Health

Foods to Avoid at Age 40

There is this popular adage that says, “A fool at forty is a fool forever”. This tells you how significant that age is and it definitely comes with a lot of adjustments. Attaining that age doesn’t come with reflection on your career and financial goals alone, but it also calls for you to evaluate your diet and lifestyle choices. Forty is a stage of a person’s life when the body begins to undergo some changes like slower metabolism, receding hairline, face wrinkles, etc and one can become prone to having life-threatening sicknesses like Diabetes, heart diseases and some types of cancer. At this stage you have to be careful about what you choose to consume as the wrong food can throw your hormones off balance and put your health at risk. As you celebrate that milestone you need to cut back on some foods and adopt new ones to maximize your health.

 

These are the foods to avoid:

Kilishi

Kilishi is a version of Jerky that originated in the Hausaland. It is a dried form of suya, made from deboned cow, sheep or goat meat. It has become a favorite snack for Nigerians as people who travel to the North are often told to come back with Kilishi. But one has to be mindful of this meat as too much consumption can put one at risk of a heart disease. According to Kurt Straif of WHO,”For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but the risk increases with the amount of meat consumed”.

 

Fruit Juice

There is a misconception about fruit juice being healthy enough as eating fruits. This is not true. Fruits juices are just as bad as sodas due to their high sugar contents and preservatives. Fruits juice should be taken less frequently and must never serve as a replacement for freshly juiced fruits or fresh fruits.

 

White Rice

This is the most popular food in Nigeria. It’s always available in every home and it remains the number one choice at every Nigerian party, and restaurant. White rice is refined carbohydrate which has been stripped of all fibre and nutrients. White rice digests quickly and its high glycemic index can lead to unhealthy rise in blood sugar levels. This can lead to a build-up of fat around your waistline, and I am sure you don’t want that happening.

 

White Bread

This is a daily breakfast meal for most Nigerians. This is obviously because it can go with a variety of things like egg, tea, butter, etc and it’s affordable for most Nigerians. Bread comes in different labels, sizes, shapes and flavors. We have whole wheat bread, coconut bread, sardine bread, cornbread, leavened and unleavened bread, etc and some are more nutritious than other. White bread is high in refined carbohydrate. If eaten on a daily bases can flood your bloodstream with sugar and this can lead to weight gain and a higher risk for diabetesheart disease, and other lifestyle-related chronic conditions.

 

French fries

A burger and fries is out of the question when you reach your 40s. You might think eating just some fries can’t be all that bad. After all, what is a french fry but a potato cooked in oil? They might be made from potatoes, but once you fry them up, they are very far removed from potatoes in a nutritional sense. French fries don’t have the potato skin any more, and that’s where most of the fibre and nutrients lie. Instead, you’re treated to some nasty fats and sodium. Hardly anyone eats fries as a stand-alone meal. They are usually accompanied by a burger or chicken, and that’s a vehicle for other sugar-saturated sauces and salts. If you want to have fries, make homemade ones with the skin still intact, and grill them in the oven.

 

Fast Foods

There is no surprise here: Fast food is a definite no-go when you hit your 40s. When you eat fast food, you tend to want more of it, so it’s smart to just avoid it all together. Fast food has also been linked to Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. A recent study of 3,000 participants showed that the individuals who ate fast food more than twice a week were twice as likely to develop insulin resistance, and subsequently, diabetes. We haven’t even touched on the weight issues revolving around fast food yet! The poison lies in the name, “fast.” Most of these foods come premade and have gone through some preservative process. Then there is the sugar content: There is too much of it.

 

Processed Peanut Butter

Taking peanut butter and sandwiches while growing up is okay, but now that you are grown, it’s time to leave peanut butter alone. We all remember the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we had growing up. As with so many other things, the nutritional value of peanut butter is thrown out the window when they start to add hydrogenated and processed vegetable oils. The protein-packed spread changes to a cholesterol-enhancing one. Pure peanut butter can be considered a super food. Not only is it high in protein, but it has a host of other benefits. It is linked to lower levels of cholesterol and also the prevention of diabetes. It is also packed with antioxidants and dietary fibre, which works wonders for your metabolism. Something that a person over 40 would appreciate.

