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To eat or not to eat is the question. In the midst of so many restrictions, what should we really adopt or eliminate from our diets?

We are constantly being told that we should eat this and not that, and it becomes a difficult task to distinguish what we can actually adopt in our diets. One way to solve this problem is to reduce the list of foods that should be avoided and rank the worst foods according to each health problem.

High cholesterol level: margarine

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It is interesting to switch from butter to margarine due to the high amount of sodium, however, margarine can be loaded with trans fats, which cause an increase in "bad cholesterol" (LDL) and a decrease in "good cholesterol" (HDL) in the blood. Also, if you need to regulate your intake of processed foods, remember that margarine is highly processed, so you can switch to olive oil or even consider the WHO (World Health Organization) recommendation and make restricted use of butter and margarine moderate.

Weight gain: sweeteners

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It would be normal to assume that exchanging sugar for non-caloric sweeteners would lead to weight loss. However, it seems that the body has an ironic sense of humor. Sweeteners can lead to weight gain, and to make matters worse, they can also lead to increased glucose levels. What happens is that sweeteners can contribute to changes that occur in the body precisely to lower glucose; that is, artificial sweeteners used to combat obesity and its complications end up contributing to the very epidemics they are intended to prevent.

Hormonal Problems: Canned

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Not all cans are coated with industrial chemicals, however, those that are should be avoided. Bisphenol A (BPA), for example, is a synthetic estrogen that can affect the hormonal system even in small amounts - read more about the dangers of BPA here and find out the dangers this component can bring when reusing your water bottle here. It is usually present in the inner lining of canned goods.

High blood glucose: children's breakfast cereals

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Breakfast cereals for children are full of sugar. To be more precise, about 37% of the composition is pure sugar, according to studies by the British consumer research group Which, and therefore, daily consumption is harmful to health and can lead to high blood glucose levels.

Excess mercury: fish, swordfish, mackerel, etc.

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Methylmercury is a neurotoxin that can be harmful to the brain and nervous system when there is a high intake of this component. Thanks to human interference, methylmercury is found in most fish and sometimes has a very high concentration of it. Especially pregnant and nursing women should avoid excessive consumption of fish in general, and swordfish and mackerel more specifically, which suffer more from this process.

Genetically modified food: soy and its derivatives

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Running away from genetically modified foods is not an easy task; it is said that 75% of all food sold in supermarkets is genetically modified or has transgenic ingredients. Corn and soybeans top that list. Therefore, if you want to avoid genetically modified food, be aware of packaging that indicates the existence of soy oil, soy milk, soy flour or soy lecithins, unless it is indicated that the food is organic or free of transgenic components .

"Clean" food: industrialized hamburgers

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Steak from farm-raised, grass-fed cows is one thing; something entirely different is industrialized beef: conditions are filthy, there is an abundant use of growth hormones and a diet composed of genetically modified corn. A piece of steak usually comes from a single animal, however, ground and processed meats, such as industrialized hamburgers, are a mixture of meats from hundreds of animals.

Diabetes: soda

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It would not be an exaggeration to call bottled diabetes soft drinks. Research indicates that those who drink a can of soda a day are 20% more likely to develop diabetes than those who consume a can or less a month, due to the high amount of sugar in the beverage's composition.

and finally…

Cancer: processed meats

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That's a truth no one wants to hear, but studies show that people who eat a lot of processed meat and sausages (like ham, bacon, and sausage) are more likely to die prematurely or develop cancer and heart disease. We know that eating beans is not the same thing as savoring that delicious smoked meat... but if you want a long life, better leave bacon.