently been found to have the opposite effect, like raising glucose levels, overloading the liver, and causing the excess to convert into fat, according to a study in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. Not only that, but recent research from PLOS Medicine found that aspartame was linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Eat this instead: If you want something more exciting than a plain old glass of water, you're in luck. Plenty of companies out there now make healthier soda alternatives that still satisfy your cravings for something sweet and bubbly, but without the scary ingredients.
RELATED: What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Diet Soda
Unhealthy Ingredient: High heat, inflammatory oil
Fried chicken, fried calamari, pork rinds, chicken-fried steak. Aside from the very high fat and calorie count, the main issue with these fried foods is that they contain high levels of inflammatory Advanced Glycation End products, or AGEs. These compounds form when animal-derived products are cooked at high temperatures for a prolonged period of time. According to a 2015 review published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, experts conclude that when we are exposed to AGEs consistently over time, it can lead to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, which can then contribute to an increased risk of disease.
Eat this instead: When you can, opt for baking your food instead of throwing it in oil to fry.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Nitrates and nitrites, high-heat cooking methods
Processed meats are the worst of both worlds. For one, they're typically made from red meat, which is high in saturated fats. And while red meat alone isn't terrible for you, processed red meat often contains high levels of sodium, as well as additives like nitrates and nitrites. Research has shown that nitrites can lead to certain cancers, and these additives can turn into carcinogenic nitrosamines when exposed to high heat, according to Meat Science. (And you're typically roasting your sausages on a flame-flickering grill and bacon in a frying pan, right?)
Eat this instead: Although some ultra-processed food companies are making food with fewer nitrites than they once did, you can take extra precautions to limit your nitrosamine exposure by purchasing uncured meats that use no nitrites—only salt—and try turning down the heat.
Unhealthy Ingredients: refined carbohydrates, added sugar
There's no sugar-coating it: sugar wreaks havoc on the body. Consuming too much of the stuff can lead to obesity, which may cause other health problems like diabetes and heart disease. Unfortunately, many cereals pack more sugar into one bowl than you'll find in a Boston Cream Donut, making these some of the unhealthiest foods you can eat for breakfast! As an example, Fruity Pebbles have 12 grams of added sugar per cup but only contain 1 gram of protein and no fiber at all, and Golden Crisps have 21 grams of added sugar, 2 grams of protein, and no fiber either. Without fiber or protein to back up these sugar bombs, you won't feel satiated after breakfast at all.
Eat this instead: Look for cereals that have less added sugar, as well as more fiber and protein. Purely Elizabeth's Vanilla Blueberry cereal has only 8 grams of added sugar and contains 5 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Too much sodium, preservatives
Freezing food is a terrific way to make it last longer, so why add preservatives? Unfortunately, many manufacturers pile them on when making frozen food. For instance, a Bob Evans Farms Sausage & Potato meal not only comes packed full of additives and preservatives, but it's also loaded with 1,470 milligrams of sodium. If you treat yourself to a Marie Callender's Cheesy Chicken & Bacon Pot Pie frozen meal, you'll be consuming a whopping 28 grams of saturated fat and 1,500 milligrams of sodium. When you realize that the daily recommended maximum for sodium is 2,300 milligrams, you'll see that these choices come close to the limit in just one meal.
Eat this instead: Opt for low-sodium, low-sugar frozen options that contain fewer additives. Daily Harvest frozen meals are lower in sodium and contain fewer preservatives, and something like the Kashi Plant-Based Protein Bowl has 10 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein, making it a well-rounded frozen option.
RELATED: 8 Grocery Items To Never Buy Frozen, According to Chefs
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar
While restaurant desserts are often more harmful to your health because the portions are so oversized, it's the fact that most of these dessert dishes are high in everything: think calories, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar, that make them some of the unhealthiest foods around. Take the Chili's Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake, for example, which has 1,210 calories, 50 grams of fat, 25 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 trans fat, 890 milligrams of sodium, and a whopping 105 grams of sugar.
Eat this instead: A small scoop of sorbet or a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a low-risk way to satisfy that sweet tooth at the end of a meal.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Sugar (when consumed in excess)
According to the American Heart Association, adults in America consume about 77 grams of sugar per day—which is more than 20 grams above the FDA's recommended intake of 50 grams per day. Americans' high consumption of refined, white sugar has been linked to everything from an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Eat this instead: You don't have to completely eliminate sugar from your diet by any means, but if you're looking to lower it while still satisfying your sweet cravings, you could always try a zero-calorie sweetener. (Just make sure you're looking for the ones without aspartame.)
Unhealthy Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, caramel color, artificial colors
Birthdays are a time to celebrate. Something you shouldn't celebrate? Your frosting being made with chemicals. Many brand-name frostings, such as Duncan Hines' Creamy Home-Style Classic Vanilla, are tinted with potentially carcinogen-contaminated dyes (such as caramel color and titanium dioxide) and artificial colors, making this one of the unhealthiest foods to eat.
Eat this instead: Healthier, homemade frosting is as easy to make as it is delicious. For example, using avocados and dark chocolate, you can create a decadent buttercream-like frosting that takes just seconds to prepare.
Unhealthy Ingredients: High fructose corn syrup, caramel coloring
There's a big difference between natural maple syrup and extra sugary pancake syrup. Famous syrup brands like Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth's aren't actually maple syrup at all and are made with two ingredients we're constantly telling readers to avoid—liver-damaging high fructose corn syrup and carcinogen-contaminated caramel coloring.
Eat this instead: Your safest bet is going with a Grade A Medium Amber Pure Maple Syrup. Because the flavor is so concentrated, a little goes a long way, saving you calories and sugar.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Fiber-less fruit and too much sugar
Busy mornings and grab-and-go breakfasts are practically synonymous—so it's easy to see the appeal of store-bought smoothies. They seem like the best way to get what you're craving in a pinch. But the timesaving drinks have a downside: Compared to freshly made smoothies, most of them fall short on nutrition and are so calorie and sugar-filled that your blood sugar is sure to skyrocket.
