Useful and harmful products. The most harmful food

We all know what it means junk food, but when there is no time for a full lunch, we snack on the run: shawarma or a hamburger and a bottle of cola. But you need to know how these products affect our body.

Cola: better use it on the farm

This drink was created by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton back in 1886. It was sold in pharmacies as a medicine for people with nervous disorders, for those who are hooked on morphine (the original composition included coca leaves) and... as a means of combating impotence.

Times have changed. Now cola can be bought in any store anywhere in the world. But this is a real time bomb.

The color of cola is created using a substance called 4-methylmedazole, which causes... cancer. Now in the drink sold in the USA, they are trying to replace this ingredient with a more gentle one. And bottles still containing this composition are supplied to other countries.

The sweetener aspartame (E 951) is another problem with the drink. The idea that aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener is often imposed. But in fact, it is almost 200 (!) times sweeter than sugar. AND side effects he has mass. If you get carried away with products containing E 951 for a long time (by the way, they are found in almost all industrial sodas), you can give yourself migraines, allergies, insomnia and even depression. The latter is due to the fact that aspartame contains phenylalanine, which inhibits the production of the happiness hormone in the body - serotonin.

If you drink Coca-Cola, you kill your teeth! And it's not a joke. It contains a lot of orthophosphoric acid, which disrupts acid-base balance. To neutralize the acid, the body begins to remove calcium from the teeth and bones. And very soon caries and osteoporosis (increased fragility of bones) will come knocking on your door.

So what to do? Don't drink cola at all. It’s better to add it to washing powder – it fights stains well. Or boil a kettle with the drink and the scale will be gone.

Hamburger: forget about it

This product is also over a hundred years old. True, in the original version, the American cook Louis Lessing only put in the bun chicken cutlet and vegetables. Nowadays the hamburger is not the same...

Let's start with the meat. Firstly, several months before killing, cows are driven into a special territory and feed them grain and anabolic steroids (medications for increase muscle mass), not grass. Secondly, in the minced meat from which the cutlet is made, there may be... manure. Yes, yes, you didn’t think so. Therefore, you can simply get poisoned with such meat.

Have you ever noticed that even if you don’t like hamburgers, sometimes you’re dying to eat one? It's all about monosodium glutamate - this supplement works on everything taste buds tongue, so junk food seems tastier than it actually is. And... it's addictive.

There is a lot of salt in such a bun with meat (in one hamburger half daily value) and ketchup (it contains harmful purified). All this puts a strain on the kidneys, resulting in swelling and high blood pressure.

Cultivate your willpower - give up the hamburger. After all, the reason that sometimes you incredibly crave such unhealthy food lies not in your desire, but in the dangerous monosodium glutamate.

Shawarma: good morning, E. coli!

Ideally, this oriental dish should not contain any ketchup or mayonnaise, only lamb or chicken and vegetables. But at roadside stalls we buy something different. No one knows what kind of meat is in the middle, what quality it is or expiration date.

Shawarma is a real record holder in several respects. It has double daily norm fat, moreover, saturated fats, which “sit” the heart and blood vessels, stomach and intestines. Almost the daily requirement of salt! And half the daily calorie intake is almost a thousand!

Inconsistency sanitary standards, in which fast food should be prepared - another alarm bell for the consumer. Have you wondered How often does the chef wash his hands at the shawarma stand? And because of this, unexpected microorganisms can settle in meat and vegetables. Do you think why they add so many spices to this fast food? Pepper can “nail” them a little. Therefore, if you couldn’t resist and bought shawarma, ask to add a double portion of seasonings. And replace mayonnaise and ketchup with sour cream or kefir sauce - at least it has fewer calories.

Junk food is something you should avoid , giving preference to tasty and healthy dishes. Cook with us and be healthy.

Journalist, radio presenter, author of the book “Live Fly. Let’s learn to write simply and not boringly” In life you need to do only what you love. Otherwise, depression will quickly become your faithful companion. That's why I love what I do. I love creating useful texts. To read it and want to lose weight/get wiser/move mountains. I love listening to the stories of RadioM heroes. Because even the most creative screenwriter won't come up with this. But life makes things up. I love the constant experience of two states: hand trembling - before the live broadcast, indescribable pleasure - after. I love helping make dreams come true, which is why I have been teaching students at the New Journalist media profession school for seven years. I love to read. Therefore, at the end of 2017, she published the book “Living Fly. We learn to write simply and not boringly.” And in 2018 I finally want to read 100 books in a year! I like to dream. So I just live and do what I love.

