The deliciousness of bacon is not up for debate.iStock/Thinkstock

Refreshing? Yes. Good for you? No way.iStock/Thinkstock

10 Absolutely Worst Foods to Eat

by Maria Trimarchi

10 Absolutely Worst Foods to Eat

There's no denying to the many bacon lovers that

bacon is delicious. But it's not very good for you -- in

fact, it's one of the worst things you can eat. One

average serving of bacon -- three slices -- contains 435

milligrams of sodium -- about one-fifth of the average

adult's daily allowance [source: Magee].

An average healthy adult eating a 2,000-calorie-per-day

diet should aim for 45 to 65 percent of those calories

to come from carbohydrates, preferably unrefined (and

remember, carbs include all the sugar you eat, not just

bread and pasta). You also want no more than 66

grams of fat (including less than 20 grams of saturated

fat) and no more than 2,400 milligrams of sodium per

day [source: Klein, Jacob].

If your daily diet is full of junk foods such as fried

foods, processed deli meats, bacon and soda, you

have an increased risk of some major health conditions

-- and if you eat these kinds of foods six days a week,

you increase your risk of stroke by 41 percent

compared to if you only indulged in them once a month

[source: AP].

Following nutrition guidelines and eating healthy foods does make a difference. People who eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day live longer than people

who don't. But even if you'd rather have a slice of apple pie than an apple, you can make healthier choices, at least avoiding the foods you know absolutely aren't good

for you [source: Paddock].

10: Soda

Drinking soda is like drinking liquid candy. Seriously.

Sodas are sugary calorie bombs that have contributed

to the obesity epidemic in our country -- and our soda

habit has also been linked to an increased risk of

certain cancers, premature aging and hormone

disruption.

Most sodas contain high fructose corn syrup (which is

where all the calories come from), food dyes,

preservatives and other sketchy ingredients. And your

soda habit isn't just making you fat; it's also linked to

cavities and tooth decay. Some sodas also contain an

ingredient called brominated vegetable oil (BVO); BVO

is supposed to keep the artificial flavors and the rest of

your soda from separating -- and it also keeps plastics

flame retardant and is linked to memory loss, nerve

disorders and skin conditions. Diet soda drinkers also

need to worry about the impact of artificial sweeteners

on their health, which we'll go into detail on next.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/10-absolutely-worst-foods-to-eat.htm/about-author.htm#colensohttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/salt.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/can-bacon-be-part-of-a-healthy-diethttp://electronics.howstuffworks.com/wii-calories.htmhttp://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307363,00.htmlhttp://healthyeating.sfgate.com/calorie-breakdown-recommendations-1092.htmlhttp://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/southern-fried-stroke-deep-fried-foods-linked-41-higher-risk-article-1.1258815http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263372.phphttp://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-remove-soft-drinks-and-soda-stains.htmhttp://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-remove-food-coloring-and-hair-dye-stains.htm

The colored packets of artificial sweeteners that sit on restaurant tables everywhere may be low in calories,but that doesn't mean they're good for you.Image by How StuffWorks staff

You might not be able to taste the anti-foaming agents in your condiments, but theyre there.iStock/Thinkstock

9: Artificial Sweeteners

Every year, each American consumes more than his

fair share of sugar -- about 150 pounds (68 kilograms)

of it. And about 29 pounds (13 kilograms) of that is

table sugar -- the granulated kind, which is also called

sucrose [source: Casey]. Some comes from honey,

maple syrup or fructose (which is naturally found in

fruits), but many of us also have a bad sugar substitute

habit.

There are five artificial sweeteners, also called non-

nutritive sweeteners, that the FDA considers safe for

humans to eat: acesulfame potassium (acesulfame K),

aspartame, neotame, saccharin and sucralose

[source: USDA]. Some sugar substitutes may leave

you with a bad taste in your mouth, literally, but that's

not the only thing bad about them. While we love our

artificial sweeteners because they're zero or low-

calorie, we really don't know how bad they are for us.

There have been some confusing claims over the last

few decades, but at the end of the day, these sugar-

free sweeteners may be significantly increasing your

risk of health problems such as weight gain as well as

metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and

cardiovascular disease [source: Scutti].

8: Shelf-stable Condiments

Shelf-stable condiments sure do make life a little

easier -- we won't argue that. We're talking about those

condiments that are kept at room temperature --

single-serving packets or tubes of dips, self-serve

pumps of your favorite sauce, bottles of ketchup and

other sauces and salad dressings that sit out on the

table at your local diner, and even those little

prepackaged creamers for your coffee. Convenient,

yes, but at what price?

