Foods with high amounts of sugar and fat can increase your body fat, especially if you consume these foods on a regular basis and are not physically active. Obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease. You should become familiar with the foods that can add inches to your waistline if you want to improve your health on the inside and out.
Fast Food
Fast food is particularly harmful to your health and can add inches to your waistline. Fast food is often high in calories from trans fat, saturated fat, refined starches and high fructose corn syrup. Both trans fat and saturated fat can be stored as body fat, especially when you consume a soda or fruit juice that is high in sugar with your meal. Milkshakes, regular sodas, cheeseburgers, french fries, fried chicken strips and desserts are exactly what you want to avoid. Even grilled chicken sandwiches are not always a healthful option because they are sometimes cooked on a grill that has been slathered with margarine and partially hydrogenated oil, both high in trans fatty acids according to the Office of Health Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, they are served on buns made with refined flour.
aCalorieCounter.com compiled a list of the "88 Least Healthy Foods" and the "272 Fast Food Items Highest in Calories" from the USDA Food Nutrition Database. Foods from the White Castle, Dairy Queen, Nathan's and Hardee's routinely make both lists. White Castle is especially high in calories and trans fat. The large chocolate shake from White Castle has 1680 calories. The Homestyle Onion Rings from White Castle have 30 grams of trans fat.
Pot Pies
Pot pies are among the most calorie-dense foods and can store fat. The University of Pennsylvania notes that even though frozen-food makers try to avoid putting trans fat in their pot-pie meals, pot pies are loaded with saturated fat. The Center for Science in the Public Interest lists "Marie Callender's (16.5 oz) Chicken Pot Pie" as the number one worst food on their "10 Worst and Best Foods" list. This meal contains 1040 calories and 22 g saturated fat -- more saturated fat than the USDA says you should consume in an entire day.
Desserts
You should already know that desserts are fattening, but some dessert options are certainly worse than others. Desserts that are high in fat and high in sugar should be avoided. Doughnuts, particularly glazed doughnuts with a creme filling, are high in fat, in addition to their sugar and refined flour. Nutrientfacts.com reports that a doughnut with a creme filling will routinely contain 21 grams of fat. Jelly doughnuts generally have 16 grams of fat, but they're not much better as a choice because they are also high in sugar and refined starch. Cheesecake, especially commercially prepared cheesecake, may be the most fattening of all. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that the "Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake" at the Cheesecake Factory has 1670 calories and 48 grams of saturated fat, nearly 3 days worth of saturated fat.
References
- a Calorie Counter: 272 Fast Food Items Highest in Calories
- University of Pennsylvania Office of Health Education: The Top 10 Foods to Beware
- MayoClinic.com: Trans Fat is Double Trouble for Your Heart Health
- a Calorie Counter: Fast Food Items Highest In Trans Fat: The 88 Least Healthy Foods
- Center for the Science in the Public Interest Nutrition Action Health Letter: Ten Worst and Best Foods
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