Nutritionists and dietitians are experts in understanding what nourishes the body and promotes long-term health. With their knowledge, they tend to avoid certain foods that might be harmful, unhealthy, or overly processed. Here’s a list of 21 foods nutritionists won’t eat and often recommend skipping due to potential risks to your health.
Diet Soda
While diet soda is often marketed as a healthier alternative to regular soda, it’s packed with artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose. These chemicals have been linked to increased cravings for sweets and may even disrupt your gut microbiome. Nutritionists avoid diet soda due to its lack of nutritional value and potential health risks.
Coconut Milk Ice Cream
Coconut milk ice cream might seem like a healthier, dairy-free alternative, but it’s high in saturated fats and sugar. The combination of these unhealthy fats and added sugars can raise cholesterol levels and contribute to heart disease, which is why nutritionists steer clear of this sweet treat.
Raw Oysters
Raw oysters carry the risk of foodborne illnesses like Vibrio infections, which can cause serious health problems, particularly in people with compromised immune systems. Even though they’re packed with nutrients, nutritionists avoid raw oysters to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.
Corn Dogs
Corn dogs are deep-fried and often contain processed meats like hot dogs, which are high in sodium and unhealthy fats. The deep-frying process also adds extra calories and unhealthy trans fats, which can increase your risk of heart disease. Nutritionists prefer to avoid these processed, unhealthy snacks.
Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter
Reduced-fat peanut butter might sound like a healthier option, but it often contains added sugar and unhealthy oils to make up for the missing fat. Full-fat peanut butter, made from just peanuts and salt, is a much healthier choice. Nutritionists avoid reduced-fat versions because of the added artificial ingredients.
Doughnuts
Doughnuts are loaded with refined sugar, unhealthy fats, and processed flour, making them a nutritional nightmare. They offer little to no nutritional benefit and can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, followed by energy crashes. For these reasons, doughnuts are a food most nutritionists won’t eat.
Commercially Grown Sprouts
Sprouts can be a healthy addition to salads, but commercially grown varieties are often linked to foodborne illnesses like E. coli and Salmonella. Since sprouts grow in warm, humid environments, they can easily become contaminated. Nutritionists often avoid them to reduce the risk of illness.
Pre-Packaged Snack Cakes
Pre-packaged snack cakes are typically loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, and preservatives. These processed treats offer little nutritional value and are high in empty calories, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Nutritionists opt for whole foods over processed snacks like these.
Rare Beef
While some may enjoy rare beef for its flavor, nutritionists often avoid it due to the risk of bacterial contamination like E. coli or Salmonella. Undercooked meat can harbor dangerous pathogens, making it a food nutritionists tend to avoid for food safety reasons.
Bologna
Bologna is a type of processed meat that’s high in sodium, unhealthy fats, and preservatives like nitrates. These additives have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer. Nutritionists steer clear of processed meats like bologna to avoid these potential health risks.
Pretzels
Pretzels are often thought of as a healthy snack option, but they’re made from refined white flour and contain very little fiber, protein, or nutrients. They can quickly spike blood sugar levels, offering little nutritional benefit. Nutritionists prefer healthier, whole-grain snacks instead.
Low-Fat Whipped Topping
Low-fat whipped topping may seem like a good alternative to regular whipped cream, but it often contains artificial ingredients, including hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. These ingredients are far from nutritious and can contribute to health problems, so nutritionists avoid low-fat versions of this dessert topping.
Low-Fat Cheese
Low-fat cheese may contain fewer calories, but it often lacks flavor and nutritional benefits compared to full-fat cheese. Many low-fat versions are highly processed and contain additives to make up for the missing fat. Nutritionists recommend eating smaller portions of full-fat cheese instead of opting for highly processed, low-fat versions.
Blended Coffee Drinks
Blended coffee drinks from popular cafes are often packed with sugar, cream, and flavorings, making them more of a dessert than a healthy beverage. These drinks can contain hundreds of empty calories, leading to weight gain and increased blood sugar levels. Nutritionists stick to black coffee or coffee with a small amount of milk instead.
Nacho Cheese
Nacho cheese is often made with processed cheese, which is high in unhealthy fats, sodium, and artificial ingredients. This combination can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease, making it a food that nutritionists avoid.
Poultry
Some nutritionists are cautious about eating poultry, particularly due to concerns about antibiotic use and contamination with bacteria like Salmonella. While properly cooked poultry can be part of a healthy diet, nutritionists recommend choosing organic or pasture-raised options to avoid harmful additives.
Packaged Toaster Pastries
Packaged toaster pastries are loaded with sugar, refined flour, and unhealthy fats. They provide little nutritional value and can cause spikes in blood sugar, leading to energy crashes. Nutritionists prefer whole, nutrient-dense breakfast options over sugary, processed toaster pastries.
Bacon
Bacon is a processed meat that’s high in unhealthy saturated fats and sodium. Regular consumption of bacon has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer. Nutritionists recommend limiting or avoiding bacon altogether to promote better heart health.
Chicken Sashimi
Eating raw chicken, known as chicken sashimi in some cuisines, poses a high risk of bacterial contamination with dangerous pathogens like Salmonella or Campylobacter. Even though it may be a delicacy in some regions, nutritionists avoid chicken sashimi due to the potential for foodborne illness.
Milk Chocolate
While dark chocolate is known for its antioxidant properties, milk chocolate contains more sugar and less of the beneficial compounds found in its darker counterpart. Nutritionists avoid milk chocolate because of its high sugar content and opt for dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa instead.
Green Potatoes
Green potatoes contain a toxin called solanine, which can cause nausea, headaches, and even neurological symptoms when consumed in large amounts. The green color is a sign that the potatoes have been exposed to light and have begun producing this toxin. Nutritionists recommend avoiding green potatoes altogether.
Conclusion
Nutritionists avoid certain foods not just because of their high calorie content, but due to harmful additives, unhealthy fats, and potential safety risks. By staying away from processed and overly refined products like diet soda, bacon, and low-fat cheese, you can make healthier choices for your overall well-being. Opting for whole, minimally processed foods will provide better nutrition and reduce your risk of chronic diseases.