The never-ending selection of foods in supermarkets can make it difficult to choose the most healthy options when it comes to feeding you and our family. Generally, it is best to sacrifice convenience and steer clear of high-fat, highly processed junk foods and fill your shopping cart with natural, colorful fresh fruits, vegetable and lean white meats.
Caffeine
In the United States, there is an abundance of caffeine in products like coffee, black tea, cola drinks, cocoa and chocolate. While caffeine can be helpful and harmless in moderation, overconsumption can lead to several adverse effects. Caffeine lowers blood sugar, thus increasing your appetite. It also stimulates adrenal function, which leads to heavy secretion of hormones, ultimately causing blood sugar to rise again at a rapid rate. Overuse can also increase anxiety and panic attacks, irritability and mood swings.
Red Meat, Eggs and Dairy Products
While animal products are generally an acceptable and rather common part of the American diet, consuming a disproportionate amount of animals products like red meat, eggs and dairy products is not advisable. These foods are the primary source of saturated fats in the American diet, which helps contribute to obesity, heart disease and a number of other serious conditions. The hormones found in various animals products also can disrupt normal and healthy human growth and development.
Foods Containing Added Sugars
Products with added sugar are difficult to avoid in any supermarket. Sugar is added to foods and beverages to boost flavor, increase food bulk, improve texture and serve as a preservative. As the case with most foods, sugar is acceptable in small dosages, but consuming many products with added sugar can lead to tooth decay, weight gain, high triglycerides and malnutrition.
Canned Soup.
Most canned soups found in your local grocery store contain high amounts of trans fats, artificial preservatives like MSG and sodium. Dietary guidelines recommend that individuals consume no more than 2,400 mg of sodium a day while a cup of canned soup can contain as much as 1,000. Too much sodium in one's diet can promote obesity, hypertension and heart disease.
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