When we think of foods that are bad for us, we generally assume this is because it contributes to weight gain but did you know? some foods we consume are actually life threatening? that’s correct, life threatening. On the other hand, there are foods out there claiming to be good for you through its branding and name but as a matter of fact are worse to eat.

French fries 

When talking about killer foods the most obvious one is the french fry or ‘chip’, also deemed as ‘death in a stick’.

Did you know that one portion of fries can contain up to 540 calories per serving, and being a food typically eaten alongside a greasy burger or pizza you could already be using your recommended daily calorie intake all on one meal! It is obvious through the name, that a French FRY is no healthy option, bathed in oil and dipped in sauces, so why are they so popular? This actually comes down to science. Genetically, people are prone to choosing foods to eat that are going to be tasty which calls for a lot of sugar or salt in the food, so, if you were to fry a piece of broccoli in a pool of oil and coat it in tons of sugar or salt, the chances are more people are going to want to it eat as opposed to a steamed version of broccoli.

Several fast food chains are known for their golden and crispy french fries, so much so, that when a study was carried out examining the science behind peoples love for a particular fast food chains fries, several factors were discovered which lead to the ‘love’ of these fries. The study revealed that 90 percent of the reason why fast food fries are so popular is down to the easily recognisable smell. Did you know? Fast food restaurants actually use a chemical in the vegetable oil they fry in that allows people to instantly recognise the smell of the fries. As well as this, fries contain salt, fat and a type of sugar known as dextrose which makes the fries ‘tasty’.

The most interesting thing that was come across when learning about fries though, was the fact that many fast food french fries are known to release a chemical called ‘dopamine’ into the brain, which triggers a feeling of pleasure amongst humans – so it could be said that french fries actually attract people psychologically.

But how do fries KILL? Fries are a very starchy food, and when cooked at a high temperature, this can form a chemical compound known as Acrylamide which has can have a toxic effect on humans beings. This chemical compound can cause deadly tumours in our lungs, glands and the thyroid. As well as this, past experimentation’s reveal that eating fries up to twice a week can lead to a shorter life span. So is the fry really worth it? No. In the same way fries psychologically entice us to be eaten, we should set ourselves the mindset that they are in fact, deadly.

Diet foods 

When a brand or company uses the word ‘diet’ you naturally assume that the products being sold will only benefit you. This however, is not always the case. There are actually many problems with diet foods which prove why you should always source and prepare your own meals, particularly when trying to slim down.

To begin with, the diet industry is known for selling ‘low fat’ foods, but what is not very well known is that a lot of these foods as a result of being low fat, are high in sugar. Diet foods can contain a minimum of 2 teaspoons of sugar per serving and at times contain enough sugar to equate the levels of fat that could have been inside the product. Not only does this actually encourage weight gain, diet products with so much sugar can increase your risks of acne, diabetes, heart disease and so much more. Take granola for example; an item thousands of dieters around the world eat for a ‘healthy breakfast’. Many types of granola contain molasses, syrups and oils and when mixed in with these ‘low fat’ but high in sugar yogurts, the calories and sugar levels begin to rise up.

diet foods also tend to play on our minds. When something is branded healthier, you may think that eating more of it will not matter because it is a ‘diet-food’. As well as this, because the food is not as filling, it takes more of the product to feel full which can cause you to be consuming more calories than you would eating a product that isn’t ‘diet friendly’.

At URimage, we understand that many people have body concerns, which is why we offer a range of non-surgical slimming treatments more effective than supposed diet brands, that are pain free and most importantly – affordable.

It is important to take care of ourselves setting the mindset that a healthy lifestyle will only improve our quality of life, this can start by avoiding the big no-no’s when it comes to food.