Just take Naked's Pomegranate Blueberry Smoothie as an example: Downing this entire bottle will fill you up with a whopping 61 grams of sugar and absolutely zero fiber, which means there's nothing to help keep your blood sugar in check.
Drink This! instead: We know it takes more time and effort, but blending up your own homemade smoothie will help you keep some of the fiber from the fruit and vegetables, as well as help you control how much sugar you're using and give you the opportunity to add in some protein powder if you'd like.
RELATED: 5 Best Protein Smoothie Recipes for Stronger Muscles, Says Dietitian
Unhealthy Ingredients: High heat
Grilling is awesome, but you have to watch your char! When you char meat, something called heterocyclic amines, or HCAs, develops as the creatine, sugars, and amino acids in meat react to your grill's high temperatures. Several studies published have linked HCAs with an increased risk of certain cancers—including pancreatic cancer.
Eat this instead: To chop your risk, spice it up! Adding antioxidant-rich spice extracts, like rosemary, to beef patties or marinating it in wine or beer can help reduce HCAs in your grilling process.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Too much sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat.
Fast food is convenient and delicious, but more often than not it's going to be extremely high in sodium, saturated fat, and total fat—which is why fast food is considered some of the unhealthiest food you can eat and has been consistently linked to things like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Eat this instead: If you are in a rush or just craving some fries and want to treat yourself to some fast food, we recommend trying one of these low-sodium fast-food orders or one of these fast-food meals under 500 calories.
RELATED: The 10 Unhealthiest Fast-Food Breakfast Sandwiches to Stay Away From Right Now
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much sucrose, glucose, and caffeine
Energy drinks are simply overpriced chemical cocktails with the caffeine content of a strong cup of coffee and a lot of sugar (or scary artificial sweeteners). Here's why you should be concerned: A University of Maryland study found energy drinks to be 11 percent more corrosive to your teeth than regular soda. Gross, right? Another unsettling finding came from a case study of a 50-year-old construction worker; having too many energy drinks could destroy your liver. The report, published in BMJ Case Reports in 2016, found that the man developed acute hepatitis after consuming four to five energy drinks every day over the course of three weeks.
Drink this instead: Green tea—it's all-natural and one of the best energy boosters around. Or, if you're someone who can drink coffee without feeling the jitters, try a cup in the morning. Just make sure you don't go overboard on the caffeine, as you may experience anxiety, increased heart rate, or trouble sleeping.
RELATED: 12 Dangerous Side Effects of Energy Drinks, According to Science
Unhealthy Ingredients: BHA and BHT
Using a premade pie crust might save you some time when you're baking, but what's on store shelves is anything but healthy for you. Popular brands like Pillsbury's Refrigerated Pie Crust contain BHA and BHT, two preservatives that have been banned in some European countries, as well as unbleached flour as their number one main ingredient.
Eat this instead: We suggest making sure the ingredients list is free from these preservatives if you're going to buy one in the store, or you can make your own at home.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Sucralose
Sweeteners with sucralose might have zero calories (like Splenda), but that doesn't mean it has zero effects on your health. A recent Canadian Medical Association Journal review of 37 studies analyzed the dietary habits of nearly 406,000 people. The researchers discovered that non-nutritive, artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, don't actually support weight management and may be associated with weight gain and cardiometabolic risk if consumed regularly. In addition, a study in Cell Metabolism found that sucralose consumption led to increased cravings and hunger. It has also been found to alter the gut microbiome and lead to glucose intolerance.
Eat this instead: Before sugar was widely available, people's go-to sweetener was honey, and it still stacks up. Although honey is high in fructose, it also contains a lot of cancer-busting antioxidants. Additionally, local honey has been said to help alleviate allergy symptoms. If you're still looking for a zero-calorie sweetener, you can also try monk fruit.
Unhealthy Ingredient: bleached flour, too much sodium, partially hydrogenated oil
Making biscuits from scratch can take forever, but the packaged kind that you just pop in the oven—like Pillsbury— are often full of sodium, bleached flour, and partially hydrogenated oil. In 2015, the FDA declared that partially hydrogenated oils were not safe and that they could contribute to cardiovascular events or heart disease.
Eat this instead: Your best solution is to just make biscuits at home, even though we know it takes much more time and energy. However, our recipe for Southern-Style Biscuits is easier and has fewer ingredients than most.
Unhealthy Ingredient: High fructose corn syrup
Barbecue sauce may be the condiment of choice for people who love something smoky and sweet, but it can do damage to your waistline. Most bottled BBQ sauces are packed with tons of added sugar and sugar variations. Take Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce—not only does it have 15 grams of sugar in just two tablespoons, but the first ingredient listed is high fructose corn syrup.
HFCS has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, according to a study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Also made with corn syrup and sugar, this sauce is the equivalent of pouring almost four sugar packets on your pulled chicken or bratwurst.
Eat this instead: If you need a condiment for your hot dog, opt for mustard instead. It's super low-calorie at just 3 calories per teaspoon and packs a flavorful punch. If you must have BBQ sauce, make a low-sugar version yourself with some tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and spices.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Too much sugar, artificial dyes
Whoever invented the Gatorade Dunk—the tradition in which winning sports teams dump coolers of the stuff on their coaches—was really on to something. One scan of the nutrition label and it's clear: the sports drink is better off seeping into the sidelines than your stomach.
Sure, it provides critical post-workout electrolytes, like sodium and potassium, but it also serves up a hearty helping of calories and sugar. In fact, there are 48 grams of the sweet stuff in a bottle of Gatorade. With the daily recommended limit being 36 grams for men and 24 grams for women, it's clear that these drinks are far too sugary. What's more, the beverage is teeming with additives and artificial dyes like Red 40—which has been recently linked to irritable bowel disease.
Drink this instead: If you're in need of some helpful electrolytes to rehydrate, ditch the Gatorade or sports drink and opt for an electrolyte powder like DripDrop. These avoid artificial dyes and have less sugar per serving than the average sports drink.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much sugar, fat, and saturated fat.
