The choc top- one of the most unhealthy foods on the planet- sorry-

Hi there every one- May I please have a gentle word regarding most cinema sold choc tops...

So Do I have your permissions?

Ok so here goes-

I have had a spate of choc tops finding their way onto  the food diaries over the last several weeks

Understandably with the cold weather several of us are going to the movies- great idea!

...And consequentially I am seeing the choc top surface its ugly head ( all be it delicious)onto the food plan.

Ok  so here is the thing...

An average choc top will set you back about ten days in good eating. Yep ten days. Wow thats a lot of walking, exercise, and food planning.

A choc top is rated as one of the worst snack options on the American diet.

It is not the size of the food that matters - it is the ingredients and the effect on blood sugar- cholesterol - heart and more

Why are choc tops so bad?

Three answers-

The ice cream- the cone- the chocolate shell( I know I know- they are so yummy!)

Dig below that yummy taste and you will find...

•1.     Saturated fats- trans fats- corn syrup( sometimes animal fats are added)

•2.     Added sugar making the choc top one of the sweetest snacks on the snack market

•3.     The cone is unhealthy for many reasons including extra sugar, refines carbohydrates, high salt, saturated  fats etc

•4.     The high sugar high saturated fat high salt content of the chocolate shell.

Do you Feel really thirsty after a choc top? No wonder it is incredibly high in salt.

Do you have high cholesterol, blood pressure, heart disease, any excess body fat, suffer stress, depression, anxiety-

then it is best to steer right away from the choc top.

Alternatives...

Why not take your own organic dark chocolate to the cinema?

Make your own ice-cream

Eat before you go to the cinema

See below- referenced from the following resources...

http://www.living-a-healthy-lifestyle.com/dangerous-food-ingredients.html

The all time favorite Ice Cream is another food jam-packed with unhealthy substances like calories, fat, sugar and dairies which is unhealthy for our health. Probably Ice cream is included in the top list of being the most unhealthiest food of all. Aside from that, Ice cream also contains artificial colors and flavoring, harmful preservatives, emulsifiers and stabilizers. Sum it all up and Ice cream falls on the list of the leading cause of obesity and tops the list of the most unhealthy foods on the planet.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/unhealthy-foods-that-will-kill-your-from-inside-out-1463018.html#ixzz0ppoOBhM8
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

The 100 Most Unhealthy Foods in the American Diet

http://www.x-raytechnicianschools.org/florida/the-100-most-unhealthy-foods-in-the-american-diet/

Looking for some healthier foods to eat than your usual fare? It may be wise to first figure out what not to eat. Unfortunately, many of the best-tasting foods in America are terrible for us. Whether they are high in calories, fat, sugar, sodium or some other nasty additive, we've listed America's 100 most unhealthy foods below.

Some of the foods on this list are obviously unhealthy, though you may be surprised by a few. (It is the stealthy ones that can really get us at times.) We have also included beverages, as well as the worst dishes from popular American chain restaurants, to round out the list. Since it would be difficult to rank the foods according to health risk, we have categorized and alphabetized each item.

Common Household Foods

Sadly, some of our favorite household foods top the "should not eat" list. Here are some American favorites that should be approached with cautious moderation.

1. Baked Beans - Many people keep a stock of canned beans in the pantry. Those that are soaking in sugary syrup, like baked beans, are high in refined sugars and contribute to many health problems.
2. Campbell's Condensed Soups - Have you seen how much salt is in your classic Campbell's condensed soup? Do yourself a favor and try the low-sodium version instead.
3. Chicken Pot Pie - Processed, store-bought pot pies are terribly unhealthy. Pepperidge Farm makes roasted chicken pot pie 1,020 calories and 64 grams of fat.
4. Hot Dogs - Not only are these a leading cause of choking in children and adults, they contain highly processed meat "byproducts," whatever that may be. Stay away from foods with such mysterious ingredients.
5. Luncheon Meats - Commercial cold cuts are highly processed and packed with unhealthy additives.
6. Ramen Noodles - College students everywhere are scraping by with this inexpensive dish. However, it offers nothing in the way of nutrients and is loaded with sodium.
7. Saltines - These crackers taste good with your soup, but provide only excessive carbohydrates and sodium.
8. White Bread - Foods made of mostly white flour are just empty calories and carbohydrates. Don't be fooled by wheat bread, either. You should be looking for whole wheat bread.
9. White Pasta - The white flour strikes again. Although tasty, this refined product offers too many carbohydrates and too many calories.
10. White Potatoes - These are the type of potatoes that are commonly used for junk food like French Fries. They contain solanine, which can have a toxic effect on people. Among other things, solanine can contribute to calcium depletion and arthritic pain.