We all know, in principle, that eating right is necessary for our body to function correctly, so that we feel good and look great. But what does it mean to “eat right”? This is what this article will discuss.

Proper nutrition - antioxidants

Antioxidants are essential protection for the body from oxidation. And oxidation is the aging of the body. More and more often we hear people talking about useful qualities product, they are often mentioned as a very important component.

In the process of life, aggressive molecules appear in our body - free radicals, which attack and kill healthy cells, destroy enzymes, damage the DNA molecule, which leads to an unhealthy genetic program for the future generation, damages organs and causes other harm to the body.

All this leads to the body becoming oxidized, weakened, damaged, and diseases begin to develop and progress.

In order to neutralize free radicals and prevent the oxidation process, it is necessary to include daily diet healthy foods containing antioxidants. Scientists have proven that free radicals shorten life by more than a dozen years! Using the example of animals that were given antioxidant substances in laboratory conditions, it was verified that life with constant use certain products, may increase by 25-40 years.

Antioxidants are of great importance for our beauty and health, they minimize the most important cause of disease and stop aging, protect collagen and elastin from destruction by free radicals.

Healthy food and junk food

Unhealthy food
These are products with increased content cholesterol. It is deposited in the body in the form of waste and clogs the body. A person begins to get sick more and ages quickly. The leaders in cholesterol content are lard, butter, sour cream, cheese, meat, liver, eggs.

It is harmful to eat food with a high protein content. A lot of proteins are found in meat, cottage cheese, cheese, eggs, and soy.

Animal fats are harmful because they begin to rot when they enter the stomach. The body becomes weakened and susceptible to various diseases, cell regeneration slows down.

Healthy food
Healthy foods are foods that contain antioxidants with bioflavonoids that reduce the damage caused fatty foods. Also healthy products with a pronounced color: blueberries, pomegranate, black grapes, cherries, cherries, currants, viburnum, rowan, raspberries, strawberries, wild strawberries, cranberries, lingonberries, grapefruit, beets, tomatoes, apples, sea buckthorn, red cabbage, eggplant , lettuce, spinach and other greens. Remember that the maximum amount of antioxidants is found in the peel, seeds and bark of plants. Sprouted wheat, beans, and peas are also very useful. Don't forget about cocoa, tea, garlic, onions and nuts. They will help maintain beauty and health.

Longevity Products
Foods that have a beneficial effect on memory: oranges, peaches, tomatoes, onions, apples, persimmons, kiwis and grapes.

Improves digestion: dairy products, apples, kiwi, mango, pineapple, radish, turnip, cabbage, cinnamon, kelp, mushrooms, licorice root, celery, black pepper.

Will lower cholesterol: avocado, apples, banana, beans, salmon, garlic, prunes, almonds, cashews, walnuts, sesame seeds, spinach, as well as tea and chocolate, tofu cheese (bean curd).

Rejuvenate: spirulina, sea buckthorn.

To preserve youth: apples, pomegranates, oranges, peaches, plums, black currants, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, cherries, tomatoes, broccoli, red onions, spinach, bread or bran cereal, oatmeal, tea, chocolate in moderation and coffee.

Strengthen immune system: fresh vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruits, cabbage, spinach, oysters, mushrooms. Also consume complete proteins in the form of low-fat meat, fish (especially salmon), poultry, egg white and dairy products.

Prevent cancer: tomatoes, soybeans (prevention of breast and ovarian cancer). There are also combinations of foods that can prevent cancer, these are: broccoli and tomatoes, soybeans and tea (black and green). The combination of selenium and sulforaphane also prevents cancer. Selenium in brazil nuts, poultry, tuna, eggs, sunflower seeds and mushrooms. Sulforaphane is found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and watercress.

For beauty and elasticity of the skin: fennel, avocado, fatty fish(especially salmon), oysters, olive oil, fermented milk products, sauerkraut, hard cheese, walnuts, millet, kiwi, champignons.

Strengthen the nervous system: seafood, pike perch, carp, skimmed milk, seaweed, brown rice, corn, prunes, sesame seeds, Bell pepper, avocado, melon, cheese, bananas, pineapple, apples, plums, kiwi, blueberries, squash, cucumbers, spinach, cabbage (white, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts), lettuce, green peas, asparagus, onions, herbs (parsley, dill ).

