There are some sneaky ingredients in food that you may not be aware of. These ingredients can cause weight gain and you should be aware of them if you are on a weight loss journey.
- Sugar
Sugar is one of the worst foods for health. It causes a huge spike in your blood sugar levels, which can lead to cravings and overeating. Sugar also stimulates the release of insulin, which can make you store fat around your middle rather than burn it off as energy.
- Trans Fat
Trans fats are created when vegetable oils are treated with hydrogen gas under high heat to make them more stable and last longer on grocery store shelves. They may occur naturally in animal products, but they’re often added to processed foods such as fried chips, cookies and crackers. Trans fats raise bad cholesterol levels while lowering good cholesterol levels, which increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose can create cravings for sweets because they taste sweet without providing any calories or nutrition! Plus, studies show that artificial sweeteners may increase appetite by affecting how our brains perceive hunger signals from our stomachs, so we end up eating more than we would without artificial sweeteners.
- Fructose
Fructose is a type of sugar found in fruit, but it’s also added to many processed foods as high-fructose corn syrup or sucrose. This type of sugar has been linked to weight gain and even diabetes.
- Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenated oils have been chemically modified to make them more solid at room temperature. This process makes them less likely to go rancid, but it also adds trans fats to the product.
While these oils are still found in some products, they are becoming less common due to consumer demand for healthier options. If you want to avoid hydrogenated oils, check labels carefully before buying packaged foods.