 

Vegetable Oils

Your body works best when it is in balance. You also need certain oils to keep things in balance. One of the major imbalances that we struggle within the 21st century is the omega-6 polyunsaturated fats, or omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids. Both fatty acids are important, but a balance is essential. Vegetable oils like soybean, corn and cottonseed oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, and it is therefore easy to throw your body out of whack when you consume too much vegetable oils. Most deep-fried foods are saturated in vegetable oils, and we commonly use vegetable oils when we cook at home as well. Therefore, if you want to maintain a healthy balance, alternate between vegetable and extra virgin olive oils. Your heart will be healthy, and you’ll feel better, too.

 

Pancake Syrup

It goes without saying that you should leave the pancake syrup well enough alone. You are already committing a dietary sin by eating pancakes. When you add syrup to the mix, you’re only making things worse. If you use maple-flavoured syrup, you are just fooling your taste buds. Flavoured syrups are made from high fructose corn syrup. Fructose in fruit is not a problem, but as soon as it is concentrated, bad things happen. It has been linked to metabolic syndrome and increased belly fat, for starters. As you grow older, you will get to realise that nothing comes close to the natural products. Man has not yet found ways to make artificial foods as healthy as their natural counterpart. Stick to real maple syrup. It might be pricey, but it is packed with antioxidants and other trace minerals, all of which your ageing body need.

 

Canned Soup

It isn’t just the sweet stuff you need to stay away from when you’re older. The savoury side also has a couple of items you’re better off avoiding. Canned soup is one thing you can do without. With a little bit of planning, you’ll find that making soup is one of the easiest meals you can make.

 

Pasta Sauce

Pasta is already on the naughty list for those over 40, and the sauce is no better. Well, some of them at least. Store-bought sauces usually have tomatoes or tomato paste as a base, but it’s the added ingredients you need to be mindful of. These sauces often contain inflammatory oils and extra sugar and salt, and that is where the sauce becomes a poison. The great thing about pasta sauce, on the other hand, is the homemade versions. Pasta is one of the most versatile dishes, and you only have your imagination to stop you from making some delicious meals.

 

Beef

This is a bitter pill to swallow for most men. If you can’t have beef any longer, it’s almost like a part of you dies. But no one said that growing older was going to be easy. Red meat is unfortunately not going to make a frequent appearance on your menus when you reach 40. The problem is not with the red meat itself, but rather with the age we live in. Everything needs to be faster, and we tend to consume more and at a faster rate than what can be produced. Because of this, scientists come up with hormone cocktails to speed up the growth process. Meat was more nutritious back in the day because the animals roamed free and ate natural food. Because of all the stuff we add to their diets, the meat changes and become unhealthy.

 

Doughnuts

It should come as no surprise that doughnuts are off the menu for the 40-year-old. These delectable treats are no friend to your gut or metabolism. If you break down the doughnut, there is just no nutritional value at all. First, the dough is made from refined wheat, which affects your blood-sugar levels. Then, it’s dunked in vegetable oil and fried, adding to the already high-calorie count. Then there is all the sugar. In the end, you are looking at close to 300 calories for a single doughnut. Even if you only have just one a day, you can still gain plenty of weight in a short period of time. They are also bad for your heart due to the refined nature of all the ingredients. The trans-fats from the oil it is fried in will increase your cholesterol and risk of heart disease.

 

Freezer Meals

For one thing, I’m glad these meals are on the list. Sure, they don’t take any effort to prepare, but they are about as unappetising as they come. They generally don’t taste all that great, and they also don’t have the nutritional value of a decent home-cooked meal. These meals are typically stripped of fibre, which means they will pass through your body in record time. However, this is not ideal since your body won’t have the time to absorb what little nutrient that is in the meal. Then come the add-ins: Freezer meals are usually made with too much sodium and sugar, and too little protein and healthy fats. You are better off spending a bit of time on Google and hunting down a few easy-to-prepare recipes. You’ll be amazed at what you can make with very little effort.

 

Veggie burgers

Here is an item not many people saw coming. Most of us already “know” that beef burgers are out of the question, but veggie burgers? There might be traces of real vegetables, but they don’t have nearly the same nutritional value as normal veggies. For one, these burgers are not great providers of vitamin B12, which means you will turn grey much sooner than you think. This is not good news for the 40-year-old who is trying his best to look a bit younger. Then there are the other essential oils. Veggie burgers are another meal that is high in sodium and omega-6 fatty acids. Beef burgers, on the other hand, have more than enough omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 has been linked to a decrease in the risk of developing heart disease. It also gives the metabolism a boost and you will be losing weight in no time.