Cream cheese is indulgent on its own, but it soars to new heights when it's made into a decadent, creamy cake. Cheesecake is almost always filled with high amounts of fat, sugar, and sodium, and it will set you back an astronomical amount of calories for one slice of a treat you usually eat after dinner. Just take a look at any cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. The Original Cheesecake option has 830 calories, 59 grams of fat, 37 grams of saturated fat, and 51 grams of sugar.
Eat this instead: If you're feeling adventurous and want to try your hand at making your own cheesecake, you can try one of these healthier cheesecake recipes at home.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much sugar
This creamy dessert is on the decadent side, thanks to confectioners' sugar, whipped cream, espresso, ladyfingers, egg yolks, and mascarpone, just to name a few of the ingredients that quickly make this dessert into a high-calorie, sugar-heavy dish. Just take The Cheesecake Factory's version as an example, which comes in at more than 1,200 calories, 66 grams of sugar, 94 grams of total fat, and 52 grams of saturated fat. This dessert certainly isn't worth it when you realize that the recommended daily maximum of saturated fat comes in at around 13 grams.
Eat this instead: While this is always a "sometimes" dessert, try making your own version at home. You're not only in control of the portion size, but also what you're putting in the cake, so you can make substitutions, such as using egg whites and lighter whipped cream cheese.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Palm oil
You know the creamy taste of margarine had to come from somewhere, and usually it's from the addition of vegetable oils—and many blends can include palm oil, which has a high saturated fat content (over 13 grams for just two tablespoons), and research suggests that there may be a link between palm oil and cardiovascular disease risk.
Eat this instead: Instead of spreading your bread with margarine, why not swap in olive oil instead? Just make sure you're using exact measurements so you're not overdoing it, as one tablespoon has 120 calories.
RELATED: This Butter Option May Now Be the Healthiest, New Study Says
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much sodium and fat
A taco bowl is one of the quickest ways to consume a lot of calories, fat, and sodium all at once. Between the fried tortilla, filling of meat, rice, cheese, sour cream, sauces, and other toppings, things can get out of control quickly, and it can take a regular burrito bowl or taco salad and turn it into a calorie-heavy dish.
Eat this instead: If you're craving a taco salad, we suggest making one at home and skipping the taco shell bowl. All you need is lettuce as your base, protein, some beans, and salsa. If you really want to keep things lean, try skipping the sour cream, or substituting in some Greek yogurt instead. When you're in full control of the ingredients, that's always the best-case scenario.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much sodium, food additives
Popping a frozen pizza in the oven might save you more time than ordering one from your local pizza shop, but with high sodium counts and scary food additives, you might want to keep these slices in the freezer section. Red Baron's Classic Crust 4 Cheese Pizza has ingredients such as L-Cysteine hydrochloride (a salt used to treat overdoses) and ammonium sulfate (a commonly-used lawn fertilizer), along with 720 milligrams of sodium and 9 grams of saturated fat per serving, while Digiorno Croissant Crust Three Meat Pizza contains a whopping 1,200 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of saturated fat, and the additive sodium nitrite, so you're not really safe no matter which popular brand you go with.
Eat this instead: At the end of the day, it's best to just make your own pizza! If you're craving a Hawaiian-style pie or a breakfast-friendly variety, a homemade pie is never a bad idea, as you're in complete control of the ingredients. Start with whole-wheat pizza dough, a low-sodium marinara sauce, a light sprinkle of cheese, and your absolute favorite toppings.
Unhealthy Ingredient: A ton of cream, butter
Alfredo sauce is made from cream, parmesan cheese, and a lot of butter, which together just wreak havoc on your waistline. In fact, cream is rarely used in authentic Italian pasta dishes, so if you visit Italy, there's a good chance you won't find this dish on restaurant menus. It is present on the Olive Garden menu, however, and it comes in at 1,310 calories, 55 grams of saturated fat, and 1,200 grams of sodium, proving this is another all-American-version of a classic dish you're better off without.
Eat this instead: If you're craving pasta, instead go with a classic spaghetti aglio e olio recipe, as this dish has very few ingredients: garlic, oil, salt, and pasta, which gives it fewer overall calories, saturated fat, and sodium.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much sodium, refined carbohydrates
Belgian waffles tend to be bigger and thicker with deeper grids meant to hold even more syrup, butter, and cream so that right there is reason enough to avoid choosing this as a breakfast option when you find yourself out to eat at a diner. Plus, they are often loaded with sugar and sweet batters, which means they can go from bad to worse. These waffles are also loaded with simple refined carbohydrates, which make them too easy to digest and not very promising when it comes to keeping you full and focused.
Eat this instead: Go with a traditional waffle you can whip up at home and make sure to top with fruit and pure maple syrup.
RELATED: The Worst Breakfast Habits for Inflammation, Say Dietitians
Unhealthy Ingredient: Sugar, saturated fat
The onion ring is a great example of how everything that's good about a vegetable can be expunged after being deep-fried. Depending on the restaurant where they are served, onion rings are oftentimes worse than even fries because they tend to have more calories, saturated fat, and total fat. For example, Sonic Onion Rings have 580 calories, 29 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, and 570 milligrams of sodium, and their fries only have 290 calories, 13 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, and 300 milligrams of sodium.
Eat this instead: Restaurant appetizers like onion rings are almost always going to be loaded with calories. If you want something to munch on before your main dish, order the grilled calamari, a house salad, or some chips and salsa instead. Or, if you're really wanting some onion rings, make sure you share them with the table.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much fat
Mayo is delicious, but this condiment contains a ton of fat per serving. For instance, there are 10 grams of fat and 1.5 grams of saturated fat in one tablespoon of Kraft Mayo, and we know how easy it is to go beyond just one tablespoon of this creamy condiment. When it comes to preventing disease and maintaining a healthy heart, saturated fat is the thing you want to keep an eye on, and mayo is usually decently low in this type of fat. However, with 10 grams of total fat per serving, it may cause you to consume excess calories, which may lead to weight gain.
