2 Ingredients Nutritionists Say No One Should Be Cooking With Anymore With Because They Make Weight Loss So Much Harder

Some unhealthy foods are obvious to avoid when trying to lose weight: getting fat donuts, salty chips, greasy cheeseburgers. However, some harmful ingredients can sneak into your daily diet without a second thought. Eating healthy isn’t just about cutting out junk food; It’s also about making smart choices when cooking your own meals, which is why it’s so important to know which ingredients could put your ideal weight at risk.

To uncover some of the worst options out there, we spoke with health expert Lisa Richards, nutritionist and creator of The candida dietY Krutika Nanavati, Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian. They pointed to two in particular that you should cut back on whenever possible: refined flour and cooking oils.

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refined flour

If you bake often, you’ll likely go through a fair amount of flour. However, Nanavati points out that she should be careful with the refined variety because it can “sabotage her weight loss efforts.” Oh! This is mainly due to the fact that refined flour, like many processed ingredients, is “high in calories and has little nutritional value.”

Also, another major risk of this ingredient is high blood sugar. Nanavati explains that “refined flour has a higher glycemic index than whole wheat flour, which means it raises blood sugar levels more quickly. This can lead to increased hunger and cravings, and can contribute to weight gain,” he warns. Also, if you frequently eat foods made from refined flour, you are also at higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. “Instead, try using whole wheat flour or almond flour,” Nanavati concludes.

cooking oils

Another common ingredient that could be wreaking havoc on your body and slowing down your weight loss process is none other than the infamous cooking oils. “Oils are among the worst ingredients to cook with if you want to lose weight,” Richards tells us. “This is because they are very calorie dense and provide few nutrients that the body actually needs. They are essentially empty calories.”

Of course, it’s very difficult to eliminate all oils from your diet forever, as some recipes can’t do without them. However, Richards points out that they are not always necessary, especially in the large quantities that many recipes require. “For example, when sautéing vegetables, recipes usually call for oil of some kind, about 2 tablespoons. This can be avoided by replacing the oil with water or a low-calorie sauce like liquid aminos or balsamic vinegar,” she says. Indicated!

There’s a similar story when it comes to cooking oil sprays, explaining that they contain unnatural additives like lecithin, “which acts as an emulsifier, and dimethyl silicone, which is an anti-foaming agent.” One exception is avocado oil, which is a great replacement for typical cooking spray oil.

Changing your diet and cooking habits is surely not easy. However, if you want to see the fastest possible weight loss results, some sacrifices may be in order. That’s why, whenever possible, choosing healthy alternatives to fattening ingredients like these is always the best option.