Tune in this Friday, February 19 to The Dr. Oz Show when Dr. Oz goes undercover in a grocery store and tells you what five things that should never land in your grocery cart.
As Dr. Oz made his way through grocery store aisles and poked around shoppers’ grocery carts, he pointed out these five foods that might be taking years off of your life and adding inches to your waistline.
1. Simple sugars or carbs and unhealthy fats: Sugary breakfast cereals, energy bars, chips, sodas, cookies, cakes, white bread, ice cream and pastries all fall in this category. These empty-calorie foods tend to spike blood sugar levels and offer no nutrition at all. Instead, Dr. Oz suggests selecting whole grain breads, steel cut oats and brown rice and nixing sugary processed foods for fresh fruit.
2. Meats high in nitrates and saturated fats: Processed meats such as cold cuts, bacon, sausages and hot dogs contain nitrates, chemical additives that preserve freshness. These additives have been linked to an increase in stomach cancer. Instead, select meats that are low in fat, like chicken and turkey. Opt for lean cuts of red meat and don’t forget white fish and fish high in omega-3 fats, like salmon.
3. Canned foods high in sodium: Everything from your favorite soups to canned ravioli fall in this category. Dr. Oz recommends making your own soup or opting for low-sodium versions in addition to using fresh herbs and spices in lieu of salt to flavor dishes. Too much salt in your diet has been linked to high blood pressure.
4. Ingredients you can’t pronounce: Dr. Oz recommends putting an item back on the shelf if you can’t pronounce its first five ingredients. Instead focus on whole foods that are minimally-processed.
5. Fake “healthy” food: Fat-free cookies, light salad dressings, and fat-free and sugar-free yogurts are often much worse than their original or full-fat counterparts. We tend to eat more of them and they are loaded with artificial or not-so-good for you ingredients. Also, be aware of foods that say “contain whole grains,” as they are still often void of any fiber-rich whole grains. Instead look for labels that say “100 percent whole grain.”
Also on the show, Dr. Oz will introduce you to a 12-year-old boy who weighs 222 pounds.
The young boy, who is following in his father’s footsteps of super-sized portions and plenty of fast-food, will get help from Dr. Oz’s team of health experts as they design a plan to healthy up the eating habits of his entire family.
Check your local listings for exact show times.