Cook it right

We all, to a greater or lesser extent, think about what we should eat. healthy vegetables and fruits, and also wonder how to prepare vegetables and preserve vitamins. It is important to cook them correctly in order to preserve precious vitamins, micro and macroelements. To do this, you should follow some rules that will become a habit over time and will help keep you and your family beautiful and healthy.

• It is better to steam vegetables.
  To prevent excess juice from oozing out from vegetables, do not add salt during cooking; it is better to add salt to the finished dish.
• It's even better if you steam it in a pressure cooker.
  This will help you better preserve vitamins, micro and macro elements. And what is important: the energy of the products is not destroyed.
• To save more vitamins When cooking vegetables in water, give preference to enamel cookware rather than aluminum, copper or stainless steel cookware.
• Vitamins will be preserved better if you lower vegetables or fruits to boil in already boiling water.
• After the vegetables are cooked, immediately pour out the water so that vitamins and microelements do not go into the water and the vegetables do not lose their taste.

• If you cook cabbage soup, then put the sauerkraut in cold broth (water), and the stewed cabbage in boiling water.
• It is better to steam vegetables for salads with their skins on. If you don't have a steamer, place the unpeeled vegetables in boiling water. This way you will save some of the vitamins. If you add a little soda to the water, the vegetables will retain their color better.

Eating healthy is a habit. The main thing is to start. First, replace one product with a healthier one, prepare food using a more gentle method, and so, step by step, you will eat more and more correctly, and your body will work like a clock.
Beauty and health to you!

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All more people Lately people have been paying attention to the question healthy eating and the difference between healthy and unhealthy food. Sedentary image life and sedentary work leads far from better consequences. But this is not the most important factor. Junk food forms in the body overweight and creates health problems.

Industrial food, which contains almost nothing natural, is unlikely to saturate your body useful microelements and minerals. Junk food on English language sounds like junk food. Abroad, you can increasingly hear this phrase in different languages from people who are worried about the health of their children and loved ones.

The most harmful food

Among the abundance of food products that damage health and significantly reduce life expectancy, experts have identified a list of the most dangerous products. Many of them are very familiar in Everyday life and form the basis of the system fast food. However, doctors and specialists worked to create the list below, whose opinions are worth listening to.

Chips

Recognized as the most harmful product. Thanks to high concentration carbohydrates and fats, generously sprinkled with flavorings, colors and aromas, a 200-gram packet of chips is equivalent to half the daily kilocalorie requirement of an adult. They contain a large number of carcinogens that can cause cancer, and the mass of hydrogenated fats will significantly increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, which can result in a stroke or heart attack.

Carbonated sweet drinks

It is a mixture of water, chemicals and gas. Aspartame (E951) is a synthetic sweetener. Felatanin, which is part of it, is especially harmful. Sweet carbonated drinks do not quench thirst, but on the contrary, they make you want to drink more and more, due to the presence of chemical sweeteners that cannot be completely removed by saliva from the oral mucosa. A high sugar content and, as a result, a very low pH significantly disrupt the acid-base balance and lead to the development wide range diseases. There is also sodium benzoate (E211), which slows down enzymes, disrupts metabolism and is the cause of many diseases. It could be skin rashes, and cancer of various parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Fast food

The fast food system has become widespread throughout the world. Starting from stalls making belyashi and shawarma to such giants as Burger King and McDonald's. Junk food in them is mostly represented by either fried dough with meat, or buns stuffed with chemicals with the same cutlets, or sausages and richly seasoned synthetic sauces.

Separately, I would like to highlight deep-fried oil, which is used repeatedly and causes the formation of carcinogens and the development of cancer. Long-term use Such meals lead to many different diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, from colitis to gastritis.

Separately, we can distinguish the group “junk food for children”. These are snacks (nuts, crackers, etc.), juices, lunches instant cooking and sweet bars. They are the result of the development of modern chemical laboratories, but they are of no use. Unfortunately, these products occupy a significant part of the diet of many modern children, causing invaluable damage to their immunity and health in general.

Smoked meats, sausages and semi-finished products

Store-bought smoked meats are dangerous to health due to the fact that in the process of producing them they use benzopyrene or liquid smoke, which form carcinogens.

