"The 2 Worst Foods for Your Weight" article

susanswan

I'm a fan of Dr. Oz and usually the tips on the RealAge website. Here is their take on potato chips and sodas for what it's worth.

http://www.realage.com/health-tips/potato-chips-and-soda-worst-for-weight?eid=1010642740&memberid=22396819


Two Worst Foods for Your Weight
By RealAge

For people trying to lose weight, here's the good news: Nutrition researchers have scoped out the enemy. And these two foods are the top waistline assassins: potato chips and soda.

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.

Not All Snacks Created Equal
The basic blueprint of healthy living is simple: Eat less junk food, stay active, get a good night's sleep, drink alcohol only in moderation, and don't smoke. But scientists have now started to suspect that when it comes to junk food, some snacks are worse than others. So in a recent study, they tracked more than 100,000 Americans over two decades to see who gained the most weight and what foods they ate. And they found that regularly having potatoes -- especially chips -- and sugar-sweetened drinks was most associated with an expanding waistline. (Related: Learn three more secrets to a slimmer body.)

Switch Chips for This
Of course, because of the way the study was run, the researchers can't say for certain that chips and sweet drinks necessarily caused the weight gain. It could be that people who enjoy these two junk treats have other pack-on-the-pounds habits not captured in the study. But it's clear these two items probably weren't doing them any favors. And it's encouraging to think that just by cutting two things out of your life you might seriously reduce your chances of packing on pounds over time. (Related: A better snack choice: yogurt. Find out how eating yogurt helps make blood vessels happy.)

kenlad64

I agree, I stopped both about 5 months ago when I joined MFP and started to consider all my food before I ate it and 66 pounds later indicates that it is at least part of the problem, ...

tigersword

Meh, sounds like a useless fluff article really, not a scientific study at all. Were they eating proper servings of potato chips while eating balanced meals, or were they eating full bags at one sitting? 8 oz glass of sodas, or chugging 2 liters? There's absolutely no useful information in that article.

I haven't had any trouble losing weight while still eating potato chips and having the occasional soda.

amflautist

I think each one of has has our own "2 worst foods". Mine? Bread and potatoes. Yup, 80# worth of bread and [yum-yum] mashed potatoes. Chips and soda were never on the list of my downfall.

susanswan

I agree, I stopped both about 5 months ago when I joined MFP and started to consider all my food before I ate it and 66 pounds later indicates that it is at least part of the problem, ...

Me, too. I decided potato chips are pure junk and give no useful nutrition to me. Anything included in "potato chips" I can get from healthy food. A one ounce bag has never satisfied me. With all of the research on sodas including metabolic syndrome, and leaching calcium from your bones, not to mention the palpitations I get from caffeine if I start it up on a daily basis I think long and hard before I have that diet soda. I probably have less than 6 a year if that.

I'm interested in healthy eating now, not eating chemicals as a food group anymore. Some people don't mind chemicals, so go for it! That's the beauty of it all. You can do what ever works for you! Useless fluff or food for thought: I like to think of it as food for thought but you don't have to agree.

summertime_girl

Eh, I've never drank soda because I hate it. I rarely (maybe once a month) eat chips. I'm still fat.

NancyAnne1960

I have to agree wth the Potato chips and soda. Also, french fries. It's all bad fat and salt (even though I love them) and soda is pure sugar. I've cut both out of my eating, and yep, the weight is coming off. I can guarantee if I started drinking my Dr. Pepper again, and eating chips and fries, I'd blow all of my hard work. I might indulge in the occasional small portion of chips/fries, but no desire to go back to the can of soda pop!! To each his own, and it boils down to whatever works for each individual.

tigersword

I fry my potato chips in olive oil. Plus potatoes have a ton of vitamins and minerals, and fiber. Nothing wrong with home made.

mrphil86

Meh, sounds like a useless fluff article really, not a scientific study at all. Were they eating proper servings of potato chips while eating balanced meals, or were they eating full bags at one sitting? 8 oz glass of sodas, or chugging 2 liters? There's absolutely no useful information in that article.

I haven't had any trouble losing weight while still eating potato chips and having the occasional soda.

Agreed. This is another Supersize Me article.