Which Foods Cause The Most Weight Gain

There have been several studies that talk about the “worst food on earth”. It is true that some foods are bad and lead to weight gain. But it all depends on how you consume them and how often.

However, it is necessary to eliminate these harmful foods from your diet to lose weight, lower cholesterol and have more energy.

Foods That Cause the Most Weight Gain

The 12 foods most likely to cause weight gain according to Harvard University are the following (based on the most common or most dangerous):

French fries

French fries sold in fast food restaurants are one of the most harmful foods out there because they are delicious and addictive. People who regularly eat fries can gain almost one and a half kilos in weight per year. Making them at home makes them a little bit “better”.

Potato chips

This is an excellent snack for an appetizer, drink or a small snack for dinner. Chips contain a lot of oil and salt, which causes weight gain. They also do not satisfy hunger and so are easily eaten in large quantities.

Drinks sweetened with sugar

Drinking one or two glasses of soda a day can not only lead to weight gain, but can also cause glucose in the blood to skyrocket. It doesn’t matter if they are of the light variant or not; they are harmful to health.

Fatty meat

Eating too much beef or pork contributes to weight gain and can also increase cholesterol due to the fat it contains.

Meats

Like sausages, they are high in saturated fat, calories, sodium and dyes. They are not healthy for children or adults and consuming them is not recommended.

trans fat

Hundreds of products in the supermarket contain trans fat, which is very harmful to health. They are found primarily in frozen foods, processed foods, and “ready-to-eat” foods.

potatoes

Without taking into account the method of preparing this tuber, which is popular in various countries, a plate of potatoes a day causes problems in the body, such as fat around the stomach and a “false” feeling of satiety.

Sweets and pastries

Biscuits, cakes, bakery products, etc. are bad for your health, because they contain large amounts of sugar and fat. It is better to eat fruit after meals.

Refined grains

Like rice for example, another highly consumed food worldwide for its price and performance.

Nothing artificially whitened is good, because it is not natural. Choose whole grain rice or brown rice.

fried food

Apart from the potatoes mentioned earlier, other foods fried in fat or oil are harmful, especially those sold in restaurants or food stalls, which are more harmful than those prepared at home. You can think of breaded meat or chicken, vegetables, etc.

Refined fruit juices

Even the juices that are not labeled as 100% natural, because they contain too much sugar to really fit into the “healthy” sector. Often their dyes and preservatives are harmful.

Butter

The fat used in butter makes it bad for the body and also for the skin. It has been proven that people who use butter or mayonnaise have more acne or oil on their face. It has also been proven to raise cholesterol levels.

Other “Bad” Foods

In addition to the 12 foods listed above, we include the following foods, which are not recommended to eat regularly:

• Pastas:  Especially if it’s made from white flour. A moderate amount per week will not cause damage. The problem comes when you eat it every day with sauces or cream or cheese and fatty bread. Anything that contains calories and carbohydrates will lead to weight gain.

• Salad or meat sauces:  This group includes mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and Caesar dressing. All of these sauces are high in salt and fat, which causes the triglycerides to skyrocket.
• Chocolate:  We have to make a few exceptions. For example, bitter chocolate that contains more cocoa is not harmful (if eaten in moderation of course). But when you buy it, keep in mind that many commercial and cheaper types of chocolate contain additives, preservatives and sweeteners. Avoid white chocolate, which contains high amounts of chemicals, fat and sugar.

Foods that cause the least weight gain

And on the other side of the coin, there are the foods that get a thumbs up from us and can be eaten when and how much you’d like:

• White or oily fish:  Whiting, red bream, hake, cod, etc. are good because they contain no carbohydrates or fats, but they do contain omega 3 and phosphorus.
• Lean meat:  Like chicken or turkey, but always remove the fat. They are satiating and contain a lot of protein.
• Seafood:  Mussels, lobster, oysters, squid, spider crab, etc. They are very low in fat and rich in iodine, zinc and good proteins and they are very low in carbohydrates.
• Vegetables:  Spinach, broccoli, carrots, tomato, onion, lettuce, cabbage, Swiss chard, leeks, asparagus and the list goes on. They provide excellent amounts of vitamins and minerals and contain almost no fat. They also provide plenty of water for the body.

Legumes:  Lentils, chickpeas, soy, green beans, etc. nourish the body with zinc, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and many vitamins. They also contain protein.
Fruits:  Any fruits you can think of except bananas, grapes, coconut, and quince, as they are high in sugar. All other fruits are provided with water and antioxidants.

Photo courtesy of Harsha KR, Stu_Spivack, LOCKKhan, Jessica Merz, Sean McEntee, John Loo, Christopher.