This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
The foods sitting in your pantry are good for many things. Particularly now when it’s not easy to find what you need in a grocery store, it’s wise to turn to your pantry to find a forgotten can or jar that contains an ingredient to spice up your home cooking. But before you get too carried away, it’s smart to take inventory of what you actually have sitting in your pantry, because there are some foods you have that can cause weight gain – and you’ll be surprised to find out exactly which ones these are.
Canned Soup
While homemade soup is just about always a healthy choice, canned soup is basically the exact opposite. Canned soups typically contain high levels of added sodium, which helps preserve the food but can raise your blood pressure. Even low-calorie varieties of canned soup are bad for you, because these are just as high in sodium, and even fats.
Canned Fruit
Fruit is always good for you, right? Wrong! The reality is that there are many canned fruits you can buy that contain preservatives and additives like sugar that have been known to cause weight gain. Next time you reach for a can of fruit, take a look at the nutrition label to avoid eating any unwanted ingredients.
Canola Oil
Canola oil is widely used as a cooking fat, though many people don’t realize how bad it is for your health. The truth is that canola oil contains two grams more fat per tablespoon than butter, plus doesn’t have many vitamins or nutrients.
White Bread
White bread can be found in almost every pantry, but it shouldn’t because it is made from highly processed flour with additives that can lead to weight gain. This type of bread might taste better than whole wheat or whole grain bread, but it isn’t worth it because it has little to no nutritional value and can cause your body to develop fat cells.
