Healthy weight loss requires a plethora of healthy lifestyle changes, from fitting fat-burning workouts into your day to incorporating healthy, whole foods into your diet. And as it turns out, it’s also important to cut certain foods out of your diet—especially highly processed options. Unfortunately, some of the tastiest treats may actually be holding you back from your weight loss goals for a number of reasons, including the fact that they could be slowing your metabolism.
To discover one of the worst foods for weight loss that you should stop eating if you’re looking to shed some pounds, we spoke to health experts Dana Hunnes, PhD, dietitian and author of Recipe For Survival, and Varsha Khatri, nutritional therapist from Illuminated Health. They told us that although it’s an easy breakfast in a pinch, sugary cereal is a terrible option for your overall health—and your waistline. Learn more about the risks of this deviously delicious food below.
Breakfast cereal
Although sugary cereal may be a favorite breakfast treat for children, we don't blame you if you find yourself reaching for it every now and then as a quick, convenient, and undeniably tasty meal. Unfortunately, though, while tossing some cereal and milk in a bowl may be an easy way to make breakfast, experts warn that it's one of the worst options for your overall health (right up there with sugary pastries), and could even take a toll on your metabolism over time.
"Things like Fruit Loops, Cocoa Puffs, and Frosted Flakes are made with little (if any) whole grains, and have a lot of added sugars in them," Hunnes says. It's no secret that sugar can be detrimental to your overall health, leading to a range of health consequences—including weight gain and a slowed metabolism
Khatri agrees with this sentiment, warning that "cereals are one of the most high-sugar foods." In fact, she notes, "Even cereals that are supposedly 'low-sugar' are in fact high in added sweeteners." So those healthy-looking options may not be great for your weight loss goals, either!
"When you start your day with anything that is high in sugar/sweetener, you are more likely to crave sugar or other sweet foods throughout the day, which means you are more likely to snack just to maintain blood sugar levels," Khatri goes on. Luckily, there are things you can do to manage your blood sugar—and that includes reducing your intake of refined sugar like the kind found in cereal.
Furthermore, it's important to note that since this processed food offers virtually no nutritional value, not only will it fail to keep you satisfied (just one more reason you may overeat later), but it also takes very little calories for your body to burn, which can result in a slowed metabolism.
What to eat instead
If you're looking for a convenient breakfast that won't put your weight loss goals at risk, there are plenty of healthy, tasty options to choose from. All in all, it's important to choose whole grains and fibrous foods over processed options like sugary cereal. One great way to go is by making your own granola with natural sweeteners. Of course, some whole wheat toast, fruit, and/or a hearty bowl of oatmeal are all fantastic choices as well.
Of course, eating a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch every now and then won't cause you to gain 10 pounds overnight. But if weight loss is your goal, limiting your intake of sugar-loaded cereal as much as possible is the best way to go.
