Weight in Sight. Nutritionist Reveals Foods That Can Add Pounds

Many familiar dishes that can be found in almost every restaurant, and whose recipes have been known for a long time, are actually not healthy. Nutritionist Ekaterina Kuzina shares recommendations on which food combinations to avoid and why.

Eggs and Bacon

This combination seems classic, especially for breakfast. However, from a healthy eating perspective, eggs with bacon are not the optimal choice, as such a dish contains too much animal protein, which can raise cholesterol levels in the blood. Therefore, an omelet with ham is also better to exclude from your diet. Instead, it is recommended to consume eggs separately (for example, with vegetables) and ham separately (also with vegetables).

Cereal with Orange Juice

Another seemingly familiar combination that is served in hotels around the world. Unfortunately, it is better to avoid such a breakfast to prevent stomach problems. Orange juice reduces the activity of enzymes responsible for breaking down carbohydrates, and cereal is, in fact, carbohydrates. It is better to replace the juice with milk or another, less aggressive option, such as mango juice.

Potatoes with Meat

“Meat French Style,” baked meat with potatoes, is a dish that is often prepared for festive tables. However, this combination is also not the most suitable for our digestion. To break down protein (meat), the digestive system releases the enzyme pepsin and hydrochloric acid, while for digesting carbohydrates (potatoes) — salivary amylase and pancreatic alpha-amylase. Different enzymes “slow down” the stomach's work.

Meat with rice or peas is also not the best option. Therefore, it is better to prepare a vegetable side dish (excluding cauliflower). The optimal combination is meat with vegetables.

Pizza with Soda

Italians are horrified when tourists order Coca-Cola or Fanta with pizza, their national dish. Nutritionists also support the opinion of the residents of the Apennine Peninsula. The thing is, pizza, which contains a lot of protein and carbohydrates, requires significant effort to digest. However, the sugar in soda slows down this process. As a result, you feel as if a brick has fallen into your stomach.

Burger with French Fries

The same feeling will arise if you wash down a burger or cheeseburger with soda, adding French fries to it. This combination is usually offered in all fast-food establishments. Both burgers and French fries are not the healthiest foods on their own. But if you decide to indulge in something unhealthy, it is better to choose either one or the other.

Alcohol with Sweets

Cognac with candies or wine with your favorite dessert is a dangerous combination. The thing is, sugar in this case starts to compete with alcohol. Since glucose is more important for the body, it will first process the dessert and leave the alcohol for later. As a result, the symptoms of intoxication will be more pronounced. You will feel this the next day after the party when you wonder why just one glass of wine caused such a reaction. If there was more wine, let me remind you that doctors do not recommend exceeding 250 ml of alcohol per day.