Sugar is often labeled as one of the unhealthiest ingredients in our diets, linked to issues like weight gain, inflammation, and chronic diseases. However, some foods might actually be worse for your health than sugar itself. Packed with harmful additives, processed ingredients, and hidden toxins, these items can have devastating effects on your body over time.
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Dr. Eric Berg recently shared four “sneaky” foods he says can be “more deadly than sugar,” and these items are surprisingly common in everyday diets. According to him, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and maltodextrin are the ones to steer clear of. Read on to learn more.
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1. Trans Fats
Found in many processed and fried foods, trans fats can raise bad cholesterol levels, lower good cholesterol, and increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and inflammation.
"Trans fats have been around for over 100 years, and it was only since 2018 that they were finally banned from the US,” Dr. Berg notes.
2. High Fructose Corn Syrup
Unlike natural sugars, HFCS is highly processed and can lead to a range of health problems.
“This is worse than sugar because it can cause more weight gain than sugar. It also creates a lot of damage to the liver because the body treats HFCS just like alcohol,” Dr. Berg says. Yikes!
3. Artificial Sweeteners
While they are calorie-free, some studies link these sugar substitutes to increased cravings, disrupted gut health, and even heightened risks of metabolic disorders.
These can “affect your microbiome [and] can even give you insulin resistance, which leads to weight gain,” he states.
4. Maltodextrin
Despite being marketed as a healthier alternative to sugar, maltodextrin can have similar or even worse effects. It can cause rapid blood sugar spikes, leading to energy crashes and weight gain. Additionally, its presence in many "low-calorie" or "diet" products can be misleading, as it may contribute to inflammation, gut health issues, and an increased risk of chronic diseases.
“It's not even a sugar; it's starch! In fact, it acts worse than sugar on the glycemic index and can go up to 185 compared to glucose, which is only 100,” he explains.