Eat this instead: You can make a healthier version of mayo at home by blending Greek yogurt, lemon juice, mustard, pepper, and spices. You'll save more than 200 calories and 20 grams of fat per quarter-cup serving. Plus, Greek yogurt is rich in protein and calcium, so it makes for a heartier, healthier spread.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Sodium
The basis of nachos consists of tortilla chips, which although not generally all that bad for you, don't provide any sort of nutrients. Then you add on ground beef or pulled pork, sour cream, guacamole, and an unseemly amount of yellow cheese, and you're in calorie and fat overload. And, this unhealthy bar-food staple is often a go-to appetizer at many restaurants. Just take Applebee's for example, whose beef nachos come in at 1,940 calories and over 4,440 milligrams of sodium—which is almost twice your daily limit.
Eat this instead: If you're going to indulge, make sure you do it at home where you can make your own steak or chicken and bean nachos for far fewer calories, fat, and sodium than any you would order at a restaurant.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Sodium
Attack of the beige! Whenever your dinner is monochromatic (in this case, the off-brown hue of deep-fried), you know you're in trouble. Don't blame the fish though—the seafood is packed with lean, muscle-building protein and heart-healthy fats. But the trouble here lies with a massively unbalanced fish-to-fat ratio. A coating of crispy batter and a pile of deep-fried potatoes is just loaded in sodium and fat.
Eat this instead: When it comes to seafood, abandon ship on fried fish and opt for grilled instead.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Sodium and saturated fat
Although there is protein in mozzarella sticks, this popular appetizer choice happens to be fried, and fried foods in particular up the calories, sodium, and saturated fat of everything they encounter. Just look at the mozzarella sticks from Applebee's. This appetizer comes in at 18 grams of saturated fat and 2,450 milligrams of sodium—both of which are above the daily recommended limit.
Eat this instead: Skip the whole breaded and fried aspect and just munch on pure cheese sticks, which you can pair with some grapes or almonds for a filling snack. If you're at a chain restaurant like Applebees, try an appetizer like the bone-in wings (which have only 3 grams of saturated fat and 300 milligrams of sodium) or a house salad.
RELATED: The #1 Order to Never Make at an Italian Restaurant, According to Chefs
Unhealthy Ingredient: Added sugar
If you make your own French toast at home, it isn't necessarily all that bad, but ordering this breakfast dish out at a restaurant changes everything, as it just adds more fat, sugar, and salt to a meal already high in these things as it is. Cheesecake Factory's Bruléed French Toast has nearly 2,000 calories, which is about a day's worth of calories in your first meal of the day. It also has a whopping 64 grams of saturated fat (almost five times your daily limit) and 4 grams of trans fat (which is twice the intake recommended by the World Health Organization). In fact, according to WHO, larger consumption of trans fats is connected to higher cholesterol and an increased risk of coronary heart disease deaths, heart disease, and all-cause mortality.
Eat this instead: To quell your sweet tooth craving at breakfast, make a smoothie alongside a breakfast sandwich with a side order of eggs. That way your meal will be balanced with fiber, protein, and natural sugars. Or, try your hand at making our French Toast recipe, which only has 370 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 4 grams of saturated fat per serving.
Unhealthy Ingredient: High amounts of butter, sometimes margarine
We know, we know—biting into a buttery, flaky croissant is unlike anything else. But eating this pastry in the morning will give your body a heaping amount of fat and saturated fat, without protein or fiber to help keep you full. Let's look at a plain Butter Croissant from Dunkin' Donuts. It has 19 grams of fat, 340 calories, and 8 grams of saturated fat (which is about 60% of your recommended daily limit), and only 1 gram of fiber and 6 grams of protein. And that's just for plain. If chocolate croissants are your go-to, you're looking at consuming upwards of 25 grams of total fat and 16 grams of saturated fat per pastry from Au Bon Pain, which is over your daily limit of 13 grams.
Eat this instead: For a more balanced breakfast that will leave you feeling full throughout the morning, grab some oatmeal instead of a croissant to start out your day. Oats have plenty of fiber, and if you add in some fruit, you'll get a boost of antioxidants and even more fiber.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Soybean oil
It's found in so many processed and packaged foods, but soybean oil may be just as bad for you as the sugar in these food products. There are some animal studies that claim this oil can be linked to obesity and that it may even affect neurological conditions like Alzheimer's or depression. Studies on the effects of soybean oil on humans are very limited so far, so more research needs to be done.
Eat this instead: When in doubt, it's best to avoid foods that contain soybean oil, which we know, is very hard to do as it seems to be in everything—especially fast food and chain restaurant items. When you're cooking though, there are tons of other oils you can turn to, such as avocado oil or olive oil.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Too much sodium
Typically dubbed a healthy, soothing meal, soup truly is one of the least suspicious diet saboteurs of them all. However, that's not the case with certain canned varieties. Many popular soup brands add excess amounts of salt, and consuming too much salt can actually cause us to overeat, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition.
Some brands like Campbell's Homestyle Chicken Noodle contain 890 milligrams of sodium in just a half cup, but many of us are probably eating more than just half a cup of soup at a time.
Besides disrupting satiety cues, when you constantly flood your system with sodium, you can overwork your kidneys. As a result, the sodium sits in your bloodstream where it attracts water, causing water retention and bloat.
Eat this instead: If you need a quick and easy soup, look for canned options that are lower in sodium. But if you have the time and energy, try making your own soup to be able to better control your ingredients and salt levels.
RELATED: 6 Canned Soups With the Lowest Quality Ingredients
Unhealthy Ingredients: Palm oil, caramel color, Yellow 6
Palm oil, caramel color, and Yellow 6 are just a few of the unsettling ingredients found in a typical bouillon cube, such as Knorr's Chicken Bouillon Cubes. In regards to palm oil, a meta-analysis in the Journal of Nutrition found this specific fat significantly increases low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, compared with vegetable oils low in saturated fat. Followed by potentially-carcinogen-contaminated caramel color, it's in your best interest to beware of what bouillon brand you're buying.
Eat this instead: Consider using an organic broth or chicken stock. Separately, Better Than Bouillon Reduced Sodium Chicken Base contains less sodium and fewer additives.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Soybean oil, sugar, mono and diglycerides
Can someone explain to us why a product that's packed in a box marked "Baked Fresh Daily" contains at least two preservatives? Entenmann's isn't the only one with misleading labeling. Otis Spunkmeyer Muffins look healthy, coming in at 210 calories per serving, but then you see there are two servings per muffin. Typically, store-bought muffins contain a lot of calories and fat, and eating half now and "saving the rest for later" is near impossible—likely because foods rich in carbs, fat and sugar can be downright addicting. Plus, many commercial muffins are also spiked with bleached flour, soybean oil, and additives like mono- and diglycerides.
Eat this instead: If you want something quick, easy, and delicious for breakfast, try Kashi Blueberry Waffles. Two of these low-sugar, high-fiber waffles serve up the sweet blueberry taste you crave for a mere 150 calories. Even if you topped them with a tablespoon of syrup, you'd still take in fewer calories and less fat and sugar than you would had you opted for the pre-packaged muffin. Or if it's muffins you really want, find an easy recipe and make your own at home. You can always save the extra and keep them for a grab-and-go breakfast the coming week.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Tons of sodium
If you have it in you to eat a mere 1-cup serving of Kraft's Three Cheese Mac & Cheese, you'd still consume at least 750 milligrams of sodium—and that's not including your salted pasta water or salted butter you add to actually bring this cheesy concoction to perfection. As prepared, you hit a third of your day's recommended intake of sodium per serving, and if you eat half the box (which is easy to do), you could end up consuming half of your entire day's allotted sodium. High sodium intake is associated with ailments such as hypertension and heart disease, according to the CDC.
Eat this instead: If it's boxed Mac & cheese you're craving specifically, don't worry. We know of some great options in The Healthiest Boxed Mac and Cheese Brands—Ranked.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Hydrogenated soybean oil
That pesky ingredient is very much present in frozen pies, especially in Marie Callender's line of apple pies. While there is zero trans fat listed on the frozen desserts' nutrition labels, the presence of soybean oil and hydrogenated soybean oil is still concerning, as this type of oil has been linked to weight gain.
Eat this instead: We'd always go for a homemade pie when we get the chance, but if you're in a time crunch and need to whip up a quick and delicious dessert for you and the family, just make sure that the two words "partially hydrogenated" are missing from your frozen pie's ingredient label.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sodium phosphate, sodium, sodium nitrite
There are plenty of good reasons not to eat hot dogs—their high levels of sodium and carcinogen-producing nitrites are just two—but if you need another, here you go. The BBQ staple is also preserved with sodium phosphates: a food additive linked to potential health consequences. Studies have connected high levels of serum phosphates (due to dietary consumption) to higher rates of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.
Eat this instead: If you're jonesing for a juicy dog, opt for an organic, uncured option like Applegate Farms' Great Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dog.
RELATED: 4 Worst Hot Dogs To Stay Away From Right Now
Unhealthy Ingredients: Excess sodium
The deli meats you use to make your lunch may be putting your life at risk. How? Because these processed meats are loaded with sodium and preservatives. For example, a 2-ounce serving of Boar's Head Smoked Turkey has 420 milligrams of sodium—but many of us will easily go past this small serving when making ourselves a sandwich, which can increase our sodium intake even more. And, a diet high in sodium puts many at risk for high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease, and with the average American consuming 3,400 milligrams of sodium each day according to the American Heart Association, you should try to choose lower-sodium options whenever they are available. Along with the sodium, many deli meats like this Boar's Head option are made with sodium phosphate—a common food additive known to potentially increase serum phosphate levels in the body, which can increase cardiovascular risk factors over time.
Not only that, but research has shown a connection between higher consumption of processed meat in general (deli meat included) and diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
Eat this instead: The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recommends avoiding processed meats as much as possible, and suggests focusing on fresh poultry, as well as nut butters or hummus that you can throw on a couple of slices of bread.
RELATED: 4 Worst Meats for Blood Pressure, Says Dietitian
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sodium, added sugar
If you pick up an instant oatmeal packet like Quaker Raisins & Spice, you'll end up consuming much more sugar and sodium than you would by just making your own plain oatmeal and adding your own toppings. The Quaker instant oats have 14 grams of sugar and 8 grams of added sugar, which is a lot to consume first thing in the morning, especially because if you were to make your own oatmeal and add fruit for sweetness, you'd be able to avoid these added sugar levels.
Eat this instead: Again, we recommend making your own oatmeal because this is the best way to make sure you have complete control over your ingredients and toppings. But if you prefer being able to throw a packet in the microwave, look for a lower-sugar option.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Artificial coloring, added sugar, saturated fats
You already knew all the artery-clogging fats and addicting sugars in candy weren't doing you any favors, but you likely didn't realize that certain candies can make it more difficult for your little ones to concentrate. A few years ago, researchers discovered that the artificial colors, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 (found in M&Ms), may promote Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD) in children. In fact, Norway has already banned the use of these artificial colors, and in the rest of the EU, foods containing these additives must be labeled with the phrase: "May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children."
Eat this instead: M&M fans should check out Unreal's Milk Chocolate Gems. It's a similar taste and feel, but it's free of all the scary chemicals.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Artificial flavors and artificial colors
Nothing says "Happy Birthday!" like a slice of sugary, chemical-laden cake, right? Whipping up a cake from a box is much easier than gathering all the ingredients and baking it from scratch. But taking this shortcut could cost you in the health department. The Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix, for example, comes packed full of questionable ingredients like Red 40, Yellow 6, sodium phosphate, and palm oil, just to name a few. These chemicals are nothing to celebrate.
Eat this instead: We know it may feel like a pain, but your best bet is to make your own cake at home from simple ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, etc. If you simply must have a boxed mix, you can opt for something like the Madhava Super Yummy Yellow Cake Mix. This one still contains a few additives, but it has much less than the Duncan Hines version.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Potassium bromate (bromated flour)
Banned in the United Kingdom and Canada, potassium bromate is still lurking in some U.S. foods such as pizza, wraps, rolls, bread crumbs, and bagel chips, according to a 2015 analysis by the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG). The issue? A 1982 study found the dough strengthener induced tumors in rats and led the EPA to conclude bromate is a "probable human carcinogen." The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has also placed this ingredient in the carcinogen category. While the FDA encouraged bakers to voluntarily stop using it in 1991, the EWG found evidence of it lurking in 86 different baked good products, including GOYA dough and Fresh Daily Nutmeg Bread.
