Whether you go into it with a list or simply wing it based on your current cravings, we all need to stock up at the grocery store on a regular basis. The foods you stock your kitchen with play a major role in your health, so it’s important to choose wisely. And if you’re starting your fitness journey or just want to keep your weight in check, knowing the right foods to buy and the ones to avoid can be difficult. That’s why we’re here to help you out with some expert advice.
To get the run-down on some of the items you should definitely leave on the shelf if you want to shed a few pounds, we spoke to Joann Wen, founder of Spices & Greens and Lisa Richards, nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet. They told us that white bread and potato chips should never be on your list. Read on for more info!
1. White bread
Bread is typically a staple on grocery lists. However, Richards warns that you should be careful about what type of bread you throw into your cart if you're trying to avoid weight gain. As it turns out, white bread is one of the worst things you can eat for your overall health—especially if you're watching your weight. She explains that this type of bread, along with other foods made from refined carbs, "have many negative side effects for our health and belly fat is just one of them." This is because they contain highly processed ingredients that "have undergone a refining process where the fiber and beneficial nutrients are removed and possibly replaced with synthetic versions," which can take a serious toll on your health over time, including "quick sugar spikes and inflammation, both of which stall weight loss and damage health." Yikes! That means it's best to stick to whole wheat varieties, which also provide more fiber, which means they'll keep you satiated longer. It's a win-win!
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2. Chips
If you do your grocery shopping while you're hungry, you may be tempted to grab sweet or salty snacks that your cravings call for. Unfortunately, though, these processed foods are typically terrible for your health and can throw a wrench in your weight loss progress. Wen says that potato chips are some of the worst culprits out there. "Many chips are fried in unhealthy oils and coated with salt, making them very high in calories and unhealthy fats," she warns. In addition to all of that fat and calories, this snack also contains "little to no fiber," which means it won't keep you full very long, leading to overeating later in the day. And we all know that overeating is a habit you should avoid at all costs if you want to slim down. For this reason, it's better to snack on healthier, more satiating options. Go with foods that contain high amounts of fiber and protein; your body will thank you in the end!
All in all, avoiding highly processed foods filled with refined ingredients is essential when it comes to your health and your weight loss efforts. Of course, indulging every now and then will be just fine—but whenever possible, it's best to leave these items out of your grocery cart.
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