Sausage, sausages, minced meat, dumplings are also unhealthy foods. They are based on stabilizers, emulsifiers, flavorings and thickeners. Additionally, fats, skins, cartilage and other meat production waste are added there. Separately, it is worth noting the negative impact of genetically modified products, especially transgenic soybeans, which are included in more than 70% of sausages and semi-finished products.

Ketchup and mayonnaise

They are more of a continuation of the previous group of products based on transgenic fats. They also include a large number of stabilizers, preservatives, flavoring and color additives. Excessive use mayonnaise can lead to increased cholesterol levels, and a large amount of ketchup provokes stomach diseases, including ulcerative gastritis.

Trans fats

The name is very general, but also unites a large category of products. This includes crackers, chips, microwave popcorn, frozen desserts, French fries, cakes and, finally, margarine, which significantly expands the list of manufactured products. The harm of these fats is that they significantly increase cholesterol levels in the blood. And in combination with sugar it occurs Great chance metabolic disorders.

Chewing gum and jelly candies

An excellent set for a young chemist. Stabilizers, dyes, thickeners and sweeteners, addictive, can cause stomach problems, caries and lead to excess weight.

Ice cream, store-bought milk and yoghurts

Foods loved by many are also included in the list of the most unhealthy foods. Antioxidants, thickeners, stabilizers and flavorings are far from full list additives contained in them. The presence of living bacteria is also often questionable. Sugar mixed with synthetic additives in ice cream can easily cause obesity.

Industrial vegetables and fruits

The most valuable food products have also undergone refinement and improvement processes. The creation of genetically modified varieties, treatment with chemicals to increase yields and control pests, application of special protective films to increase shelf life - a small list of operations that help sell more products, but make them practically unfit for consumption.

Food and water

The debate about whether drinking after eating is harmful or not has been going on for a very long time. This issue should be considered with scientific point vision. To begin the digestive process, the food eaten must be broken down by gastric juice. Then, in the small intestine, the process of assimilation of nutrients occurs with the help of enzymes. If you drink liquid after eating within 15-30 minutes, it will reduce concentration gastric juice. Also, the flow of liquid will wash away useful elements that should have been absorbed in a certain part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Then the process of synthesizing gastric juice and enzymes is repeated with additional energy consumption. Considering the fact that digestion is one of the most energy-intensive processes, then drinking food means deliberately increasing the load on your body. When intestinal tract unable to regain concentration digestive enzymes In order to completely process the food received, it begins to decompose and rot. These products are absorbed into the blood, and additional energy is expended to remove toxins from the body.

It is correct to drink water 15-30 minutes before a meal and at least 30 minutes after a meal, if it was not very heavy. Healthy and unhealthy foods are digested with at different speeds, therefore, the time of drinking liquid should correspond to the type of food eaten.

The influence of cold or ice-cold drinks also negatively affects the digestion process. Many fast food systems use this. Healthy and unhealthy food washed down with such drinks does not stay in the stomach for more than 20 minutes. Therefore, the feeling of hunger arises again and fast foods receive more orders.

If junk food takes up a large percentage of your diet, then you should gradually replace it with salads or simply drink regular purified water instead of eating. People often confuse hunger with thirst.

Healthy eating

There is a lot of information about which foods are unhealthy and which are healthy. It is worth understanding what constitutes a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs, whole grain cereals and cereals help saturate the body not only useful elements, but also help eliminate toxins. Moderate proper nutrition, regular exercise and plenty of clean water will make the body slim and fit, and most importantly, full of energy and energy.

There is an increasing emphasis on health in schools and preschool institutions. Conducted special classes, sporting events, children write essays in class on the topic “Junk food” in English and Russian.

There are also many different educational programs about healthy eating. They provide information about what healthy and unhealthy foods are. Pictures help children clearly see the difference and even create the right diet.

Proper nutrition gives clear results from the first months. The body changes before our eyes. Excess weight goes away, well-being improves, healthy skin color returns and many other aspects. Constant healthy image life works in the long term, prolongs life and improves many aspects of it.

Currently, many areas of healthy eating are widespread - vegetarianism, raw food diet, Ayurvedic culture and many others. But it is also worth remembering that movement is the basis of life and physical exercise will significantly improve your well-being in combination with proper food and self-development.

Over the past thirty years, the number of obese people has doubled. According to WHO statistics, 1.9 billion adults and 41 million children under 5 years of age are overweight. Scientists predict that by 2025 the number of obese people on the planet will be 40–50%.

