Seven Foods to Avoid in College
When your all-nighters are fueled by sugar-laden and calorie-packed Monster Energy drinks, drive-thru Taco Bell and Whataburger combos and 3:00 a.m. IHOP runs, and when you’re skipping the gym the next day to get caught up on your sleep, it’s no wonder college can make you pack on the pounds.
We all know the basic advice: Eat less, exercise more. But some foods are so profoundly bad, they can sabotage even the best weight-control plans. Here are seven foods and beverages that you need to stay away from.
Soft Drinks
Besides the fact that soft drinks are “empty calories” that offer no nutritional value, they’ve been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and kidney problems. The average can of non-diet soda has a substantial 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. A single can of soda a day, if you’re not working it off, can add up to 15 pounds a year.
And the risk of obesity has actually been found to be higher with diet soda drinkers. If you want to keep those extra pounds off, skip the soda and reach for the water instead.
Doughnuts
We might love those late-night runs to Dunkin’ Donuts or Krispy Kreme, but when you take a closer look at that doughnut, you’ll find nothing but sugar, refined flour, artificial flavoring, and partially hydrogenated oils that are jam-packed with heart-hazardous trans fats. Whereas ice cream packs calcium and chocolate at least contains antioxidants, doughnuts, like soft drinks, offer no redeeming nutritional value.
Hot Dogs and Processed Luncheon Meats
Processed meats like hot dogs, sausage, and pepperoni, are loaded with sodium nitrite, a carcinogenic linked to a 67% increased risk for pancreatic cancer. Sodium nitrite is a dangerous, cancer-causing ingredient that has no place in the human food supply.
Campbell’s Soup
Half a can of this admittedly tasty soup averages more than half a person’s daily recommended salt intake. Diets high in salt have been linked to high blood pressure, which can cause heart attacks and strokes. Instead, try Campbell’s Healthy Request soups, which have about half the sodium of the others, or Campbell’s 25% Less Sodium soups.
Burger King Quad Stacker
A monument to meaty excess, this titanic sandwich consists of four hamburger patties, four slices of cheese, eight strips of bacon, and creamy BK Stacker Sauce made with high fructose corn syrup, all loaded onto a bun for an unbelievable 1,000 calories, 68 grams of fat, 30 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of trans fat, 240 mg of cholesterol, and 1,800 mg of sodium--over a day’s recommended sodium intake!
Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream. Love watching your favorite combination of rich ice cream and crunchy toppings get scooped and mixed in front of your eyes? Let’s say your custom Cold Stone concoction comes with pecans, brownie bites, fudge, and caramel. You’re looking at a staggering 1,610 calories, 43 grams of saturated fat, and an alarmingly high 3 grams of trans fat. If you’re going for weight control, make Cold Stone a rare treat and not a regular Friday-night date.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Five mashed potatoes with gravy pack a whopping 43 grams of fat and 562 calories, of which 388 come from fat. If you turn to this comfort food on more than just Thanksgiving or other special occasions, you may soon be looking at a very uncomfortable number on the scale.
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Informational note: The data presented on our health and nutrition website is for educational purposes only. Though we stive to be accurate in all of the information we present, it should not be taken as medical advice. NSC always recommends consulting your physician before beginning or modifying any diet or exercise program.