Drinks

Everything you consume can have positive or negative health consequences, including drinks. While many people are conscious about the food they eat, they forget about the liquid calories in their diet. Below are some of the unhealthiest drinks in America.

1. Baskin Robbin's Large Heath Bar Shake - According to Yahoo! Health, this is the unhealthiest drink in all of America. It contains a whopping 2,310 calories, 266 grams of sugar and 108 grams of fat!
2. Cocktails - What do you get when you combine high levels of refined sugar and unhealthy amounts of hard liquor? You get a cocktail, which was invented by the British Navy so sailors would get drunk a little slower. Like anything, moderation is key, but you would be better off with a glass of red wine than with a cocktail.
3. Coffee - Need a pick-me-up in the morning? Studies show that a fresh apple and a glass of water can actually do this in a more healthy, natural way. Let your poor adrenal glands get some rest by laying off the coffee.
4. Diet Soda - Don't assume diet soda is better for you than the regular kind. Sugar substitutes are known to have long-term, unpleasant side effects. Plus, caffeine of any kind is bad for your health.
5. Eggnog - This creamy drink is a favorite around the holidays. Even without the liquor, it is quite fatty and unhealthy.
6. Fruit Juice - Most commercial fruit juices are loaded with sugar. In fact, some fruit juices offer more sugar in one serving than a candy bar. Think about that the next time you go for some Hawaiian Punch.
7. Fruit Smoothie - Just like fruit juice, most smoothies are delicious, yet contain more sugar and high fructose syrup than actual fruit. Be selective when looking for a healthy fruit-based drink.
8. Irish Coffee - This combines three unhealthy ingredients: coffee, cream and hard liquor.
9. Liquor - While studies have shown that moderate consumption of beer or wine can offer heart benefits, there is really no reason to drink hard liquor. It is bad for your kidneys, your liver and even a small amount will dehydrate you.
10. Red Bull - This drink gives you wings... and extremely high amounts of sugar, caffeine and carbohydrates. This intense energy drink has actually been linked to a few deaths. Listen up, America: France actually banned this potent tonic.
11. Soda - Soda is bad for you on many levels. It usually offers tons of sugar and caffeine, not to mention it isn't so great on your teeth. It does, however, work well to remove rust from metals. Think about that, won't you?
12. Starbucks' Java Chip Frappuccino - Frankly, you should avoid any beverage at Starbucks that isn't green tea or water. However, the Java Chip Frappuccino really stands out for its whopping 650 calories. You could eat a greasy cheeseburger from a fast food restaurant and consume less calories!
13. Whole Milk - Whole milk is not only high in fat, certain brands contain harmful hormones. Look for a dependable organic, hormone-free brand and try to make the switch to skim.

Snacks

Let's face it - most of us don't want to munch on celery stalks when we feel a small rumble in our tummy. However, the following snacks could make that tummy a lot bigger, so don't overindulge.

1. Chocolate - It isn't just the calories that make chocolate a big no-no. It is also a source of caffeine and some people are quite sensitive to the effects.
2. Coffee Cake - This sugary baked good definitely tastes great, but it is full of refined sugars, artificial additives and fat.
3. Cookies - Technically, there are healthy cookie recipes out there. However, the typical cookies are full of refined flour, refined sugars and more calories than you should ever consume in one nibble.
4. Corn Chips - Don't let the word "corn" fool you. This snack does not count as a vegetable serving and are just as bad for you as any other fried, salted snack.
5. Doughnuts - Artificial flavors, refined sugar and trans fats abound in these devilishly delicious snacks.
6. French Fries - French fries are not only fatty, they contain acrylamide, which is a known carcinogen.
7. Ice Cream - Ice cream can be fatty with the whole milk and sugar alone. However, it becomes even worse when you start adding things like chocolate pieces or cookie dough. Opt for low-fat frozen yogurt if you must indulge.
8. Lunchables - This Oscar Mayer product is convenient for lunch or a quick snack, but contains highly processed meats, non-enriched bread and a lot of sodium.
9. Potato Chips - Most of us realize how bad these are for us, yet they are hard to resist. Potato chips are high in trans fats, calories, salt and the carcinogen acrylamide.

"Health Foods"

Some foods are marketed as being healthy and many of us assume they are great additions to our diet. However, the following items should be eaten in moderation or not at all.