Excess weight spoils your appearance, worsens your quality of life, and increases the risk of premature death. The main reason obesity is unhealthy food - drinks and products containing carcinogens, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors. Foods that increase the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood are considered hazardous to health, causing allergic reactions.

To the list of the most harmful products, including for vegetarians, you can include:

• fried potatoes and chips;
• ketchup;
• canned food;
• candies;
• corn sticks;
• margarine;
• popcorn;
• instant food products;
• sugar;
• salt.

Some of these foods should be completely excluded from your diet. Candy, ketchup and popcorn can be eaten as long as they are prepared at home without harmful additives. It is advisable to simply reduce salt consumption.

Harmful without any reservations

Potato tubers contain organic acids and nutrients, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins A, C, group B. And yet, nutrition experts recommend reducing (not completely abandoning!) the consumption of this vegetable, as it is rich in starch. Fried potatoes - fries and chips - are especially harmful.

Starch and fats are clogged blood vessels, provoking the development of atherosclerosis.

Store-bought chips contain MSG and chemical flavoring additives. In fast food establishments, vegetable oil is used repeatedly for deep frying, which contributes to the accumulation of carcinogens. Scientists have found that frying carbohydrate foods high temperature leads to the formation of acrylamide, a toxic substance that causes cancer.

Naturally, the list of harmful products includes canned food - shelf-stable products that have wasted most of the vitamins during heat treatment. Sterilization for 70–95 minutes kills pathogenic microflora, but, as practice shows, not always completely. Bloated canned food contains botulinum bacilli - microbes that can develop without access to oxygen. Once in the body, the contaminated product causes severe infection, affecting the nervous system.

Corn sticks, beloved by many children, can also be classified as harmful. Airy, crispy snacks are made from refined flour, which means it is low in vitamins. But even the miraculously preserved remains of useful substances are destroyed during heat treatment. The result is a food product that is poor in micro- and macroelements, seasoned with sweeteners and flavors. At the same time, corn sticks are ahead of popcorn in terms of carbohydrate content. They cause increased gas formation, interfere with the work of enzymes, and slow down the movement of food through the intestines.

Invented 1.5 centuries ago, a butter substitute, margarine, consists of vegetable fats(80%) and water. Its remaining ingredients are corn syrup, stabilizers, emulsifiers, flavor modifiers and colors. To emulsify from water and vegetable oil has become a solid product, the fatty acid structure undergoes hydrogenation.

As a result, trans fats appear in the product - toxic substances, which our body is unable to process.

Australian scientists have proven that consuming margarine negatively affects the intelligence of children. Unhealthy diet leads to cardiovascular diseases, oncology, diabetes. It is noteworthy that in Russia only 7% of the population buys margarine. The main consumers of ersatz butter are ice cream producers, bakery products and confectioners.

The most harmful food products are instant products obtained by sublimation and dehydration. These include: snacks, breakfast cereals, soups and noodles in briquettes, bouillon cubes, powdered mashed potatoes, packaged cereals. All instant food products are preserved taste qualities for a long shelf life. However, they contain neither vitamins nor fiber. But there is monosodium glutamate, which causes food addiction in humans.

Harmful, but there are useful analogues

Factory-made sweets pose a health hazard: chewing candies, lollipops, and candy bars. These are the most harmful products for the figure, as they contain shock doses. The sweets contain trans fats and chemical additives. Lollipops and “toffees” damage tooth enamel. Chocolate bars lead to psychological addiction to sweets and obesity. The dyes used to glaze dragees cause neuroses in children, anxiety, and increased excitability.

Undoubtedly, store-bought ketchup is a junk food. Even high-quality tomato concentrate is contraindicated for people with problems digestive tract, as it causes heartburn and aggravates gastritis. The additives and spices contained in ketchup are hazardous to your health. They can provoke allergy attacks. French scientists have found that consuming ketchup leads to disturbances in spermatogenesis in men. Cheap concentrates contain bright dyes, modified starch and high dose Sahara.

Popcorn can be classified as both healthy and harmful products. On the one side, popcorn rich in fiber and proteins, B vitamins. It is low-calorie, contains polyphenols, cleanses the intestines, and removes carcinogens. On the other hand, cinemas and stores sell popcorn with flavoring additives that provoke gastritis. A snack topped with caramel is high in calories. Salted maize disrupts the water balance in the body. The same unhealthy food– buttered popcorn. During its preparation, unscrupulous manufacturers add diacetyl to give the corn a sweet aroma.

