The Best And Worst Foods For Men
One of the most frequently asked questions is "What Should I eat?”, so I decided to compile a list of some of the worst foods you may be eating and some of the best foods you should be eating. Let's be honest: Grocery and convenience stores are full of chemical- and sugar-laced foods we should never eat but that makes up a surprisingly large portion of most people's regular diet. You may be surprised to find out what's on this list.
Most of these foods are acid forming and need to be eliminated as soon as possible. They create inflammation in the body, throw off hormonal balance, and bog down the body’s natural process and among other things that negate your efforts to maintain or restore a healthy weight. Here is the list of the worst foods...
Fried Foods: Fried foods like French fries and chips, as well as breaded and fried meat, pump your arteries with oils that have been made less healthy by heating them to high temperatures. Frying makes healthy food (such as vegetables, fish, chicken or potatoes) unhealthy. The high caloric content in fried foods can cause you to gain weight, which leads to diseases, problems with your joints and hormone problems.
Soda: Soda is one of the worst foods for men because it is filled with caffeine, fructose and refined sugar. The artificial sweeteners in diet soda are even worse for health. The caffeine in soda can trigger gout. The sugars, which are bad for your teeth, can cause insulin levels to go so high that drinking one soda per day can increase your chance of a having a heart attack by 20 percent.
Fruit Juice: Fruit juice seems healthier than soda, but it is also a bad choice for aging men. Fruit juice causes a spike in blood sugar that is especially bad for anyone with diabetes and gout. Plus, juicing removes the beneficial fiber from the fruit. It is better to eat whole fruits and vegetables than to drink their juice.
White Bread Products: White bread products include crackers, rolls, bagels, pasta and low-fiber cereals. Milled white flour produces a state of inflammation in the body, which can worsen arthritis and cause spikes in blood sugar. Potassium bromate, a bread additive in the United States, is banned in other countries. Potassium bromate is known to be toxic in human cells and cause cancer in animals. Instead of white bread, choose whole-grain and high-fiber products.
French Fries: Fried foods like French fries, chips, and breaded and fried meat pump your arteries with oils that have been made even unhealthier by heating them to high temperatures. Frying takes healthy foods (like vegetables, potatoes, fish, or chicken) and transforms them into ones to avoid. In fact, eating breaded and fried chicken is worse than eating a burger. Also be leery of prepackaged food you have to bake. They are often breaded and fried with oil to keep them crispy. Chips and French fries contain acrylamide. The calories in fried foods like French fries can cause weight gain, which can lead to other diseases, problems with your joints, and hormone imbalance, while the unhealthy heated oils found in these foods can lead to heart disease. It is healthier to boil, steam, roast, or bake your foods.
Excess Alcohol: A glass of wine, especially red wine, may actually benefit your health, but drinking excessively is bad for aging men. Too much alcohol can damage your liver; accelerate aging, and even lead to osteoporosis. Excess and regular drinking of alcohol dilates blood vessels in the skin, widening blood vessels until they lose tone. This can lead to deeper facial lines and wrinkles.
Doughnuts: Doughnuts are definitely foods to avoid over 40 because they are basically sugar, white flour, and unhealthy trans-fat, which are linked to heart disease. Like French fries, doughnuts may contain acrylamide, which is considered a carcinogen. Doughnuts are possibly the worst way to start your day.
Now that we've talked about some of the worst foods, let's talk about some of the best foods. When you take care of your body by eating right, you prevent age-related weight gain. Here is the list of the best foods...
Wild Salmon: Fatty fish like wild salmon contain omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation, slow the plaque buildup inside blood vessels and increase the ratio of good to bad cholesterol levels. They’ve also been shown to lower blood pressure. Wondering how much to eat? Eating one to two 3-ounce servings of fatty fish a week reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.
Blueberries & Strawberries - They're great tasting and they make go well with salads, oats, and smoothies. Better yet, berries are amazing brain food and potent sources of fiber, a nutrient shown to aid weight loss. Consuming a diet rich in blueberries and strawberries may help slow mental decline and help maintain memory and focus. Strawberries are also rich in folate, a nutrient that when consumed with B vitamins have been shown to prevent cognitive decline and dementia.
Sweet Potato - Sweet potatoes are packed with potassium, a mineral that can lessen the effects of sodium on blood pressure. They’re also rich in carotenoids, powerful antioxidants that help stabilize blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance, which prevents calories from being converted into fat.
Turmeric - Curcumin, the active ingredient in the Indian spice, blocks the effects of pro-inflammatory enzymes and chemical pain messengers, easing arthritis pain and swelling. Think of turmeric as Mother Nature’s all-natural ibuprofen. Turmeric has also been known to slow the growth and spread of cancer cells and lower cholesterol levels.
Leafy Greens - You should already know that nutrient-packed leafy greens like kale, bok choy and spinach should be a part of your regular diet. If you’re not already eating them, add these pain-fighting green superfoods to your diet.
Green Tea - Not only can green tea aid weight loss and help you recover faster after a workout, its potent antioxidants may also lower levels of “bad” cholesterol, while simultaneously increasing levels of “good” cholesterol. Studies indicate that green tea may block bad cholesterol from being absorbed in the intestine and help the body get rid of it.
Water - Most people take drinking water for granted, but keeping hydrated has a huge impact on overall health. Despite how crucial water is, a significant number of people fail to consume recommended levels of fluids each day. Although some of the water required by the body is obtained through foods with a high water content (i.e., some fruits and vegetables), majority is gained through drinking water and other beverages. Drinking water helps the body to function properly; all the cells and organs of the body need water. It is also used to lubricate the joints, protect the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, regulate body temperature, and assist the passage of food through the intestines.
Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases (like heart disease and cancer), and promote your overall health.
A serial entrepreneur and former financial advisor, Jean Titus discovered his purpose and passion through the heartache of losing loved ones far too early. He lives his mantra – “We rise by lifting others” – daily as a life coach and Personal Trainer. Jean brings a simplicity and practicality to his work, helping clients draw on their strengths to realize the one thing money can’t buy – good health and wellness. Follow him on Instagram and his fitness journey!