These Are The Ten Worst Foods For Your Health, According To Experts

You made a commitment to maintaining a better diet, but, despite your best efforts, certain devilish foods you swore to avoid are luring you back with their siren song. If you were wondering how bad your favorite naughty indulgence is for your health, the New York Post has assembled a top 10 list of food no-nos that may help you finally take a permanent break from what have become staples in the diets of many Americans.

To start with an obvious one, you have been living in denial if you didn't already have some sense of how bad bacon is for your health. "Many don't know that the World Health Organization has classified bacon in the same category as tobacco when it comes to carcinogenesis," Dr. Reyzan Shali told the New York Post. This means that eating bacon has the potential to turn your normal cells into cancer cells, just like smoking can. This also goes for turkey bacon, since it is a processed meat.

Other foods and general categories that made the top 10 include fried food, potato chips, added sugars, and other processed meats. Consuming these can lead to a host of health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.

If you crave unhealthy foods, you're not alone. Americans are addicted to processed foods, like chips and hot dogs, as well as added sugars because they are designed to activate the brain's reward center — some neuroscientists compare these foods to opioids and nicotine. ​​"We have now the accumulated evidence, particularly in the last five years, that people who eat more ultra-processed foods have higher risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, depression, cancer, renal and liver diseases," Marion Nestle, a professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, told Newsweek.

The good news is that there are healthier alternatives. For instance, you can add some dark chocolate to a bowl of mixed berries for a healthy, satisfying treat. Try switching out high-fat ice cream for banana ice cream — you can make it yourself by blending bananas with some milk and spices for added flavor, and then freezing. When you get the munchies, swap out potato chips for air-popped popcorn with a dash of salt. You may also find that a bowl of olives or edamame will satisfy your salt cravings.

Reducing or eliminating any of the top 10 worst foods is essential to maintaining a healthy body. If you are indulging in any on a regular basis, it may be time to make some changes. When you do, don't be surprised if these alternatives leave you feeling far more satisfied.