Diets That Are Too Restrictive Are Much More Likely To Fail

ByJanie Behr

Rather than never allowing yourself anything that you really enjoy, I believe in sticking with healthy eating habits and allowing for the occasional indulgence. However, there are some food villains that should be avoided at all costs. Here are my list of the top 5 foods that should make you "just say no"...

Fried food: There is really nothing good to report about greasy, fried food. It is often laden with trans fats, and terrible not just for your waist line but your overall health. And, of course, fried foods tend to be significantly higher in calories than other options. If you really must indulge, look out for the baked varieties of your favorite treats and watch your portions, or make you own chips or fries at home in the oven.

White bread: Unfortunately, white bread is so processed that it has negligible nutritional value, and most of the nutrients it does contain have been added back in. In any case that you can, always opt for the whole grain option. Whole grain bread is less processed, more nutrient dense, and also contains significantly more fiber. If you really want to get healthy, try one of the sprouted grain breads that you can find at most health food stores.

Artificial sweeteners: A lot of people trying to lose weight turn to artificial sweeteners because they are calorie free. But what's the trade off? In truth, artificial sweeteners are just that: artificial. There is also some research showing that they may actually be tied to weight gain, not weight loss. I recommend using any sweeteners in moderation, but always choosing natural options such as honey, agave nectar, or stevia extract. Also, pay attention to labels, sugar-free does not always equal calorie free.

Margarine: A lot of us grew up using margarine because it was supposed to be the "healthy" alternative to butter. We now know that this isn't really the case. Much of the margarine available is high in trans fats and has been shown to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower HDL (good) cholesterol. Try using a healthy oil such as olive oil instead, or look for one of the new heart healthy spreads. If you can't, then butter is the better option. True, butter is a saturated fat, but (when used in moderation) it can help to raise your good cholesterol.

Soda: It really can't be said enough; soda is pretty much nothing but liquid sugar. One 12oz. can of soda contains 39 grams of sugar and 150 calories. This is a lot of sugar, and very rarely are people drinking just one small can of soda. More often we are consuming the much larger bottles or fountain drink sizes. All of this sugar increases your risk for obesity, diabetes, and other related diseases.

Janie Behr is a qualified life coach specializing in helping people find their purpose, achieve their goals, and explore all the possibilities that life has to offer. She is available for private individual coaching, group coaching and public speaking engagements. She runs frequent teleseminars dedicated to helping people find and live their most positive lives! For more information please visit http://www.janiebehr.com.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janie_Behr

Did you find this article helpful?00Get Involved0 commentsSuggest a topicArticle ToolsPrint this articleDownload a PDFE-mail to a friendEzinePublisherReport this articleCite this articleStay InformedGet notified by email when new articles are added to this category or written by this author.Subscribe to New Article Alerts:

Health and Fitness: Popular-Diets
Janie Behr

Email Address:SubscribePopular Diets Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchSimilar ArticlesEating Habits3 Tips for Implementing Better Eating HabitsWeight Reduction Plans Include Changing Your Eating Habits15 Tips To More Positive Eating HabitsHow to Eat More and Lose Weight? Essential Malaysian Food Tips and GuidesHealthy Eating Advice7 Steps to Help You Reach & Maintain a Healthy Weight For LifeThe Truth to the Phrase "You Are What You Eat"Mediterranean Diet & YouTop 10 Healthy Eating TipsRecent ArticlesWhat's the Deal With Gluten?Top Ten Health Benefits of RaspberriesCookie Dieting - Why It Will Become Mainstream One DayAbout the Atkins Diet and Great Atkins RecipesLearn Important Methods on How to Lower Cholesterol NaturallyPaying More For Nutrisystem Frozen Foods: Three Reasons It's Worth ItHow to Reduce Water Retention NaturallyDo Food Habits Affect Your Singing Performance?Is It Required That You Have Your Medifast Lean And Green Meal At Dinner?A Guide to the Paleo DietSubmitted On March 15, 2012. Viewed 23 times. Word count: 465.

Important Disclaimer: Articles provided are for general information purposes only and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychological, tax, accounting, legal, investment, or any other professional advice. EzineArticles.com expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed by any of our members or anywhere else within the site. Lastly, EzineArticles.com does not endorse any article. Use at your own risk.

MLA Style Citation:
Behr, Janie".".15 Mar. 2012EzineArticles.com.25 Apr. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
Behr, J. (2012, March 15). . Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Diets-­That-­Are-­Too-­Restrictive-­Are-­Much-­More-­Likely-­To-­Fail&id=6941971Chicago Style Citation:
Behr, Janie "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Diets-­That-­Are-­Too-­Restrictive-­Are-­Much-­More-­Likely-­To-­Fail&id=6941971EzineArticles.com© 2012 EzineArticles.com
All Rights Reserved Worldwide

About UsFAQContact UsMember BenefitsPrivacy PolicyShopSite MapBlogTrainingVideo ArchiveAdvertisingAffiliatesCartoonsAuthorsSubmit ArticlesMembers LoginPremium MembershipExpert AuthorsEndorsementsEditorial GuidelinesTerms of ServicePublishersFollow UsTerms Of ServiceEzines / Email AlertsManage SubscriptionsEzineArticles RSS