There's a reason these foods can skip the refrigeration,

and it's not because they're dried or fermented as

shelf-stable foods of the past were; these condiments

have been engineered not to deteriorate -- and that

means preservatives and additives such as food

coloring, sweeteners, salt, bad fats (such as trans

fats, which are linked to premature heart disease) and

chemical agents such as dimethylpolysiloxane for

texture. (That example, dimethylpolysiloxane, is used

as an anti-foaming agent in ketchup and many

processed and fast foods -- think about that: Should

ketchup foam?) Any fiber, good fats and nutrients are

stripped out in the process.

7: Swordfish -- and Some Tuna

Most fish and shellfish can be part of a healthy diet.

They're packed full of protein and are good sources of

fats (they're low in saturated fat and full of omega-3

fatty acids). Most also contain mercury, at least some

amount, and some fish contain more than others.

Swordfish, for example, is one of those mercury-dense

varieties (also included on this fishy list are king

mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, and tilefish).

Albacore tuna, too, contains more mercury than

canned light tuna, so choose wisely.

High levels of mercury in the fish we eat may harm the

developing brain and nervous system of a fetus or

young child because mercury is a neurotoxin, and

because of this the FDA and EPA recommend against

eating these fish, especially if you're pregnant, may

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/sugar.htmhttp://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56589http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/artificial-sweetener.htmhttp://fnic.nal.usda.gov/food-composition/nutritive-and-nonnutritive-sweetener-resourceshttp://www.medicaldaily.com/4-dangerous-effects-artificial-sweeteners-your-health-247543http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-remove-ketchup-stains.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/salt.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/fat.htmhttp://people.howstuffworks.com/epa.htm

Your grilled swordfish entre may contain an ingredient you didnt want -- mercury.iStock/Thinkstock

The sodium in processed meats is far more than what you should be consuming.iStock/Thinkstock

become pregnant or are a nursing mother -- and kids

need to avoid it, too.

6: Processed Meat

According to researchers, eating processed meats will

lead to your early death.

Processed meat -- that includes bacon, ham, hot

dogs, sausages, salami and whatever meat bits are

used in ready-to-eat deli meats -- has been found to

increase your risk for cardiovascular diseases as well

as certain cancers. In fact, researchers from the

Harvard School of Public Health found that people who

regularly eat 50 grams (about 2 ounces) of processed

meat -- that equals one hot dog or 1-2 slices of

luncheon meats on a sandwich -- have a 42 percent

greater risk of heart disease as well as a nearly 20

percent risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than people

who don't eat them [source: Micha]. Additionally,

researchers at the University of Zurich concluded that

more than 3 percent of deaths could be prevented if we

all limit our processed meat consumption to less than

20 grams per day (just about three-quarters of an

ounce), which is about the size of a matchbook -- and

only on a special occasion [source: Rohrmann,

Abrams].

While processed meats are comparable to unprocessed meats when it comes to saturated fat and cholesterol, processed meats contain a lot more sodium -- 4 times

more -- and also contain 50 percent more nitrate preservatives [source: Micha].

5: Microwave Popcorn

Movie-theater popcorn may be bad for you because of

the oils it's popped in and the butter on top, but at

least making it doesn't cause "popcorn lung" -- don't

laugh, that's a real disease. It's also known as

bronchiolitis obliterans.

Butter-flavored microwave popcorn doesn't really get its

flavor from butter; it gets it from chemicals and flavoring

agents. Diacetyl is what most people will point a finger

at when they talk about how the health risks of

microwave popcorn. Diacetyl is a butter-flavoring agent

used in microwave popcorn -- by the end of the 2000s,

some manufacturers banned its use in popcorn bags

because of its respiratory risks (and, separately, a link

to Alzheimer's disease), but you'll also find it giving a

buttery flavor and smell to baked goods, candy and

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/sharks/shark-cure-cancer.htmhttp://home.howstuffworks.com/grill.htmhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.924977http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/11/63http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/03/study-processed-meat-linked-to-premature-death/273773/http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.924977http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/movie-distribution.htmhttp://home.howstuffworks.com/microwave.htm

Pre-packaged microwave popcorn is ultra-convenient, but its also got a dark side.iStock/Thinkstock

This break room and meeting classic isnt doing you any favors.iStock/Thinkstock

margarine.

Additional concern with microwave popcorn is what's in

the bag -- aside from the popcorn. Without all the

added chemicals, the popcorn would be an OK snack

(high in carbs but low in fat and a whole grain), but

there are many chemicals coating the inside of the bag

to keep the oils needed for popping from soaking

through the paper, as well as chemicals to keep the

bag from catching fire during the popping process.

These chemicals also produce perfluorooctinoic acid

(PFOA), which the EPA considers a likely carcinogen

[source: Kotz]. Somehow, microwave popcorn doesn't

smell so good anymore.

