A poor diet can have a detrimental effect on your health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend eating a healthy diet to prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
What Exactly Is A Healthy Diet?
Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD, cardiologist, said, “A healthy diet is one full of products sold by the pound with lots of fresh produce, fruits, and grains. It consists mainly of nuts, good vegetable oils, legumes, and whole grains, and contains little animal products, except for dairy and fish.”
Here are some foods doctors would like you to eliminate from your diet to live healthier, longer lives so you can have a balanced diet.
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Soda
Stay hydrated. Although it quenches your thirst, fizzy drinks are one of the worst drinks to drink. Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC, cardiologist, says soda delivers no beneficial nutrients and only potentially harmful additives. No nutritional sweetener is neutral. It leads to insulin dysregulation by messing with our gut microbiome.
Breakfast Cereals
If you’re concerned about your metabolic health, don’t start the day with cereal. Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, MD, recommends avoiding processed flour in foods such as cereals, grains, loaves of bread, crackers, and baked goods. Even grain flour with a low glycemic index will drastically increase blood sugar levels if processed or refined. Diabetes can lead to disordered metabolism and eating patterns, creating obesity and insulin resistance over time.
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Alcohol
Cancer treatment aims to build and maintain one’s body so it can handle the taxing effect of cancer and its treatments. The body needs to stay strong during treatments when cancer patients avoid alcohol. The results of alcohol negate these goals, and it makes the process of recovery and strength even harder for the body and mind.
Refined Vegetable Oils
A restaurant typically uses refined vegetable oils for frying. The repeated heating process of these processed oils causes the liver to undergo oxidative stress. According to Dr. Cucuzzella, they are less desirable than natural fats like butter, olive oil, and other fats in plants and animals.