1. Bacon: Darn, I saw that coming. The World Health Organization has classified bacon in the same category as tobacco when it comes to carcinogens. (What about ‘smoked bacon’?)
2. Turkey bacon: Sorry, you can’t go there either. It’s the processing that makes the meat harmful. So turkey bacon isn’t a healthier substitute. (Oh, well – back to bacon!)
3. Fried food: In general, fried food is higher in fat, salt, and calories, all of which are horrible for heart health. (This is why I got an air fryer that I have no idea how to use…)
4. Potato chips: They’re low in nutrition, and high in cheap fats and sodium. (I suppose you’re going to say the same thing about Doritos?)
5. Added sugars: If you see added sugars on the nutrition panel of packaged foods, steer clear. It has essentially zero nutritional value and increases risk of obesity and metabolic disease. (And cavities!)
6. Processed oils: Grapeseed, soybean, canola, cottonseed, corn, and vegetable oils are heated to extremely high temperatures during processing, which oxidizes the oils, creating damaging free radicals.
7. Hydrogenated fats: Common in packaged foods, they have been shown to increase mortality rates. (You’ve just ruined peanut butter for me!)
8. Refined carbs: These include white bread, white rice and pasta, pastries and pizza. Refined grain products promote inflammation, are generally higher in sugar and are largely stripped of fiber and nutrients.
9. Breakfast sausages: See bacon. (No one said the world is fair…)
10. Any other processed meats: Hot dogs, deli meats, packaged bologna, beef jerky, pepperoni and others should all be avoided or eliminated from your diet completely. They all contain chemicals that are not present in fresh meat, and are classified as group 1 carcinogens. (Uh, do you think they’re trying to tell us something?)
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