There is nothing worse than starting an exercise program to burn fat, making some good diet changes, but still not seeing the results you want to see. Has that ever been you?
This happened to me on my journey to get fit back in 2012 before my wedding. I was trying everything and not seeing any results…definitely discouraging to say the least.
The reason this was happening to me (and maybe even you), is that there were some hidden foods in my diet that were ruining my weight loss efforts. The foods that kept me from losing the last 10 pounds and stuck at a plateau were metabolism death foods!
The term may sound scary, and it can be. Your body is likely to recognize these foods as toxins, and this can mean you suffer some ill effects as a result of eating them often.
The craziest thing about these metabolism killing foods? They are often labeled as “health foods”! Read on to find out the six metabolism death foods you should switch out of your diet in order to take your metabolism and fat-burning potential to the next level.
6 Foods that Damage Your Metabolism
Fruit Juices
Contrary to popular belief, fat in your diet likely isn’t the primary thing making your waist bigger— it’s probably consuming too much hidden sugar! Drinking fruit juice and other ways of consuming too much sugar destroys your body and can wreck your metabolism in several ways, including causing sluggishness, cravings and inflammation. And the worst part is that most commercial juices and processed sugary foods don’t provide you with substantial amounts of vitamins or minerals, despite their high calorie counts.
Fruit juices (including most apple, orange and grape juices) are basically the equivalent to drinking chemically laden sugar water. I know something like apple juice sounds healthy, but the process of turning an apple into juice is typically as follows:
- First, they press the apple and remove all of its natural filling fiber, then they heat it up through pasteurization at 280 degrees.
- Then it’s dried and turned into a concentrate used to yield higher outputs at lower costs.
- Finally, manufacturers add in even more sugar, usually along with food coloring and flavorings.The finished product is the apple juice you buy from the grocery store, maybe even to give to your kids!
Here’s something else you might not realize about the sugar content of juice: One eight-ounce glass of fruit juice contains 30 grams of sugar, while a soda contains 28 grams of sugar!
Juice isn’t the only thing you should avoid if you want to keep your added-sugar intake low. Other sources of hidden sugar to reduce include alcoholic beverages or mixes, bottled caffeinated or coffee drinks, energy drinks, cereal, yogurt or flavored dairy products, condiments such as ketchup or sauces, and granola snack bars. Sugar is hidden under numerous names like: corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, juice concentrate, maltodextrin, raw sugar and brown sugar. So check ingredient labels carefully, or better yet, ideally avoid buying foods or drinks that require a label in the first place.
What to do instead: To replace fruit juice with an healthier alternative, I recommend making homemade lemonade by mixing real lemon juice, water and stevia. Kombucha is another great option to satisfy your need for something besides plain water, as well as oolong tea mixed with raw honey or some steeped fruit slices. You might also find that drinking coconut water, practically nature’s sport drink, makes another satisfying option, helping to cut down on your cravings for things like soda, bottled smoothies, alcohol, sweetened coffee drinks or artificially sweetened drinks.
Refined Grains
Eating lots of refined grains may also affect your metabolism and weight loss efforts. Even many products that appear to be “whole grain” — and therefore assumed to be healthy — can contribute loads of mostly empty calories to your diet, without much nutrient benefit in return.
Surveys shows that in the typical Western diet some of the biggest grain offenders include: commercially sold breads, pasta, cereals, crackers, muffins, desserts, flours, chips and granola bars. To help combat obesity, the USDA now highly recommends limiting consumption of foods that contain refined grains, especially refined grain foods that contain solid fats, added sugars and sodium.
Studies show that higher refined grain intakes is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as with inflammatory protein concentrations. And I know it may seem like many so-called “whole grains” (including many wheat breads, wraps or cereals) are healthier, but even most of these aren’t helping your metabolism much.
When consumed in excess, refined grains can provide you with high levels of certain compounds that may hurt your metabolism, including gluten, lots of starch and phytic acid.
For some people (although not all), gluten can cause inflammation, which is the root of all diseases. People react to eating starches and lots of carbohydrate foods differently, but for those who are not very active or prone to weight gain, starches can turn into sugar quickly once consumed, cause overeating or cravings, and ultimately not provide many natural vitamins or minerals.
Research shows that the “anti-nutrient” phytic acid, a compound found in grains and legumes, binds to minerals, so while you might think grains are a good source of things like essential minerals and vitamins, phytic acid can prevent you from absorbing as much as you’d think.
What to do instead: A better option for fat loss is replacing your daily intake of refined grains with fruits and vegetables, or consuming 100 percent (ideally soaked and sprouted) whole grains in moderation. Certain whole grains are also called “ancient grains” and include things like rolled oats, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, teff and millet.
However, for best results with weight loss I recommend consuming only about 1–2 piece daily of a sprouted grain bread (like Ezekiel bread) — unless you’re gluten intolerant. I also recommend trying gluten-free flour replacements instead of wheat flour, especially coconut flour. Coconut flour is a dieter’s best friend because it’s high in fiber, which supports rapid fat loss, and contains filling, healthy fats that your body can burn as fuel.
