For people trying to lose weight, here's the good news: Nutrition researchers have scoped out the enemy. Turns out potato chips and soda are the top waistline assassins.
Everyone knows to cut back on junk food, but in a recent large study examining what foods were most associated with weight gain, potato chips and sweetened drinks stood out as the ultimate arch villains. Indeed, not all snacks are created equal. Here's why:
Scientists have started to suspect that when it comes to junk food, some snacks are worse than others. In a recent Harvard study, researchers tracked 100,000 Americans who were not overweight to begin with every 4 years to see who gained the most weight and what foods they ate. They found that an expanding waistline was most strongly linked to potato chips and sugar-sweetened drinks.
Learn 3 secrets to a slimmer body.
The researchers can't say for certain that chips and sweet drinks caused the weight gain. It could be that people who enjoy these treats have other unhealthful habits. It's clear, though, that these two junk foods weren't doing them any favors. It's also encouraging to think that just by cutting two things out of your life you might seriously reduce your chances of packing on pounds -- and change your snacking habits over time.
Snack Alternatives
A better snack choice is yogurt. Need the crunch of chips? Opt for fiber-rich whole grain crackers lightly smeared with peanut butter.
And ditch the soda. If you loathe sugar substitutes (thus, diet sodas too) but hate even more the calories of regular -- not to mention the high fructose corn syrup -- make your own vitamin C-filled fizzy fruit concoctions.
Start with one or two favorite juices (try combos of cranberry and orange, or pomegranate and pineapple). Halve their calories by fizzing them up with an equal amount of sparkling water. Punch it up even more with a wedge of lime or lemon.
Find out how eating yogurt helps make blood vessels happy.
The researchers tracked lifestyle choices, too. No surprise here: Watching too much TV and working out too little were surefire ways to balloon out over time.
Need a push to get moving? Here's how to prevent life from getting in the way of that power walk.
Get more health tips from RealAge:
- Is your body weight making you older than you really are? Take the RealAge Test!
- Distracted? Having trouble getting things done? Take this assessment to find out if you could have ADHD.
- Is your blood sugar out of control? See if you're at risk for diabetes.
- Hips aching? Knees creaking? Find out if your joints are older than the rest of you.
- Want to help your child avoid weight problems? Practice these 7 smart strategies.
182 comments