Five foods to never eat again

There are foods in your kitchen and refrigerator that have a dark side. Read on to avoid the worst of what families in Pakistan frequently consume. As compiled from ABC News, ausfoodnews.com, healthimpactnews.com, nhs.uk, and rodalnews.com, these five foods are a complete no-no.

White bread

White bread, a naashta staple, looks and tastes delicious, but has refined grains, which are low in magnesium, zinc, vitamin E, fibre and essential fatty acids. White bread has a high glycemic index because it’s made from refined grains that are rapidly absorbed during digestion, causing sharp spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, diet, which includes a high quotient of white bread, increases your risk for weight gain, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Microwave popcorn

Microwave popcorn, a favourite movie snack, comprises butter flavour, which may be injurious to health. Diacetyl in microwave popcorn helps create its buttery aroma and has been linked to serious health issues for those who make the snack. Experts believe that when heated, the chemical produces a toxic and potentially lethal gas. David Michaels, assistant secretary of energy, who has been studying the issue for the last four years, said, “Workers who mix the chemical as a liquid or powders breathe in small amounts of this chemical and it just devastates their lungs.”

Margarine

 The unnatural fats used to make margarine, formed during the process of hydrogenation, which turns liquid vegetable oils into solid fat, is dangerous. Trans fats in margarine contribute to heart disease, cancer, bone problems, hormonal imbalance and skin disease. It can also lead to infertility, difficulties in pregnancy and problems with lactation, low birth weight, growth problems and learning disabilities in children. A United States government panel of scientists determined that man-made trans fats that margarine has in abundance are unsafe at any level.

Diet soda

Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame K, and neotame. “The safety data on these sweeteners is shrouded in controversy and conflicts of interest with the manufacturers of these chemical compounds,” warns Dr Eliaz, an integrative health expert. “Independent research strongly suggests that when metabolised in the body, these sweeteners can cause health-related issues and problems related to weight gain, neurological diseases, joint pain, digestive problems, headaches, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, chemical toxicity, and cancer, among others,” he added.

White chocolate

The right kind of chocolate serves not only as a delectable treat but also a brain-boosting super food. But white chocolate doesn’t comprise cacao beans that give chocolate its brown colour and benefits. “The data on the health benefits of cacao is pretty awesome,” said Dr Drew Ramsey, MD, assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. “Much of this is due to a set of amazing phytonutrients that can increase blood flow to the brain, protect blood vessels, and boost mood and focus. White chocolate is missing all this goodness.”