Canola Oil & Other Processed Vegetable Oils
Although we often hear that vegetable oils are a healthier alternative to things like saturated fats from dairy products, coconut oil or dark meat, some research suggests this isn’t necessarily true. When vegetable oils such as canola oil, safflower or sunflower oil replace all saturated fat in your diet, you may be missing out on some benefits as a result.
In general, when it comes to including healthy fats in your diet, consuming the wrong types and amounts may wind up interfering with appetite regulation, your mood, hormone production and digestion, all of which can keep you from losing the “last 10 pounds” or seeing the results you’re looking for.
Keep in mind that most commercially-sold vegetable oils are often combined with solvents such as hexane during their manufacturing process, and it isn’t clear from evidence if there are long-term health risks associated with consuming these solvents. When used in processed foods — as they very commonly are — these oils may also become oxidized (or rancid), which can contribute to inflammation throughout the entire body, disrupting your hormones and metabolism.
What to do instead: To get the benefits of different fatty acids, it’s wise to vary your intake. I recommend replacing all processed vegetables oils with unrefined, ideally organic and virgin oils, including coconut oil or real olive oil.
If you do regularly consume canola oil or other vegetable oils, look for organic brands that are cold- and expeller-pressed, meaning they won’t be combined with hexane during processing. Purchasing only organic or European-produced oils will ensure they are non-GMO.
“Healthy” Chips, Pretzels & Crackers
So-called “healthy” chips usually contain processed vegetable oils, including safflower or sunflower oils, which as described above are high in omega-6 fats. Chips, crackers, etc. also contain lots of mostly-empty starches/carbs and are very high in sodium. And depending on the kind, these ultra-processed foods might also contain trans fats, such as partially hydrogenated oils, which are linked with numerous health problems.
These days, it’s common to see chips in the grocery store (even health food stores) made from things like beans, nuts, seeds, sweet potatoes, vegetables and “whole grains.” They might be tasty, but unfortunately they usually come packed with synthetic additives, may contain GMOs, are high in calories and might alter your gut health depending on how you digest these foods. Don’t be fooled by clever marketing or packaging — these are not health foods!
What to do instead: If you want to start revving up your metabolism, remove empty sources of calories from your diet. Instead of over-consuming salty chips or pretzels, try one tablespoon of almond butter with celery, in a smoothie or with some fresh fruit.
Granola
This “health food” has had a health halo around it for years, but it’s secretly been hiding as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Today’s popular granola brands have many issues mostly because they are sky-high in sugar, calories and processed grains. A measly 1/2 cup serving of granola can set you back more than 250 calories, and it’s very unlikely to leave you feeling full or satisfied for long.
One of the most surprising findings about granola is that the honey used in it is highly processed and also might be a major cause of weight gain. A study at Texas A&M University tested honey and found 76 percent of it contained no pollen whatsoever; in addition, the honey had been high-temperature pasteurized, meaning many of enzymes were destroyed and it was left practically no better than corn syrup! YIKES!
The combination of gluten, phytic acid and processed honey is what makes this treat unhelpful for your metabolism and diet goals.
What to do instead: A great replacement to store-bought granola is to make homemade sprouted granola, including the kind that doesn’t contain any grains at all (a great option if grains are hard for you to digest). Simply soak almonds, pecans, cashews and chia seeds in water for eight hours, then set them out for a day on a paper towel. Then mix these ingredients with real foods like raw local honey, raisins, coconut flakes, cinnamon and sea salt.
This will provide you with much more fiber, healthy fats and even some protein while drastically cutting back on added sugar and fake flavoring agents. Place the ingredients in a dehydrator or oven, and you have a great tasting metabolism-boosting snack or breakfast!
Artificial Sweeteners
Of all the metabolism death foods, artificial sweeteners including aspartame and sucralose are probably the most deceiving. Artificial sweeteners tell the lie that you can satisfy your sweet tooth, with no calories, no guilt and a thinner waist line. However, aspartame is actually linked to dozens of adverse health effects, including changes in the brain and accelerated aging due to free radical damage.
Aspartame and sucralose (Splenda) can stimulate your appetite and increase cravings for carbohydrates. The calorie “savings” from consuming foods sweetened with aspartame ends up not saving you anything due to the increase in appetite and, therefore, calorie consumption.
What to do instead: Switch out artificial sweeteners for stevia, an all-natural, no-calorie sweetener derived from the sweet-tasting stevia plant. I recommend looking for organic stevia extract, ideally that is organically produced, pure and not mixed with other sugar subs. Another option is using real, raw honey and dates in moderation. Both add sweetness to recipes naturally, just remember that with all sweeteners a little goes a long way.
When I started cutting these foods out of my diet and adding in Oolong tea to help rev up my metabolism, the weight just started melting away. It’s so important to know what you are consuming and outsmarting the marketing of many “health foods.”
What are some foods you have cut out of your diet to get healthy? Let me know in the comments below!
Yours in Health & Happiness,
Chrissy
P.S. Read all about my journey to health, here. Oolong tea was key to losing all of my excess weight and it can help you, too! Get started with a box today!
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References: http://draxe.com