 

Energy Drinks

When you reach your 40s, it feels like energy is sometimes a very rare commodity. It doesn’t matter how much you sleep; you still feel drained and tired. One could be forgiven for falling into temptation and gulping down an energy drink from time to time. However, this is very counterproductive, as these drinks are very high in sugar and caffeine. This means you will have a temporary boost of energy, but as soon as the concoction wares off, your body crashes. Your pearly whites will be the first indication that you are a frequent flyer when it comes to energy drinks. They tend to eat away at the enamel of your teeth, leaving you with unsightly stains. The sugar also dehydrates you, which will make your skin look older than 40. Skip the energy drink and instead make time for some exercise and drink plenty of water.

 

Diet Soda

 

Now that you’re 40, it’s time to cut back on the soda. You might be tempted to continue your ways, but opting for the sugar-free or zero-calorie alternatives is about the worst thing you can do. The artificial sweeteners in diet sodas are bad for you. The only thing it succeeds in doing is boosting your craving for more soda. In many cases, these sweeteners are 200-600 times sweeter than sugar, so a lot less of it is used. However, because of that high concentration, artificial sweeteners can trigger the pancreas to release insulin at the wrong time.

Speaking of sweeteners, aspartame is one of the worst chemicals you can put into your body. As more research is being done, the list of adverse effects that aspartame is associated with continues to grow, from headaches to nausea and even blindness. This is one chemical you want to stay away from.

 

Whipped Toppings

Here is where the nutritional lines start to blur. Nowadays, cream is back on the menu of healthy foods, because it contains healthy fats and other goodies. So why is whipped cream so bad for a person? It is the only cream that has been mixed until it is light and fluffy. Well, that is the case when you make your own whipped cream at home. Store-bought whipped cream is awful for you, and it isn’t even made from real cream. There are some dodgy lab-concocted ingredients like partially hydrogenated vegetable oil and corn syrup that make up the bulk of the “cream.” None of those ingredients are figure friendly, and you will pick up weight in no time if you want to indulge. If whipping up your own cream is not your style, use fresh cream instead. It tastes fantastic with just about anything, and you can be sure that it is cream and not an artificial substitute.

 

Flavoured Yoghurt

There is no denying that flavoured yogurt is much more satisfying than Greek yogurt. However, like most other flavoured foods, it is packed with extra sugar and other flavourings that your body is not supposed to try and digest. Besides, Greek yogurt is packed with satiated proteins and is low in sugar.

 

Toasted Waffles

Most adult will tell you that breakfast is the most rushed time of the day. You have to get yourself, and your family fed and ready for the day. For convenience and time’s sake, you opt for quick and convenient meals to send everyone in their different directions. The food industry knows this, and they exploit this and provide families with easy ways out. In comes the toasted waffle to save the day. Now that you are 40, you can’t take the easy way out any more. Toasted waffles are about as unhealthy as they come. It barely has any fibre and will give you a quick boost, but that is as far as it goes. You’ll also notice that you become hungry a lot quicker. There is a healthy alternative, however: Just take a banana or two, mash them up and beat in two or three eggs. Grate some cheese into the mix, and you have a balanced pancake or flapjack mixture.

 

Bottled Coffee

First off, why are so many people drawn to bottled coffee nowadays? Is the coffee milkshake not good enough anymore? Regardless, you’d do best to stay away from most of these cold drinks. Although some of them have some nutritional value and boost your metabolism, many do exactly the opposite. Any flavoured cold java will have an excess of sugar and calories that will destroy your waistline. The extra sugar also increases your risk of developing diabetes and messes with your hormones, so don’t be surprised when you suddenly have acne again. Many cold coffee brands aren’t even made from real coffee beans. Instead, they use an instant coffee that doesn’t have anything close to the nutritional value of the real deal. Leave your coffee in the “hot drink” category; there are plenty of other cold beverages to choose from.

