15 foods you shouldn't eat when you're over 40

Once you hit your 40s, unhealthy foods can wreak more havoc on your body than when you were younger. So pay attention to your daily menu to avoid foods that are not good for the body.

Eating healthy will give you a healthy body, but nowadays most of us often choose ready-made foods that are convenient to use.

Nutritionist Erin Palinski-Wade, author of the article '2 Day Diet for Diabetes' will help us review the unhealthy foods of people over 40.

1. Canned soup

Soup soup is often considered a nutritious food for our body, especially now that many soups are canned conveniently, just pop the lid and have a cup of soup for lunch or dinner. dark. But canned foods tend to be high in sodium, and research has shown that older adults can't filter out excess sodium like we did when we were younger.

'A high-sodium diet can also lead to high blood pressure, and an increased risk of osteoporosis,' says Ms Palinski-Wade, 'when we're past 40, the body is also more prone to water retention, so it's reducing sodium can help reduce swelling', she suggests you can cook your own soups and break them up in the fridge to eat them later, or at least opt ​​for packaged products low sodium cans.

2. Prepared foods

After the age of 40 is the time to say goodbye to all processed meats like bacon, sausages… 'Processed meats are high in sodium, saturated fat and nitrates [preservatives] ], all of which have negative health effects,' Palinski-Wade said. Eating a lot of processed meat leads to a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and stomach cancer – and the risk increases as we age 40 and beyond. 'If you do choose processed meats, choose those without nitrates and choose the lower-fat, low-fat varieties,' she says. This is the best diet for women over 40.

3. Grilled dishes and fried chicken

Not only processed meat dishes, but also fried or grilled foods are not good for your body. 'Cooking meat at too high of a temperature can increase levels of HCAs (called heterocyclic amines) in proteins, which can cause cancer, says Palinski-Wade. Several studies have linked high consumption of fried or grilled meats with colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. Although research is still ongoing, it's best to be cautious when it comes to cancer risks that tend to strike older adults more. 'Fried foods should be limited to servings per week, and marinated before grilling to reduce production of these compounds,' says Palinski-Wade.

4. Cookies

Often at the end of the day we want to have some delicious cookies, but that's not really a healthy choice for you. 'Sugar in any form can cause a variety of changes from cell membranes and arteries to hormones, the immune system, gut health and even our microbiome-bacteria. good in our guts and on our skin,' says dermatologist Whitney Bowe, author of 'The Beauty of Dirty Skin'. In addition to increasing insulin and causing inflammation, eating too much sugar can make our skin age faster through glycation.

'Glycation is the biochemical term for the binding of sugar molecules to proteins, fats and amino acids, a hallmark feature of aging,' Dr Bowe said. 'Researchers have linked glycation end products (AGEs) to hardening of the arteries, disorders of the nerves, wrinkles and many other diseases. Instead of eating processed sugar, use natural sugars from fruit.

5. Sports drinks

Surely all of us know that soda is not good for health, but there may be misconceptions about sports drinks. In fact, sports drinks are also not good for your health, because they contain a lot of sugar. "Sugary drinks are a great source of empty calories and contribute a large amount of sugar to the diet," says Palinski-Wade. 'Sugar not only causes weight gain, but also accelerates aging, increases inflammation, but also has a negative impact on memory and learning.' Research has shown that adults don't need sports drinks, even during exercise – water is best for your body.

6. Sugar-free snacks

If you limit your sugar intake, should you use snacks labeled 'sugar-free'? Not necessarily, sugar-free snacks often replace sugar with artificial sweeteners or added fats. 'Some sugar-free and sugar-free snacks may have health benefits – for example, prunes contain no added sugars and may benefit GI (Glycemic) health," says lead author Palinski-Wade. Index, glycemic index) and bones — read labels of processed foods carefully. Look closely at foods that contain large amounts of saturated or trans fats, excess sodium, or refined flours added to sugar substitutes, as these additives can have a negative effect. to your health.'

7. Almond milk

You may think that not drinking milk is healthy, but for older women, the calcium in dairy products helps strengthen bones to prevent osteoporosis, especially during menopause causing a loss of bone. bone volume. Drinking 'milk' substitutes could strip you of that protection. If you choose an alternative, 'make sure you choose one that contains fortified calcium and vitamin D to promote healthy bones,' says Palinski-Wade. 'Also, avoid the large amounts of added sugar in flavored almond milk, and get extra calories and increased inflammation – and increased blood sugar and triglycerides.'

8. Spicy Sauce

According to the National Institute on Aging, you should start eliminating spicy foods as you enter menopause. 'If you have heat or acid reflux, which are more common in older adults, adding spicy foods and spicy sauces to your diet is not recommended,' Palinski- Wade said. 'Spicy sauces can also contain high levels of sodium, which negatively impacts blood pressure and bone health.' Instead, she adds, fresh peppers, which are rich in capsaicin, a nutrient that can lower blood pressure and increase metabolism, is more beneficial for your health.