1. Bagel and Cream Cheese - This is a favorite breakfast food for many people. It seems healthier than a big, traditional breakfast. However, the average bagel covered in cream cheese offers 40 grams of fat and tons of carbohydrates.
2. Bran Muffin - Those looking for a healthy start in the morning often reach for a bran muffin. However, refined flour and sugars are not a healthy source of energy first thing in the morning.
3. Dried Fruit - Fresh fruit is far healthier than dried fruit, as it takes more dried fruit (and calories) to feel full. Also, many dried fruit products are covered with sugar.
4. Fruit Cocktail - Fruit is an integral part of a healthy diet. However, you should be buying fresh fruit and not fruit that is soaking in thick, sugary syrups. Not only is the added sugar unhealthy, fruit can lose a lot of nutrients when it is processed and canned.
5. Granola Bars - While the word "granola" is often used to describe health advocates, granola bars are often loaded with fatty oils and sugar.
6. Low-Fat Salad Dressing - While some salad dressings offer a reduced amount of fat, the taste is often salvaged by adding sugar.
7. Margarine - At one time, margarine was hailed as the healthy alternative to pure butter. However, margarine is loaded with trans fats and is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.
8. Microwave Diet Meals - There are many brands, such as Weight Watchers and Lean Cuisine, that claim to offer "healthy" microwave meals. However low in fat they may be, however, they are very processed and salty. Also, the portions are so small that you are likely to eat again very soon.
9. Olive Oil - While real olive oil is good for raising HDL cholesterol levels, it is still just as fatty as vegetable oil and its healthy properties are reduced by heat. Don't expect to drop many pounds by cooking anything in oil. Olive oil is merely the lesser of the evils.
10. Pasta Salad - Pasta is loaded with refined flour, which offers you a quick spike in blood sugar and isn't so great for your waist line. That, along with high-calorie dressing, makes pasta salad a "health food" you should avoid.
11. Pretzels - While it is true that pretzels are better for you than potato chips, they only offer empty calories. There are no nutritional benefits to pretzels and some are filled with sugar, which only makes you hungrier.
12. Protein Bars - Why these food items line the shelves of health food stores is a mystery. They offer a convenient source of protein, yes, but they are also packed with calories and fat.
13. Tuna Fish Sandwich - This isn't quite the healthy lunch you thought it was, particularly if you order one in a restaurant. Not only is the mayo high in fat, eating large quantities of tuna exposes you to mercury contamination.
14. Turkey Burger - Turkey burgers are not necessarily low-fat alternatives to regular hamburgers. In fact, they can be just as loaded with fat and grease. When purchasing patties in the grocery store, compare the turkey burgers to beef burgers and you might be surprised.
15. Yogurt Cups - Yogurt can be quite healthy if prepared properly. However, most yogurt cups found in grocery stores, such as the ones with fruit in the bottom, are loaded with sugary corn syrup.

Condiments

It isn't just the main portions of your meals that affect your health. The condiments you use to improve taste can really add up the calories, fat grams and other unhealthy properties. Below are some usual suspects to avoid.

1. Butter - Most of us know that butter is bad for us, yet the tempting product haunts us every time we eat a baked potato or piece of bread. If you must succumb to butter, try whipped butter instead.
2. Honey Mustard - While mustard does not offer many unhealthy properties, honey mustard is loaded with sugar and other additives.
3. Jellies/Jams/Preserves - Most brands are big on taste and on refined sugars, unfortunately. Organic, low sugar is the best alternative to mainstream, processed jellies/jams/preserves.
4. Ketchup - Sure the bottle boasts about the inclusion of lycopene, but you can also get that from fresh tomatoes. Kethcup is a highly processed food that is packed with sugar.
5. Mayonnaise - This is one of the easiest ways to turn a healthy sandwich into something very fattening. Substitute mayonnaise with something lighter whenever you can. Mustard is a great alternative in many cases.
6. Sugar - One could write a book about the unhealthy side effects of a diet high in sugar. It is hidden is many processed foods so the last thing you should do is keep extra sugar on the table. Use it very sparingly, in fact.
7. Salt - Excess sodium is no good for you, so take a stand and banish salt from your table. There are healthy alternatives to spicing up bland food.
8. Soy Sauce - Aside from the fact that soy has its negative aspects, there is a terribly high amount of salt in this popular sauce.
9. Tartar Sauce - Tartar sauce is actually mayonnaise combined with onions, pickled cucumbers and other ingredients. This is why it is even more fattening than mayonnaise, which is saying a lot.