 

Commercial Protein Shakes

Fit is the new skinny, and there has been a market explosion in protein shakes and other whey products. However, for the over-40 body, you will have to settle for natural proteins if you want to bulk up. Many of these store-bought products are wrought with artificial additives, flavourings, added sugars hydrogenated oils and other preservatives. That is not to mention all the extra calories packed in each serving. You will bulk up, but definitely not in the muscular sense of the word. There are many protein-rich foods you can incorporate into your diet, and you won’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive shakes. Skinless chicken is among the most protein-rich food you can eat. However, if you are a vegetarian, you also have options in the form of chickpeas or beans.

 

Farmed Fish

There is no denying that fish needs to be part of your diet, but with growing world populations and dwindling fish numbers, there has been a rise in farmed fish products. Although this might sound like a good idea, in theory, farmed fish are not as good for you as the wild ones. The problem comes with their diet. These fish grow in captivity and rely on being fed. Their diet makes them rich in omega-6 fatty acids, and end up throwing your body out of balance. Wild fish don’t have that problem, and they provide you with the right amount of fatty acids to keep everything in balance. Look out for the organic or wild fish in the market. They might cost a little bit more, but they have anti-inflammatory and many other benefits.

 

Sugar-free candy

I don’t know of many men who don’t have a sweet tooth. But your sugar intake needs to be cut drastically when you reach your 40s. Many people opt for sugar-free candies and foods to try and taper their sugar intake. It sounds like a good idea in theory, seeing that the artificial sweeteners have a much more reduced effect on your blood-sugar levels and can be used as a tool to lose weight. However, you might want to weigh a few side effects before going sugar-free. To begin with, there have been cases where the person develops an upset stomach, and the candy acts more like a laxative. The waistline is another area affected, seeing that the liver can’t do its job properly anymore.

 

Boxed Mac and Cheese

 

When it comes to quick and easy meals, nothing comes close to boxed mac and cheese. When you were a kid, gulping down bowl after bowl was nothing. Now that you have passed the age-40 barrier, you should reconsider whether you want to go down memory lane and crack open another box. Ask yourself how natural anything in that box can be. It isa tasty meal, but it contains more than 30% of your daily recommended sodium intake. The white pasta is also not doing your blood-sugar levels any favours. That is only the beginning. In order to get that cheesy flavor, a highly processed cheese flavouring is used. In most cases, a high concentration of phthalate is found in the powdered cheese. This is a substance that can cause some serious issues, including hormonal disruptions.

 

Gluten-free foods

It seems like the world is gluten intolerant all of a sudden. Granted, some people have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, but if you are not one of them, gluten is fine so long as, just like everything else, it’s consumed in a balanced way. As you get older, your body needs all the help it can get to keep it functioning. Many whole grain foods contain the fibre you need to level out your blood sugar. The fibre also absorbs water which helps your body to process and digests your food, keeping you regular. Whole grains also promote the healthy bacteria you need to digest your food and get most of the nutrients out. There are, however, gluten-rich products that you can steer clear of. Any refined grain, like white bread and white pasta, is terrible for you. It has the gluten, but none of the fibre your body needs.

 

Fat-Free Dressing

Many times when people are overweight and want to do something about their weight, the first thing they do is a search for low fat or fat-free replacements. Fat-free dressing is among the biggest snares people get caught in. Sure, it doesn’t have fat, but it isloaded with sugar, salt and other additives. In most cases, they have more harmful ingredients than their full-fat counterparts. You can make your dressing with healthy ingredients at home; all you need is a food processor. If you don’t have one, you can make a universal dressing with olive oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds and some honey. Add everything together to taste, shake it up and voila.

 

Canned Fruits

Here is another sweet treat that you need to say goodbye to. It might say fruit on the can, but there is almost nothing healthy about the contents. The fruit is drenched and preserved in syrup, artificial flavouring and a host of other chemicals that are made to enlarge your belly. Food companies have tried to ease the conscience of the ever-growing health concerned masses by developing unsweetened varieties. The sugar content might be at an acceptable level, but the fruit still lacks fibre and other nutrients. You’re filling your stomach with nutritious food that has no dietary value. The vitamins that you would typically find in fresh fruit also gets primarily destroyed during the canning process. Instead get in the habit of using fresh fruit in your desserts and know what healthy sweeteners you can use.

Related Articles

Back to top button
Arbiterz

Subscribe to our newsletter!

newsletter

Stay up to date with our latest news and articles.
We promise not to spam you!

You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

Arbiterz will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.