Eat this instead: This will take a little investigative work on your part, but take a moment to scan the ingredients list next time you're at the market. If you pick up a package with potassium bromate or bromated flour on the label, put it down and pick up something else.
RELATED: 4 Worst Baked Goods for Abdominal Fat
Unhealthy Ingredient: BPA (Bisphenol-A)
BPA is a hormone-mimicking chemical found in nearly all food packaging plastics (including water bottles), and it's potentially bad news. According to a study in the International Journal of Endocrinology, chronic ingestion of this chemical can lead to a variety of hormonal changes and fertility issues, such as cryptorchidism, certain cancers, testicular health issues, as well as decreased fertility in males.
Drink this instead: Join the increasing amount of people who want to stay hydrated and healthy by pouring filtered water into a metal flask or non-BPA bottle.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sulfites, added sugars or fruit juice infusions
Sulfites, which are used to keep prepared foods fresh, are often used in dried fruit snacks. According to some research, asthmatics may be at an elevated risk for a reaction to sulfites (though anaphylaxis and life-threatening reactions are rare). You should also watch out for dried fruits that have added sugars—without water, dried fruits have a higher concentration of sugar than their hydrated counterparts, and really don't need extra of the blood-sugar-spiking stuff.
Eat this instead: Look for dried fruit that either says "sulfite-free" or "unsulfured"—like these Organic Dried Figs—to ensure a safer experience.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sodium citrate and phosphate
That brick of orange cheese sitting in the dairy case at your supermarket is more than just a flavorless lump of dairy-ish ingredients —it's usually loaded with icky additives, too. While many companies are thankfully opting for natural colors to give their cheese that trademark orange-y hue, they're still loading those slices with ingredients that can seriously harm your health.
For instance, Kraft Singles are packed with sodium phosphate, an ingredient used to prevent the crystallization of meat and dairy products, which has been linked to an increased risk of bone demineralization, osteoporosis, and kidney health issues.
Eat this instead If you can't fight your cheese cravings, opt for an organic cheese that's made without preservatives or artificial colors. If you're trying to be particularly gentle with your body, opt for an aged white cheddar or parmesan —they're the cheeses with the lowest lactose levels, which make them the least likely to cause digestive distress.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sugar, refined white flour
Unless it says 100% Whole Wheat, don't be fooled into thinking your "wheat" bread is that much better for you than the white version. Most loaves contain a small amount of actual whole grains mixed with unhealthy refined flour. Take Bimbo Bakery's Made With "Whole Grain" White Loaf as an example. It actually says "Made With Whole Grain" on the front, and by that they mean whole grain flour is listed as the third ingredient: behind regular old white flour and water.
What's even more surprising to us is that this two-slice serving actually has 2 more grams of sugar than Bimbo's Soft Wheat Bread. That's because manufacturers increase the amount of added sugar to breads made with whole grains because consumers still look for that sweet taste of white bread with the "healthy" feeling of eating whole grains.
Another example is Nature's Own Honey Wheat, which contains "unbleached enriched whole wheat flour" but it isn't 100% whole wheat.
Eat this instead: To ensure you're picking a healthier bread full of actual whole grains and whole wheat, we suggest something like the Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Polysorbate 60
Short for polyoxyethylene-(20)-sorbitan monostearate, this emulsifier is widely used in the food industry. Made of corn, palm oil, and petroleum, this gooey mix can't spoil, and it often replaces dairy products in baked goods. It's commonly contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a chemical which has been shown to cause cancer in animals and could be toxic for humans as well, according to the CDC.
Eat this instead: Foods coated with real chocolate, like one of these 13 Chocolate Brands That Use the Highest Quality Ingredients.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Polysorbate 80, sodium benzoate, sodium
Vlasic uses polysorbate 80 in their Kosher Dill Spears, the same emulsifier used in some diet ice creams that has been linked to causing cancer in mice. Additionally, a number of pickle jars are also filled with sodium benzoate, which has been linked to possibly increasing inflammation in the body. Additionally, it's important to monitor how much sodium is used in your favorite pickles, because this can quickly add up depending on which brand you choose.
Eat this instead: You don't have to go too far out of your way to find pickles without this additive. For example, Woodstock Farms Organic Baby Kosher Dill Pickles don't have benzoate or polysorbate on its ingredients list.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners
If you don't swallow it, can chewing gum count as a food? Kinda. The point is this: Although the bulk of gum is indigestible, there are some ingredients that are: the sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners. Sugar alcohols are sugar substitutes have been shown to cause bloating and other gastrointestinal distress. Sorbitol, in particular, takes a relatively long time to digest, and any undigested sugar alcohol in your small intestine acts as the perfect environment for the fermentation of bacteria, thus, causing even more bloating and flatulence. As for artificial sweeteners found in popular gums, you're looking at ingesting additives that have been scientifically shown to trigger your sweet receptors and rev hunger—hence another reason why you're always hungry.
Eat this instead: If you've got a chewing habit, try sunflower seeds. Not only are they tasty, but they are also an excellent source of vitamin E, the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Added sugar
Don't let its reduced fat content fool you: low-fat peanut butter is in no way a health food, and certain brands can make this one of the unhealthiest foods you can snack on. While peanuts on their own are a good source of protein and fiber, the other ingredients used in low-fat peanut butters will have you running for the hills. When the naturally-occurring fats are stripped from peanut butter, they're often replaced with tons of sugar and excess salt to make up for what would otherwise be a bland and flavorless product. Take Skippy Reduced Fat Peanut Butter for example. This product has less fat, but it now has 4 grams of added sugar per serving, and corn syrup solids is its second ingredient.
Eat this instead: Skip all the added sugar and enjoy some full-fat, natural peanut butter instead. Spread the Love brand peanut butter is made without added salt, sugar, or oils, and has all the cholesterol-lowering MUFAs that you get from peanuts in their natural state. Peanut butter is also incredibly easy to make on your own: throw some peanuts and a little bit of oil or honey, as per your taste, into a blender and puree until smooth.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sucralose, maltitol, additives, palm oil
It's completely understandable if you're trying to reel in your sweet tooth a bit—just don't use sugar-free sweets as a crutch. Instead of sugar, manufacturers (like Russell Stover) add in artificial sweeteners like Splenda and sugar alcohols like maltitol. You'll also find a mixture of palm oil and hydrogenated palm oil, as well as a cocktail of additives like potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, and sorbitol.
