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A healthy diet is all about balance, rather than eliminating one food group altogether (nevermind what those Keto enthusiasts will tell you). But even certain foods require a big red flashing warning sign that reads, “Proceed with caution.” Board certified internist and bariatric specialist Dr. Amy Lee, head of nutrition for Nucific, explains to us that fried foods such as fried chicken and French fries contain a nearly-deadly combination of refined carbs and trans fat that can lead weight loss or worse (ie. heart disease). Yikes!
Fried Food
While many low-carb dieters would advise you to eliminate carbs in general after a certain late hour in the day, Dr. Lee zeroes in on fried foods such fried chicken, fried calamari, French fries and more, as the one food you should absolutely avoid from a health perspective. Why? Because they are typically high in refined carbs as well as trans fat (most likely) from being fried in super-hot heat. What happens next is that refined carbs break down to simple sugars, which increases one’s insulin and end up being stored into adipose (fat) tissue.
"Though we make an effort to stay away from eating trans fats, oftentimes, we are unintentionally creating them by frying things in hot oil," she warns. "Trans fats have been shown to contribute to atherosclerosis and heart disease. But it also gets stored into fatty tissues, as well, which can cause weight gain."
Additionally, fats in general have a high energy density which translates to 9 calories per gram compared to carbs and proteins at 4 calories per gram, she explains.
Dr. Lee also warns about limiting non-fried refined carb foods such as crackers, cookies, cakes, ice cream, table bread, chips, tortilla, and pasta for lunch and dinner meals.
