The 10 Foods to give up in your thirties to stay youthful and healthy

ashley 17 Oct 2017

1/10
Coffee Creamer
Containing chemicals like titanium dioxide and trans fats, this deceptively additive can exacerbate ageing, inflammations and even sports-related injuries. It also has been linked to heart disease, stroke and diabetes. As such, opt for a cream-free coffee to satisfy your caffeine fix instead!
2/10
Soy Sauce
Ahh... soy sauce - a delectable and delightful staple in quite literally every Asian household. Well, you might not be as willing to drench your plate of chicken rice in this sauce anymore once you've realised the unfortunate health dangers they pose.

Soy sauces contain dangerous levels of chemicals known as chloropropanols which are harmful to the body. A neurotoxin called Salsolinol has also been linked to DNA damage, cancer and Parkinson's disease. Still think that measly drizzle of soy sauce is harmless?
3/10
Bacon
Believe us, this breakfast staple is the prime food you should forego once you've entered your 30s. As tasty as it is, this much-loved comfort food contains sodium nitrate - an additive that contributes to collagen reduction, premature wrinkles, and even saggy skin! Combined with its artery-clogging and caloric-dense properties, your and your body are better off without bacon in your diet.
4/10
Processed Soup
The sheer convenience of heating up a pre-cooked can of soup is the reason why so many of us have it as a staple in our households. However, these artificially made soups aren't as wholesome as you think.

With the average can of soup containing a whopping 890mg of sodium per half a serving, it would seem that many individuals consume at least half of their daily recommended sodium intake in just one sitting! Hold off the tinned soups and try whipping up your own fresh bowl of soup yourself!
5/10
Margarine
The 'margarine vs. butter' debate will always be a point of contention among nutritionists. You might be familiar with health experts heavily discouraging the consumption of butter due to its high fat content. However, recent research suggests that margarine, and not butter, was the real killer.

Containing partially-hydrogenated oils, margarine has been proven to increase cholesterol and decrease your body's immune responses. If you're one who loves a good creamy edge to your morning toast, try using an avocado-based spread instead!
6/10
Sugary Pastries
We've said it before and we'll say it again: sugar is no friend of the body. Providing absolutely zero essential nutritional value whatsoever, sugar has been repeatedly linked to a host of metabolic diseases, from diabetes to even cancer. As such, the sugar found in your favourite muffins, pastries and cereals are certainly not worth the empty calories.

What's more, sugar has also been proven to accelerate aging and the formation of wrinkles as well. It would be wise to ditch these sugar-laden bites as soon as possible.
7/10
Flavoured Yogurt
Think eating low-fat yogurt has prevents you from packing on all those extra calories? Think again.

Added with plenty of sugar and sweeteners, flavoured yogurt contains approximately the same nutritional value as a chocolate bar. As mentioned earlier, consuming sugar in unhealthy doses (which is a trap we all easily fall into, considering most processed food items contain high levels of it) an cause a vast range of health problems. The next time you're craving yoghurt, opt for plain greek yogurt instead.
8/10
Alcoholic Drinks
By now, we're all familiar with the negative health effects of consuming alcohol. Here's some bad news: it gets worse, the older you grow. As you age, your body loses the ability to effectively metabolise alcohol properly. This leads to a high likelihood of liver-related ailments such as liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and diabetes. If you love your wines, stick to the occasional tipple or a glass of red wine instead. Your body will thank you for that.
9/10
White bread and Bagels
Who doesn't love bread and bagels? Having been established as the ultimate comfort food in the modern household, you'd be astonished about how unhealthy these food staples are. Containing mostly carbohydrates, white breads and bagels are highly processed and contain empty calories! Refined calories found in foods like bread and bagels is converted into glucose in the blood and thus, causes a spike in the blood sugar levels. Do note that not all carbs are bad; if you love your breads, pasta and bagels, make the conscious effort to opt for whole wheat options instead.
10/10
Soda Drinks
Soda: arguably the ultimate antithesis of healthy eating. Containing high levels of sugar and sodium, soda has been known to accelerate and aggravate plaque buildup in the teeth and also increases the risk of metabolic syndromes like belly fat, high cholesterol and a spike in the blood sugar. Yikes!

Eat well, live well!

We can all attest to the fact that once you hit your thirties, your body feels noticeably different. Whether it’s those under-eye wrinkles that seem to become more pronounced overnight, the extra pounds around your waistline and of course, the inability to recover as easily from a wine-induced hangover, it is clear that your body has changed from what it was in your twenties.

As such, it is all the more imperative that you watch what you eat. In the gallery above, we’ve sussed out the foods that you should absolutely stay away from once you turn the big 3-0. Laden with sugar, sodium and empty calories, these foods do no favours to your health and beauty. Ready to kick these sinful bites to the curb? Scroll through the gallery above to find out more!

Ashley Anand

Photos: Getty Images

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