Say No to Fried Food

Where, on one hand food is important for living, the same food can take our very life, if not consumed in a healthy manner. This happens because of unhealthy ways of cooking and oversized servings. Frying food, is one of the unhealthier ways of cooking food.

Frying is an ancient method of cooking. In the past, people ate fried food only on special occasions. Now fried food (especially fast foods) is a huge part of our daily diet.

Why should we avoid fried food?

We already take enough fat from different food sources like milk, nuts, cheese, yogurt etc. Adding more fat to our food through frying is like asking for health problems that can lead to an early death. Moreover, in our sedentary lifestyles consumption of fatty food will increase the risk of health problems.

                 

• High in calories and fats

The coating on fried food soaks up the oil. It's like drinking cooking oil straight from the bottle.
Bake an average potato and you have 110 calories and 0 grams of fat. Fancy some French fries of an average-sized potato and you have 380 calories and 18 grams of fat! This shows that a dish that can be grilled, steamed or baked can increase in calories by up to three or even four times if deep fried.

• Contain unhealthy fat

Oils that are healthy at room temperature can become unhealthy when heated above certain temperatures. For example, heating vegetable oil above 300 degrees Fahrenheit damages the oil causing formation of toxins, including Trans Fats. Trans Fats are very unhealthy because our digestive system cannot break them down and they remain in our body in a pasty form.

Health problems potentially caused by Fried Foods:

• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Clogged Arteries
• High Blood Pressure
• Obesity
• Acne
• Cancer

Going ‘Fry Free’

Give up your fried food and switch to baked, grilled or steamed food. You can even dry-fry the food in a stainless steel utensil using only a spray of oil. Cut down your fried food to cut down calories and that heavy, greasy feeling. You will definitely feel lighter. 

Smart eating is the key to a healthy life 

Saying “NO” to fried foods is tough, but it’s easy to say “yes” to healthy alternatives that are also quite yummy. Some of them are:

• Baked potato (limited butter and sour cream, please!)
• Baked or grilled chicken instead of fried chicken
• Baked organic tortilla chips instead of fried potato chips
• Substitute a salad or fruit instead of fries

Think of your body's health before you think of the pleasure you derive from eating fatty foods. One life is all we’ve got!

References
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-full-story/index.html
http://www.ehow.com/list_7155914_foods-contain-trans-fat_.html
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/understanding-trans-fats
http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/0001727/36/