Eat this instead: If you're looking for a treat that will make your taste buds sing—and not send you running straight for the bathroom—skip this bar and check out a dark chocolate bar instead.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sugar
Oatmeal, a food so innocent, can, unfortunately, be corrupted. But with what, you ask? A whole lot of sugar. And it's even worse in the new way brands are packaging instant oatmeal: with cups! Even though these instant cups are convenient and require fewer steps to make, they are more often than not totally full of sugar. In fact, even seemingly healthy brands like McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal Vanilla Honey packs in 17 grams of added sugar into one serving. That's 70% percent of the recommended intake of added sugars for the entire day for women, and over 47% for men—and it's not even noon!
Eat this instead: Start your morning off on the right foot by opting for some unflavored oats instead. Not only will this save you some serious calories, but it also lends the possibility of adding healthy, filling ingredients, like raw almonds and fruit, to your recipe instead. Liven up your morning meal by adding the 50 Healthy Overnight Oats Recipes for Weight Loss to your repertoire.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and yellow #5
Beyoncé's Lemonade? Great. Pretty much every other kind of lemonade? Mostly garbage. On top of the boatload of sugar that's in most lemonade recipes, brands like Minute Maid give their bottled and canned lemonade drinks a vibrant hue by using yellow #5, which has been linked to hyperactivity and impaired renal function in animal test subjects. Not to mention that water and high fructose corn syrup are the first two ingredients, followed by lemon juice from concentrate, which certainly explains the 27 grams of added sugar per bottle.
Eat this instead: Opt for some infused lemon water with a small amount of sweetener instead, and you'll save yourself a huge number of calories and a ton of added sugar.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sugar, artificial colors, carnauba wax
You know those scented candles that smell so delicious you almost want to take a bite? That's pretty much what you're consuming when you add some sprinkles to your ice cream. These sugary little ice cream accessories are little more than sugar, artificial colors, and actual wax, just like your favorite candle. Take the Betty Crocker Rainbow Sprinkles as an example. Not only are there 18 grams of added sugar in just two tablespoons, but these delicious decorations are made with Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 3.
Eat this instead: Give your favorite frozen treat a little bit more texture and flavor by adding some slivered almonds or cacao nibs. Not only will they make your ice cream more pleasing to your palate, they'll also add some healthy fiber and antioxidants to your snack. If you're truly craving sprinkles, try a more natural brand like Rainbow Softies Natural Sprinkles. They're lower in sugar and free of artificial coloring, but they're unfortunately still made of wax.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sulfur dioxide, calcium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, high fructose corn syrup, red #40
Mix up some preservatives, corn syrup, and dyes and you've got… a sundae topping or addition to your favorite cocktail? Maraschino cherries, known for their vibrant hue and perplexing flavor, are an engineered food that has no place in a healthy diet. When you consider that they can last up to three years in their high fructose corn syrup bath before they even get near their expiration date, you'll definitely want to put them back on the shelf.
Eat this instead: Instead of pulling a syrupy, radioactive-looking cherry out of a jar, try getting it the old-fashioned way: from nature. Cherries are plenty sweet on their own, and even without the aesthetic benefit of potentially-toxic dyes, they've already got a very pretty color to them. Cherries are also a good source of resveratrol, which can help fight excess abdominal fat and may even help fend off dementia.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Excess sugar and a lack of protein.
All those smiling models in yogurt commercials obviously haven't checked out the ingredients list on their purportedly healthy snack. Most fruit-flavored yogurts on the market contain very little actual fruit, sweetening their recipes with sugar instead. And those brilliant hues you thought were the result of fresh fruit in the recipe? They're usually just from fruit juice concentrate. With this added sugar and very little protein, yogurts like these will just leave you feeling hungry.
Eat this instead: While sugary, flavored yogurts are not the best choice, there are many yogurt options low in sugar and higher in protein. Plain, unsweetened yogurt is full of live cultures that can benefit your gut bacteria and boost your immune system. Greek or Icelandic yogurts are also great options because they're naturally higher in protein.
RELATED: 6 Yogurts Made With the Lowest Quality Ingredients
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sugar
When reaching for a bottled coffee beverage, you're probably more concerned with how under-caffeinated you're feeling and less about what could be lurking under that label. Unfortunately, some of these sickly-sweet drinks are loaded with more added sugars than you should consume in an entire day.
For example, one 14-ounce bottle of Gold Peak Almond Toffee Coffee Drink contains a staggering 270 calories and 53 grams of sugar. Another shocker? The whole bottle only dishes out 77 milligrams of caffeine, which is significantly less than the 166 milligrams you'd get for an equal serving size of black coffee. Other popular drinks, such as the bottled version of the Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino, are nearly as bad, doling out 34 grams of sugar and 300 calories per bottle.
Drink this instead: Keep the convenience and toss out all the added sugar by opting for cold brew instead. This refreshing pick-me-up skips those high-calorie ingredients and gets you more of what you really want: sweet, sweet caffeine. Fortunately, ready-to-drink cold brew is becoming more widely available, with companies like Chameleon, Blue Bottle, Stumptown, and High Brew offering their flavorful, antioxidant-rich coffees in convenient to-go bottles and cans. If you don't like your coffee black, add in a little bit of your favorite creamer and sweetener, which gives you the ability to control how much you want.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sucralose, acesulfame potassium, propylene glycol, artificial colors
Looking to add a little zing to your drink? Don't reach for these manufactured water enhancers. Brands like Mio are made up almost entirely of artificial ingredients, but almost most alarming is Mio's use of artificial, non-nutritive sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium, which a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition linked to weight gain and metabolic disorders. On top of that, Mio's Fruit Punch flavor gets its bright color from Red Dye 40.
