The Top 5 Worst Foods That Are Harming Your Body

by Dr. Nick Zyrowski June 27, 2023

By now, you probably know that food is one of those things in life that can either help you or hurt you. Sometimes you may not know what foods are good or bad because there’s a sea of misinformation out there. Many online health gurus are promising that you can eat whatever you want if you take their supplements. Unfortunately, no one pill is going to fix your health. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do that will change how you feel. Let’s look at the foods that may be harming your body and how you can reverse course to improve your health.

Why are these foods bad for you?

One of the main reasons some foods are bad for you is that they cause inflammation. When you have inflammation in your body, it can damage tissues, cells, and organs. It can lead to diseases like cancer or diabetes. (1) Unaddressed inflammation also causes pain and can leave you feeling fatigued. To combat this, you need to eat foods that fuel your body and can drive down that inflammation. We’ll show you which foods you should avoid at all costs and some healthy alternatives.

1. Seed oils

If you haven’t heard of seed oils, they’re in every grocery store and restaurant you visit. These are items like corn oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, and vegetable oil. These oils contain tons of omega-6 fatty acids which can lead to brain and body inflammation. (2) If you want to sauté your veggies in healthy oil, you want to use avocado, coconut, or olive oil. These are healthy for you and can improve inflammation, rather than contribute to it.

Even if you think you’re eating super healthy, you must be cautious when eating out, as most restaurants use seed oils for cooking because they’re cheaper than other oils. You can ask them to cook your food in butter or one of the healthy oils above. If you already have inflammation, a good place to start is with a cellular detox, which improves your body’s ability to remove toxins naturally.

2. Sugar

Are you someone with a major sweet tooth and find yourself eating things like cookies, donuts and drinking sugary sodas? Most people eat much more sugar than they realize. Also, sugar can be sneaky and hide where you don’t expect it. For example, suppose you go out to eat and order a salad, thinking you’re getting something healthy. Unfortunately, you don’t know that the salad dressing they give you contains tons of sugar. There’s also sugar in things like bread and tomato sauce. It’s crucial to cut down on the amount of sugar you consume. Too much of it can lead to weight gain, and more inflammation, and can increase your risk of developing diabetes. (3) If you want to enjoy a sweet treat now and then, try something made with a healthy sugar alternative, like allulose or xylitol.

3. Refined carbohydrates

If your diet staples have consisted of white bread, pasta, rice, and sugary breakfast cereals, you’re most likely eating entirely too many refined carbs. These carbohydrates can cause your blood sugar to spike, which leads to more inflammation. (4) Eating these foods will do nothing for your health. They contain very few nutrients, if any.

When you want to eat healthy carbs, look for whole foods, like veggies and fruits. These have nutrients your body needs. They’ll also raise your glucose more slowly than sugary, refined carbs.

4. Fast food

How often do you find yourself heading for the nearest drive-thru because you’re in a hurry? These chains should be avoided like the plague whenever possible. This also means not eating those unhealthy microwave meals. Before you think we’re wrong because you only get grilled foods or salads when you opt for these, let’s look at why we say they’re bad. These foods are loaded with almost every unhealthy ingredient you can imagine. You’ll be consuming sugar, bad fats, and preservatives, even when you think you’re making good choices. (5)

If you want to set yourself up for success, try prepping your meals for the week. It doesn’t have to be hard. Too many times people think you have to spend hours in the kitchen, but you can make lettuce wraps or take a quality protein shake to work. A wrap can contain veggies and deli meats that don’t contain additives like nitrates. The time it takes to prepare a healthy meal is minimal compared to the gains you’ll make with your health.

5. Artificial sweeteners and flavors

If something is artificial, it means it is fake. Some countries don’t allow artificial ingredients because they are dangerous and can cause severe health issues, like diabetes, and heart disease. (6) Don’t let marketing schemes confuse you. Often you'll see words like “natural ingredients” on the package. These dyes and flavorings are used to keep costs lower while garnering high profits for the companies that make them.

The best way to avoid these is to buy whole foods that only have one ingredient. Otherwise, always read the labels. If you don’t know what something is, that’s a sign that it’s not real food. Food colorings and dyes are not natural sources. For more details on how to eat a healthy diet, we recommend the Heal Yourself Cookbook and Diet Guide. In this book, my wife and I put together a full guide on how to eat to naturally heal your body with a low-carb, anti-inflammatory diet, along with delicious, easy-to-make recipes your family will enjoy.

How to know if you have inflammation

You’ve read about the healthy foods you can eat and which ones you should always avoid, but how do you know if you already have inflammation? Our bodies were designed in such a way that we have symptoms letting us know something isn’t right. (7) Here are some signs that you may have chronic inflammation:

  • Stiffness or pain in joints and muscles
  • Sleep problems, like insomnia or sleep apnea
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Digestive issues Anxiety or depression
  • Skin rashes

If you have any of these signs of inflammation, a cellular detox could help rid your body of toxins. Changing your diet will also dramatically improve your health and reduce the amount of inflammation you have. Additionally, some supplements can help, like quality omega-3 fatty acids. As we mentioned in the beginning, no pill or supplement will work magically to restore your health, but the actions you take today will make for a healthier you tomorrow. If you want to know more about our programs or resources that can help you become a wellness warrior, contact us today for more information on how holistic medicine could benefit you.

References :

https://www.eatthis.com/unhealthiest-foods-on-the-planet/

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/02/harvard-nutritionist-and-brain-expert-shares-worst-foods-that-weaken-memory-and-focus.html

https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthu/2021/11/18/worst-foods-to-eat-for-your-health

https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/chronic-inflammation-why-its-harmful-and-how-to-prevent-it#:~:text=Left%20unaddressed%2C%20chronic%20inflammation%20can,cancer%20or%20Type%2D2%20diabetes.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/good-carb-bad-carb-dont-buy-into-4-myths/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324847#summary

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/artificial-sweeteners/art-20046936

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36638072/#:~:text=Results%3A%20Total%20artificial%20sweetener%20intake,per%20100%20000%20person%20years%2C

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4899993/’

Dr. Nick Zyrowski
Dr. Nick Zyrowski



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