The dangers of salt and sugar have been talked about for a long time. Excessive consumption simple carbohydrates disrupts metabolism, reduces immunity seventeen times, causes premature aging skin.

The absorption of refined sugar requires enormous amounts of calcium, which contributes to the development of osteoporosis. “Sweet poison” creates a feeling of false hunger and is addictive.

Salt tends to accumulate in the body, which causes fluid stagnation in the tissues, problems with joints and bones, kidneys, heart, and blood movement through the vessels. In some cases, salt-free nutrition can help get rid of edema.

What products can replace junk food? Here is a list of useful analogues:

• homemade and nuts;
• sauces made from fresh tomatoes with paprika, basil, garlic and onions;
• honey, dried and fresh fruits instead of sugar;
• pure homemade popcorn without oil or flavorings;
• garlic, onion, parsley, dill, seaweed instead of salt;
• Foods such as spinach, celery, carrots, beets, cucumbers, and oat grains are rich in sodium.

However, it is important to observe moderation here too. Thus, the daily honey consumption rate for an adult is up to 50 ml. Bee products should not be given to children under 2 years of age. In addition, it is harmful to heat honey to a temperature above 40 degrees or put it in boiling water.

20 g of nuts per day is a healthy snack that replenishes the body's energy reserves. At the same time, you should not overuse hazelnuts, cashews or pistachios, as they contain a lot of fatty acids. Maximum daily dose nuts for women – 50–70 g, for men – 100–150 g.

Dried fruits are also high in calories. Without compromising your slim figure, you can eat up to 75 g of raisins, 100 g of prunes or 300 g of dried apricots daily. The norm for dates is 18 pieces, figs - 20, apricots - 30 per day.

Drinks you should avoid

The most beneficial liquid for humans, without a doubt, is pure water. This is what you need to drink in large quantities between meals. If there is a shortage of any salts, you can drink natural mineral water without gas.

Green and black teas contain caffeine, theobromine and theophylline. These substances actively affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

The list of the most harmful food products complements the list of drinks in the best possible way. Among them:

• alcohol. This is the cause of illness and personality destruction. In fact, it is a drug, therefore it causes rapid addiction, which can later be difficult to get rid of;
• sparkling water. Contains carbonic acid, which destroys tooth enamel and irritating the intestinal mucosa. Soda with sugar (lemonade, Coca-Cola, Pepsi) contributes to obesity;
• coffee. Causes addiction, washes away and makes it difficult to absorb microelements. Negatively affects the nervous and cardiac systems. Excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks (more than 5 cups per day) leads to dehydration;
• juices Stimulate the secretion of gastric secretions, causing heartburn. May cause allergies and diabetes mellitus;
• energy. They combine all the disadvantages of the drinks listed above. They contain carbon dioxide, alcohol, caffeine, alkaloids, taurine, mate, ginseng, and guarana extracts. Energy drinks have a stimulating effect, thereby disrupting the body’s natural biorhythms.

A unhealthy diet causes irreparable damage to health, so the most logical solution would be to avoid drinks containing sugar, psychostimulants, alcohol and carbon dioxide. Instead of juices, it is better to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. They have more mineral salts, vitamins, fiber and less sugars.

Correct and is the key happy life, beautiful appearance and energy.

Probably, few of us know that our health and external beauty largely depend on the balance of our diet, and not on the use of expensive cosmetics and conducting salon procedures. Junk food and its daily consumption have a detrimental effect on our internal health, which negatively affects the condition of the skin, hair, and nails. What food is considered harmful?

Food is considered harmful not because it contains a huge amount of calories (in this case, the danger is only overweight). Everything is much more serious. In fact, what you eat will ultimately affect how you look. Let's look at the most harmful foods that should be completely eliminated from consumption or reduced to a minimum in your diet.

First of all, surrogate products that are only effectively disguised as natural are considered junk food. Among them are various margarines, ready-made dressings, sauces, mayonnaises (except homemade), yoghurt products (not natural yoghurts), etc. All of them are designed to make our food delicious. But in fact, they contain a huge amount of trans fats, carcinogens and other chemical additives that cause irreparable damage to our health. In this case, the output will be self-cooking sauces, dressings, etc.

