Foods to drop: Why ditching bacon, white bread, and trans fats matters

Exercise regularly and adequate sleep are not enough to maintain good health, radiant skin, and a slim figure. A significant part of success lies in a balanced diet. Eliminating just five categories of food can significantly improve our well-being and appearance!

What we consume has a significant impact on our well-being and the condition of our bodies. We present a list of products to avoid and maintain health. Importantly, these are trendy products often found in our homes.

The World Health Organization classifies bacon in the same carcinogenic risk category as tobacco, so it's a grave threat. The problem with bacon and other processed meats lies in the nitrates they contain. According to research published in the Meat Science Journal, in the stomach, nitrates can convert into carcinogenic nitrosamines.

During refining, whole grains lose a significant portion of their nutritional value, such as antioxidant activity, zinc, vitamin E, and fibre. Choosing between white flour pasta and whole-grain pasta is more than just a taste choice—it's about nutritional value, and these are often at a very low level.

It's worth mentioning that white bread or rice are also in the same category. These products often form the basis of the daily diet.

Hydrogenated fats, known as trans fats, are created through an industrial process that converts liquid vegetable oils into solid or semi-solid fats. These fats can be found not only in fast food but also in many packaged food products. Population studies show that hydrogenated fats increase mortality and are mainly used to improve the financial efficiency of producers. However, these savings pose a significant threat to our health.

Potato crisps are high in calories, have low nutritional value, and have a high content of cheap fats and sodium. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular snacks, which - when consumed regularly - will not remain without impact on our body. Fortunately, alternatives such as lentil crisps are appearing on the market, which have a similar texture and taste but are healthier.

Added sugar has zero nutritional value, and medical studies indicate that it increases the risk of obesity and metabolic diseases. Therefore, it is an addition we should definitely avoid. Instead, we can choose healthier substitutes, such as dark, sticky molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining that provides some amounts of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron.