What Is The Worst Food To Eat?

American fare offers no shortage of unhealthy foods. Fast-food offerings, packaged snack crackers and sugar-laden desserts are available all across the United States. However, donuts, a common dessert and snack item in the United States, contain several ingredients that make them particularly unhealthy.

Trans Fats

Trans fats are oils, typically vegetable oils, that have been infused with hydrogen to stabilize them. This extends the shelf life of these oils and renders them solids at room temperature. However, your body cannot use trans fats, so it stores them as extra weight. Trans fats also contribute to arterial blockages that can cause heart disease and stroke. Although trans fat content varies according to preparation methods, a single donut can contain as much as 2 g of trans fats, the entire recommended intake for one day.

Saturated Fats

The oils used in donut preparation are loaded with saturated fats. These fats, which are semi-solid at room temperature, elevate low-density lipoproteins and triglycerides that can cause fatty blockages in your circulatory system. Saturated fats also might contribute to weight gain. One large doughnut contains about 3 g of saturated fats, or about 15 percent of the recommended daily limit.

Simple Carbohydrates

Donuts commonly are made using white flour, which is made of grains that have been processed and bleached to remove the bran. White flour is a simple carbohydrate, which your body quickly turns into glucose. Rapid glucose spikes cause short bursts of energy followed by fatigue. Glucose elevations also increase your risk of developing diabetes, a potentially fatal condition marked by the inability to produce or use insulin to control blood sugar levels.

Sugars

Donuts commonly are glazed with sugar, and some varieties also are filled with sugary cream, jelly or custard. Like white flour, refined sugars can trigger rapid blood glucose spikes. Refined sugars also can add unwanted pounds to your body.

Sodium

Salt, a primary source of sodium in the American diet, typically is used in the preparation of doughnut batter; a large donut contains about 238 mg of sodium, or about 12 percent of the recommended daily intake. Sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease.

High Calories and Low Nutrients

A large donut contains about 250 calories, about 12 percent of the daily intake for adult Americans, but offers little in the way of nutrients. Donuts are not significant sources of fiber, vitamins or minerals, all of which are needed for physical health and cognitive function.