Instant food products - noodles, all kinds canned soups, bouillon cubes, purees, etc., are also classified as harmless products due to their composition, which consists almost entirely of chemicals.

Products that contain large amounts of refined sugar are also unhealthy foods. These products include carbonated sweet drinks, baked goods, cookies, chocolate bars, lollipops, chewing candies and lozenges, ready-made compotes, juices, candied fruits, etc. for example, one glass of lemonade contains about five teaspoons of sugar. Can such a drink quench your thirst? No! But it may well cause damage to health.

Junk food also includes various smoked products. Among them: sausages, fish, sausages, meat, sausages, ham, ready-made pates and other products containing hidden fat. In such products, the meat is skillfully masked with lard, fat and skin, which occupy more than 40% of the total mass of the product. In addition, they add a huge amount of dyes and flavoring additives.

Refined flour, as well as products made from it, are also considered unhealthy food, since its composition is completely free of B complex vitamins and vitamin E.

Dried fruits should also be excluded from consumption (with the exception of self-dried ones), since for the purpose of long-term preservation, strong chemicals are added to them, which is unsafe for health.

Potato chips are considered probably the most harmful and dangerous food in the world, since they are not only carbohydrates and fats pure form, but also a large number of artificial seasonings and flavor enhancers. At the same time, chips made from a mixture of purees and various additives pose a great danger.

Alcohol also fell into the category of unsafe products, since even in minimal quantities it interferes with the body's absorption of vitamins. In addition, alcoholic drinks are high in calories, and this negatively affects not only the beauty of the skin, but also the figure.

As for preservatives, any addition of such “additives” to a product makes it harmful to our body. Industrial processing of foods deprives them of vitamins and minerals.

Additives E.
Products that contain group E food additives are considered dangerous, since most of them can cause allergic reactions and lead to stomach and intestinal upset. Some of their types are officially approved for use. As a rule, prohibited E-additives are indicated in the smallest letters on product labels. For example, E-239 is hexamethylenetetramine or methenamine, used in medicine for food poisoning. And for tourists, this additive is known as camping fuel. In an acidic environment, hexamine breaks down and formaldehyde is formed, which, due to its toxic properties, is an excellent preservative. Formaldehyde itself (E-240) as a preservative is prohibited, but E-239, from which it is formed, is allowed to be added to canned food. In particular, it is used in canned Atlantic herring own juice" As a result, it turns out that a harmless additive is simply disguised in food. Therefore, if the product contains the additive E-239, it is better to refuse to purchase it, even if the manufacturer assures that it is absolutely safe for health.

Carcinogens.
According to some observations, it has been revealed that carcinogens can cause the occurrence of malignant tumors. These substances arise during frying over an open fire, when vegetable oil is heated for a long time, and also when it is reheated. Therefore, you should exclude fatty fried foods from your diet. Instead of frying, you can steam or boil foods. If you cannot imagine your existence without fried food, then try not to heat the oil too much, and during each cooking use only fresh oil. Since the effect of carcinogens is neutralized by acidic marinades, when preparing grilled meat or barbecue, do not forget to thoroughly soak the meat in vinegar or wine beforehand. Regular tomatoes will help nullify the effect of carcinogens, grapefruit juice, radish, radish, horseradish, celery, seafood.

GMO.
Genetically modified organisms are living organisms (mainly plants) created using genetic technologies. There are still ongoing debates around the world regarding the safety of GMO products. There are not enough arguments to draw clear conclusions in one direction or another. However, the results of ongoing scientific research in this area raise some concerns. For example, scientists from France have proven the toxicity of one variety of modified corn to the liver and kidneys. Experiments on rats showed that the group of rodents that ate such corn developed serious problems in their work. internal organs, and the composition of the blood also changed.

Potentially dangerous products beets, prepared meat products should be considered, since they often contain soybeans, which can be modified, rice, sweets (they contain soy lecithin), corn, potatoes.

But, unfortunately, it is impossible to determine by appearance whether this product has been subject to genetic modification. Nowadays, manufacturers are required to apply appropriate labeling to products; you just need to carefully study the label before purchasing.

Salt.
Salt is a very harmful product as it increases blood pressure and causes the accumulation of toxins in the body. Of course, our body needs salt in small quantities, but everything should be in moderation. Just a quarter teaspoon of salt is required daily to maintain normal functioning body. Anything we consume in excess of this limit can negatively affect our health.

