What the experts won’t touch

The best advice is the advice that the experts use themselves. We asked various health experts what their nutritional no-nos are.

1. The dietitian

Pippa Simpson, a dietitian at Anne till and Associates:

- Kentucky Fried Chicken
This is extremely high in fats, particularly saturated fat and trans fats. The high fat content provides concentrated kilojoules which is not desirable when trying to manage weight. The saturated and trans fats can contribute to the hardening of cell membranes. This increases insulin sensitivity which is undesirable for controlling energy levels, appetite and fat metabolism. It also increases the the long term risks of developing coronary heart disease.

- Fat free sweets e.g. wine gums
These provide condensed sugar which causes a surge in blood glucose levels. This is followed by the blood glucose levels crashing, impacting on energy levels, concentration, mood and hunger. The subsequent insulin surge as a result of the blood glucose spike promotes fat storage, reduces fat breakdown and increases appetite.

2. The nutritionist

Andréa Jenkins, a nutritional therapist:

- Vitamin water
It’s so much better just to have regular water. Vitamin water is mostly fructose and sugar.

- Convenience foods
These foods have refined carbohydrates, high levels of sugar and poor quality salt. To top it all off, zapping them a meal the microwave depletes any quality or nutrition left in the food, and possibly changes it to be destructive to the body. It has also been prepared weeks in advance so the food value would deteriorate over time.

- Soya meat substitutes such as sausages, burgers and nuggets
Soya is genetically modified. It tampers with hormones and cannot be recognised by the body. It’s indigestible and also has a negative effect on metabolism, depleting your energy levels.

3. The sports scientists

Tim Noakes, co-founder of The Sports Science Institute:

- Having more than one glass of alcohol a day and cola drinks
Over a lifetime they produce very adverse outcomes. I also avoid fast foods, chips, biscuits and cola drinks as I suspect they replace good foods like fruit and vegetables.

Ross Tucker, a sports scientist at the The Sports Science Institute and Shape advisory board member:

- Bacon
Largely because of how it’s cooked. It’s the visible fat, not the bacon. The same goes for pork and any other meat, incidentally, when fat is visible.

4. The Heart and Stroke foundation

Erika Ketterer, a dietitian at the Heart and Stroke Foundation:

- Avoid foods such as pies, pastries, sausage rolls and cream cakes
These foods are energy dense, but have a poor nutritional and micronutrient content. They are high in total fat (and saturated fats) and a source of trans fats. They are also high in refined carbohydrates in which means they are poor in fibre).
Cream cakes may have lots of added sugars. If foods such as these are eaten often, the abovementioned factors could contribute to the development of obesity as well as conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol (which are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease).

5. The dentist

Dr Zak Schabort, a dental health care professional:

- Sticky candy and toffees
Not only is it sticky, it also increases the acidity of the oral cavity. If you do eat lots of sweets, rinse with water after consuming, chew sugar-free gum thereby creating an alkaline medium in the mouth, then rinse 30 minutes after consuming sweets so that you do not brush whilst an acidic mouth prevails.

- Cigarettes
It causes bone loss and stains teeth and patients can end up with periodontitis.

6. The fitness and lifestyle coach

Tanya Wyatt, a lifestyle coach and fitness trainer with 18 years in the industry and author of two fitness books:

- Artificial sweeteners
They are a man-made chemical compound and have been shown to cause many health problems. Some are classified as neurotoxins, or excitotoxins – in effect, they ‘excite’ brain cells to death! Aspartame, in particular, has been shown to cause cancer and Splenda has been linked to enlarged and calcified kidneys, decreased red blood cells (above a certain level), a massive reduction in beneficial bacteria in the intestines, and more. Every current artificial sweetener on the market has been linked to a range of negative health effects. They have also been shown to increase sugar cravings, thus leading to increased carbohydrate consumption (in turn, leading to increased fat storage and weight gain).

- A chlorinated swimming pool
Chlorine is a known carcinogen (in its original form it is non-toxic, but as soon as it comes into contact with organic matter – such as that found in swimming pools – it becomes highly toxic). In some countries overseas, governments have banned its use in both public pools and municipal drinking water, due to its hazardous effects on human health. When you exercise, your pores enlarge, allowing for greater absorption – i.e. you absorb more of this hazardous chemical. One hour in the swimming pool amounts to approximately the same amount of chlorine absorbed as a week’s worth of drinking chlorinated tap water. Swim in the sea; it will keep you naturally germ-free!