Want to DIY your microwave popcorn and skip the

chemicals? Toss popcorn kernels in a brown paper

bag, double fold the top of the bag, and pop as you

would the processed stuff. You can also use a

microwave-safe bowl with a plate on top to keep

kernels contained as they pop.

4: Bagels

Your average bagel is going to cost you about 350

calories, and that's before you add any toppings. But

bagels are bad for you beyond their caloric content

(and what that will do to your waistline) -- most of them

are made with refined white flour, which means all the

good vitamins, minerals and fiber have been processed

out of them. Refined white-flour foods are linked to

weight gain, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. And

not only do they lead to weight gain, they also make it

more difficult to lose weight, too.

Not all bagels are this bad for you; choose one made

with 100 percent whole grains, choose a smaller, mini

bagel or try this trick: If you scoop out some of the soft

bready interior from the inside of the bagel, you could

save as many as 100 calories [source: Zuckerbrot].

3: Stick Margarine

If your buttery spread can stand on its own, it's the fats

that are making that happen -- specifically, its

saturated fats. Saturated fats are more solid than, for

example, a monounsaturated fat such as olive oil, and

these fats are bad for you because they expand your

waistline, raise your bad cholesterol levels (while

http://www.boston.com/dailydose/2012/09/20/you-need-worry-about-popcorn-lung-from-microwave-snacks/dDkwyN1sf2YoVsyszIIz3O/story.htmlhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/wheat.htmhttp://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/running/health/running-burn-calories.htmhttp://magazine.foxnews.com/food-wellness/truth-about-bagelshttp://money.howstuffworks.com/fat-tax.htm

Check the label on your margarine to make sure it doesnt contain trans fats.iStock/Thinkstock

Not all dairy products are bad, and many offer health benefits. Some consumers switch to organic dairyproducts to get the nutrition perks but avoid unwanted components.iStock/Thinkstock

lowering levels of good cholesterol), raise your risk of

heart disease and raise your risk of suffering a stroke.

Stick margarine used to contain trans fats, also known

as partially hydrogenated oils, and some brands still

do (always read the ingredient label); trans fats are

considered one of the worst -- if not the worst -- fats for

you to eat.

2: Dairy

Whole-milk dairy products are packed full of saturated

fats, which if you're keeping score are "bad" fats that

are associated with high cholesterol levels (increasing

your risk of heart disease and stroke) and chronic

inflammation in your body. You could switch to nonfat

milk, but even then with most milk products you're still

not escaping a few other unhealthy things -- namely,

recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST, or bovine

growth hormone). Bovine growth hormone is a

genetically engineered synthetic hormone given to

cows to boost their milk production, and it's

controversial because it may introduce health risks not

only to the cows but to humans consuming these dairy

products.

Additionally, in some studies, dairy has been linked to

certain cancers, and increased pain for people with

rheumatoid arthritis or migraines.

1: Anything Deep Fried

Deep-fried foods are the weakness of many; even First

Lady Michelle Obama has confessed her love for

french fries. One of the problems with eating deep-fat

fried foods is that cooking foods at such high

temperature may cause them to form toxic chemical

compounds -- that we then eat. You see, too many

french fries won't only increase your waistline (which

they will); your side order is also linked to health

problems such as stroke and an increased risk of

certain cancers including breast, esophageal, head

and neck, lung, pancreatic and prostate. Men, for

example, who eat fried foods -- doughnuts, fried

chicken, fried fish and/or french fries -- once or more

per week increase their risk for prostate cancer as

much as 30 to 37 percent [source: Paddock].

High-temperature cooking, and especially deep frying,

also causes foods to develop AGEs (short for

advanced glycation endproducts), and AGEs have

been linked to chronic inflammation and disease-

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/fat.htmhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/buy-bread-and-milk-before-storm.htmhttp://health.howstuffworks.com/sexual-health/male-reproductive-system/new-fathers-testosterone.htmhttp://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/death-dying/death-by-auto-accident-or-french-fry.htmhttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/255582.phphttp://www.howstuffworks.com/how-foods-can-decrease-inflammation.htm

Deep fried foods sing a siren song of deliciousness. Unfortunately, those tasty snacks are truly horrible foryou.iStock/Thinkstock

triggering oxidative stress.

Lots More Information

Author's Note: 10 Absolutely Worst Foods to Eat

I love potatoes; baked, roasted, grilled -- I won't turn down a potato in any form. And that, unfortunately, includes french fries. And tater tots. Oh, and hash browns at

the diner. Despite knowing better than to succumb to their deep-fried wiles, I eat them. We all have our vices, right?

Related Articles

10 'Healthy' Things That Aren't

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How Artificial Sweeteners Work

More Great Links

American Society for Nutrition

American Society for Nutrition

CDC: Nutrition Basics

Harvard School of Public Health: The Nutrition Source

USDA: Food Groups

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