By the way, salt does not always enter the body only from a salt shaker. Products that contain a huge amount of salt do not always taste distinctly salty. A lot of salt is present in cheese, processed meats, bouillon cubes, ready-made sauces, and chips. Salt can be replaced with seasonings and spices. For example, Apple vinegar can be added to vegetable salad, parsley or green onions– in mashed potatoes, rosemary – in meat dishes, and tarragon - in poultry or fish dishes. If you have overdone it with salt, then watermelon, cucumbers, beets and Jerusalem artichoke will help get rid of it, as they have a strong diuretic effect.

Cholesterol.
It is produced by the liver and comes in two types. “Good” cholesterol performs a protective function, protecting the walls of blood vessels from various types of damage, participates in the construction of new cells, and is also necessary in the production of certain hormones. “Bad” cholesterol is deposited on the walls of blood vessels, disrupting blood circulation and contributing to the occurrence of atherosclerosis. As a result, people with high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood most often have problems with the cardiovascular system, blood pressure and memory impairment in old age.

This substance is present in huge quantities in egg yolk, squid, caviar, mussels, fish. But dietary cholesterol does not cause an increase in the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, so you should not deny yourself eating seafood or scrambled eggs. The main culprits of cholesterol plaques are considered saturated fats, which are so abundant in butter, pork lard, fatty meats, offal. Again, you cannot completely exclude them from the diet, since they are required for normal functioning. thyroid gland. It is important to observe moderation. If you consume 2000 kcal per day, then your body needs somewhere around 15 g of saturated fat. Anything in excess of this amount has a negative impact on health.

You can still fight cholesterol. To do this, you should monitor your weight, because the higher it is, the more cholesterol the liver produces. You should stop smoking, which, as proven by American scientists, increases blood cholesterol. Daily physical exercise, running helps cleanse the blood of fat. You should also include legumes in your diet, which due to great content fiber can remove excess cholesterol from the body. In addition, lemon, cabbage, and blackcurrant, due to their vitamin C content, protect blood vessels from cholesterol plaques. And cottage cheese, fermented baked milk and kefir, due to their calcium content, are also good helpers in the fight against cholesterol.

Modified fats (trans fats).
Trans fats are not a harmless additive. Studies have shown that they reduce immunity, resistance to stress, increase the risk of developing diabetes, cause disruption of prostaglandin metabolism, and disrupt the enzyme cytochrome oxidase, which is a main participant in the process of neutralizing carcinogens and chemicals. In addition, trans fats are a leading cause of low birth weight babies and also reduce the quality of breast milk in nursing mothers.

In accordance with the requirements of GOST 37-91, the fat content of butter should not be lower than 82.5%, otherwise this product be called butter can't anymore. Any addition of hydrogenated animal or vegetable fats to the oil automatically converts it into the category of margarines. It is not surprising that margarine does not attract the attention of either insects or rodents...

You can often hear that our favorite morning drink, coffee, is also included in the list of unsafe products. You can die from drinking coffee in large doses, not to mention saying goodbye to normal nervous system. But, have a drink lethal dose coffee you have to try very hard, I think not everyone can do it. Besides, coffee is good for the heart in moderation even useful. Plus, coffee is one of the strongest antioxidants.

The water we use for drinking and with which we cook food is of great importance. It is the basis of all living things. Tap water It contains a large number of substances of inorganic origin that are not absorbed by our body. Adding chlorine and some water softeners kills water, making it lifeless. In this case, you can use high-quality water filters or buy drinking water in stores, but at the same time from trusted manufacturers. Boiled water also not suitable for drinking as it is considered dead.

This leads to a natural and logical question: what to eat? Of course, you shouldn't just eat raw vegetables and fruits, besides, the absolute benefits and safety of raw food eating have not been proven. It’s just that everyone always needs to observe moderation and neutralize consumption unhealthy dish plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

In addition to unhealthy food, overeating and non-compliance with the regime negatively affect our health and beauty. You should never eat up at night, even if you didn’t have the opportunity to eat normally during the day. Dinner should be a light snack. In the evening you can allow yourself some lean meat, lean fish, vegetables and fruits and should not eat bread, flour, sweets and fatty foods after 18 hours. Refusing to eat after six o'clock in the evening is not a recipe for losing weight; this rule should become a permanent part of your lifestyle. Then you won't have any problems with appearance, nor with health.