Drink this instead: Throw a couple of fruit slices into your water for that extra zing of flavor you're looking for.
Unhealthy Ingredient: Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP)
Something fishy is going down in the frozen-food aisle. To help lower-quality fish retain moisture and to lessen the amount of water expelled during thawing, manufacturers soak fish in a bath of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP)—as they do in Mrs. Paul's Beer Battered Fillets. STPP is a suspected neurotoxin and registered pesticide that the FDA considers "generally recognized as safe" to eat. However, adding STPP to fish can significantly increase the levels of sodium in the item—which can counteract the countless positive heart-health benefits of consuming fish in the first place. It can also increase your intake of dietary phosphates, which are connected to an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease or prior heart problems.
Eat this instead: Europe, Canada, and other countries have limits on the total level of STPP allowed in seafood (0.1 to 0.5 percent), but the US has no such regulations. Companies aren't required to label this additive, but some packaged products do. When in doubt, stay dry. Seafood labeled as "dry" have not been treated with STPP; seafood marked as "wet" has been soaked in it. Or, to make it even simpler, try fresh fish whenever you are able.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sugar, corn syrup, sorbitol, soybean oil
Granola has long been associated with healthy living, although considering all the added sugar and additives that are put in certain granola bars, the link is a bit unclear sometimes. The combination of sugar, corn syrup, and sorbitol, a weight gain-inducing trifecta found in Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars should be enough to have most health-conscious consumers steering clear, but the fact that these bars contain 7 grams of added sugar and only 1 gram of protein renders them almost completely pointless when it comes to nutritional value.
Eat this instead: Indulge your sweet tooth without sabotaging your health by opting for a Fruit & Nut Delight Kind Bar instead. Loaded with mixed nuts, honey, rice, and flaxseed, this omega-3-rich concoction tastes decadent with only 4 grams of added sugar and 6 grams of protein to keep you full longer. We also love that you can pick one of these up at Starbucks as a healthy snack alternative.
Unhealthy Ingredients: High fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors
Replacing your meal with a pre-packaged shake means you're replacing all the fiber, vitamins, and minerals you'd normally eat with some scary ingredients instead. From blood sugar-spiking high fructose corn syrup and maltodextrin, to artificial colors, these icky shakes are better off in the garbage than on your table. For example, you may want to steer clear of something like the SlimFast Original Shakes, which contain high fructose corn syrup, as well as a long list of additives and chemicals.
Drink this instead: Instead of those chalky, medicinal shakes that are high in sugar and low in any redeeming nutritional values, use one of these healthier protein powders to make your own shake at home.
RELATED: Avoid Protein Shakes With These Low-Quality Ingredients
Unhealthy Ingredients: Soybean oil, palm oil, mono and diglycerides
When you pick up butter from the grocery store, it's usually a simple list of ingredients like cream, salt, and milk. However, if you opt for "light" versions of butter, you're most likely going to do more harm than if you were to stick to the regular version. A light option like Land O Lakes Light Butter with Canola Oil, includes a long list of additives and chemicals, including mono and diglycerides—which are considered to be a class of trans fat.
Eat this instead: Choose healthier monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, and increase your intake foods that contain unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, like chia seeds, flax seeds, and fish. And, if you're really wanting butter, try a high-quality option like Vital Farms.
RELATED: 10 Highest-Quality Butter Brands, According to a Dietitian
Unhealthy Ingredients: High fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, added sugars
A hearty, nutrient-heavy salad can be a wonderful addition to your day, but some salad dressings can derail your health goals before you're even done eating. For starters, many store-bought salad dressings are high in sugar. Just two tablespoons of the Stonewall Balsamic Fig Dressing packs in 11 grams of sugar and 8 grams of added sugar. While some dressings go overboard with sugar, other dressings—like Marie's Creamy Italian Garlic—pack in the fat. This creamy dressing will serve up 19 grams of fat in just two tablespoons. Even worse is that's mostly from inflammatory soybean oil, which animal studies show can actually increase appetite.
Eat this instead: Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, honey, mustard—these are just some of the whole ingredients you can use to concoct your own salad dressing in your kitchen that will be far less likely to do you harm. And if you want to buy a healthier option at the store, try one of these 10 Healthiest Salad Dressing Brands.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Added sugar
Just because it's not full of alcohol doesn't mean that fruit cocktail is any healthier than an oversized margarita. In fact, with the added sugar on top of the natural sugars found in these fiber-less cans of fruit, it may be worse.
Eat this instead: Eat whole fruit that's fresh or frozen whenever you can. You'll get the full nutrient profile with all of the fiber and antioxidants in tact, without added sugar to worry about.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Sugar, artificial sweeteners, caramel color, polysorbate 60
The combination of sugar, carcinogenic colors, and polysorbate 60, an emulsifier that can create potentially-toxic compounds when combined with other ingredients, makes most protein bars less of a healthy snack and more health hazard. Many of these bars are also loaded with added sugars, so even though they may increase your protein intake, you'll also be consuming too much sugar. As an example, the Gatorade Recover Peanut Butter Whey Protein Bar has 24 grams of added sugar, which is exactly how much a woman is recommended to consume in an entire day.
Eat this instead: Loading up on protein doesn't have to mean loading up on sugar and preservatives, too. A handful of raw almonds, a piece of cheese, or a hard-boiled egg can all help improve your post-workout recovery without weighing you down. Or, you can try one of these healthier, low-sugar protein bars.
Unhealthy Ingredients: Artificial sweeteners
Although it could help regulate your blood sugar, Polaner's Sugar-Free Jam shouldn't be your go-to source for fiber. It's sweetened with the artificial sweetener sucralose, which a 2020 study published in Nutrition Journal found to potentially impact insulin resistance in "healthy" adults.
Eat this instead: Your safest bet is to top your peanut butter sandwiches with fresh pieces of fruit like bananas and strawberries. You'll get a similar taste with none of the artificial sweeteners.
The post 72 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet appeared first on Eat This Not That.
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By: Samantha Boesch
Title: 72 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet
Sourced From: www.eatthis.com/unhealthiest-foods-on-the-planet/
Published Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2023 18:23:39 +0000
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