9. Margarine

You may think that margarine is healthier, but it's not. 'Some brands contain partially hydrogenated oils, which are trans fats,' says Palinski-Wade. 'As little as one to two grams of trans fats a day can have a negative impact on cholesterol and heart health, it's best to avoid them.' Instead, read the labels of butters carefully or choose vegetable oils for your meals. Palinski-Wade says raw butter is a great substitute for margarine in baking and cooking, and can help reduce calories, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol.

10. Low-fat foods

While you want to steer clear of saturated and trans fats, don't cut out all fat in your daily diet. According to the American Heart Association, healthy (mono- or polyunsaturated) fats actually reduce age-related health problems, such as heart disease and high cholesterol, as well as diabetes.

In addition, 'low-fat' foods are often high in sugar. 'The body needs some dietary fat to help absorb fat-soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, K and E,' says Palinski-Wade. In addition, healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in keeping the brain healthy. 'A recent study found that eating one fresh avocado a day gives you 75% more healthy, unsaturated fats, which may lead to improved cognitive function in healthy adults due to increased levels of cholesterol. lutein in the brain and eyes," Palinski-Wade said.

11. Pasta

Refined and processed carbohydrates (carbs): pasta, cookies, bagels, and many cereals… often have a high glycemic index. This means that the high carb content of these dishes causes blood sugar spikes, and is a contributing factor to heart disease, weight gain and diabetes. In addition, the above items also make your skin worse.

'Of all the dietary culprits that are bad for your skin, refined carbohydrates rank highest on the list, if not number one,' Dr Bowe said. 'Refined carbs spike blood sugar and also increase hormones that stimulate oil production,' she says. 'These hormones can change the oil composition of your skin, making it more susceptible to acne formation, including adult-onset acne.'

Foods with a high glycemic index also cause the release of a hormone called insulin-like hormone growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Dr Bowe says: 'If there's too much of it, it can work against you by promoting biology that increases inflammation and leads to certain diseases like cancer and skin disorders like acne.'

12. Gluten-Free Food

Before you want to switch from white bread to a gluten-free food, think again. Use whole grain breads instead. 'Many gluten-containing grains provide healthful substances, such as fiber and magnesium,' says Palinski-Wade. Research shows that fiber helps colon and digestive well as we age, besides helping to lower cholesterol and slow the absorption of carbs to maintain blood sugar levels and lose weight. Magnesium is an anti-inflammatory, and therefore may reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer; It also helps prevent osteoporosis.

'There's no need to eliminate gluten from your diet unless you have an allergy or intolerance,' says Palinski-Wade. 'Focus on adding whole grains to each meal instead to help meet your daily fiber needs while promoting a healthy gut, which is essential for a well-functioning immune system.'

13. French fries

At the age of 40 and beyond, our body's metabolism becomes slower, so it can't process the extra calories that come from greasy foods like french fries. According to the 'Dietary Guidelines for Americans' we need to reduce our calorie intake beyond the age of 40, and research has also shown that energy processing in older subjects is actually more efficient with a small amount of calories. calories less than young people. Although Dr. Bowe says some healthy fats are necessary for healthy, youthful skin, the fat in potato chips will have the opposite effect. She said: 'When you don't incorporate enough fats in your diet, you starve the bacteria that consume the skin's natural oils and leave behind a fatty acid layer that beautifies the skin, but not all. all fats are created equally,

14. Coffee ice cream

Coffee-flavored ice cream is a product with 3 times the health effects for the elderly: It has saturated fat, sugar and caffeine. Coffee has a number of health benefits. In fact, science says coffee can protect your brain from dementia. But when consumed as an after-dinner dessert, it runs the risk of keeping you up at night. According to the National Sleep Foundation, older adults tend to have more difficulty falling asleep. For women, this may be partly due to the hormonal changes during menopause, and that's why the 'North American Menopause Society' advises avoiding caffeine late in the day.

15. Hamburger

Cooking with high heat can lead to cancer, but the process also causes other unwanted effects. 'When you cook foods at high heat, like grilling a hamburger on the grill, it creates flavor and changes the color of the food. But in the final stages of the reaction, harmful glycation end products (AGEs) will form,' Dr Bowe said. 'To know the harmful effects of AGEs, just look at a premature aging person – a relatively young person with lots of wrinkles, discoloration, and loss of radiance and you will know.'

Baked foods can increase total daily AGEs by 25% of the average adult intake. In addition, the University of California Berkeley says that AGE accumulation in cells is not only linked to premature aging, but also causes diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cataracts and cancer letters.