If you’ve read almost any medical publication, researched any disease on Google, or turned on the news at any time in the past year, you’re probably at least vaguely familiar with the Mayo Clinic: an American nonprofit academic medical center focused on integrating health, education and search. Although it sounds like an entity, the Mayo Clinic actually has campuses across the country, based in Rochester, Minnesota. It employs approximately 63,000 medical professionals.
It is safe to say that the people who work at the Mayo Clinic know a thing or two about health, especially when it comes to diet. In fact, the Mayo Clinic has even developed its own healthy diet called the Mayo Clinic Diet, which is a diet plan designed to help people lose weight and maintain a healthy weight for life.
Given his dedication to people’s general health, it’s no surprise that the Mayo Clinic has also written and conducted research related to foods that should be avoided if they want to stay in the best shape possible.
For example, although the Mayo Clinic does not prohibit alcohol consumption, the organization recommends consuming alcohol in moderation and no more than seven times a week. Scroll down to find out what other popular foods the Mayo Clinic suggests you to avoid. Keep reading and, to learn more about how to eat healthily, don’t miss out on the 7 healthiest foods to eat right now.
“A recent review of research on red meat consumption looked at six studies that tracked more than 1.5 million people for 5.5 to 28 years,” wrote Liza Torborg, of the Mayo Clinic in August 2018, citing Dr. Heather Fields. “The review found that regular consumption of processed meats is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, cancer – especially colon cancer – and early death. Processed meats include bacon; sausage; hot dogs; ham; cold meats; canned meats; beef jerky; and meat that is processed, cured, fermented or salted. These meats tend to be rich in saturated fat, sodium and nitrates or nitrites, which are believed to be involved in their associated risks. “
The health problems associated with eating fried foods like donuts, mozzarella sticks and chips are well documented, so it’s not exactly a surprise that the Mayo Clinic warns against eating them too often.
“Researchers have linked fried foods to type 2 diabetes and heart problems, but studies also show that eating fried foods every day can shorten your life,” he notes. Mayo Clinic Minute. According to Stephen Kopecky, MD, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, our bodies were simply not made to eat the amount of fried foods that exist today. “If you have a diesel engine, don’t put gas in the diesel tank,” he explained.
Soda is one of the most popular foods and, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic, is also one of the most harmful if consumed too often. Taking sugary drinks like sodas can result in significant weight gain, wrinkled skin, increased triglycerides and more.
Frequent soda drinkers also have a greater chance of developing painful kidney stones and can develop serious heart problems. Researchers reporting on Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that the health effects of drinking one or two servings a day of sugar-sweetened drinks include a 35% higher risk of heart attack or fatal heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic News Network.
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Sure, diet soda has fewer calories than regular soda, but that doesn’t mean that the Mayo Clinic approves. In fact, the Mayo Clinic reports that while artificial sweeteners don’t actually raise blood sugar levels like traditional sweeteners, there are other concerns that people should be aware of.
One study found that women who consistently drank two or more artificially sweetened drinks a day had a higher risk of stroke than women who drank these drinks less often or never. “While more research is needed, these findings point to the value of consuming artificially sweetened drinks in moderation,” concluded the Mayo Clinic.
And while the Mayo Clinic recognizes that consuming artificial sweeteners in moderation can be safe, the organization still advises opting for naturally sweetened whole foods and beverages instead of processed ones, like diet sodas, that do not contain any nutritional value.
“If you regularly drink artificially sweetened drinks as a substitute for sweetened drinks, use this as a springboard to drink more pure water,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Your body needs water and there is no doubt that it is good for you.” To learn more, don’t miss What happens to your body when you drink 8 glasses of water a day.
While it is good to drink up to four cups of coffee a day, the Mayo Clinic advises against consuming more than that in a 24-hour period.
According to a 2013 study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, taking more than four cups of java a day can increase your risk of dying from a range of illnesses if you are under 55. In fact, the researchers found that death rates from all causes increased by more than half in people who drank more than 28 cups a week.
“From our study, it seems safe to drink one to three cups of coffee a day,” said one of the study’s co-authors, Xuemei Sui, who defines a cup of coffee as 6 to 8 ounces.
In addition, if you drink less than four cups of coffee a day, but are experiencing symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, irritability, rapid heartbeat, muscle tremors, nervousness or frequent urination, the Mayo Clinic suggests that you decrease it. To learn more, read these Signs that you should stop drinking coffee right away.
You may think you are doing yourself a favor by taking a sip of fruit juice or a glass of sweetened iced tea instead of ordering an alcoholic or soft drink, but according to the Mayo Clinic, regular consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar is a big no no.
That’s because the medical center reports that regular consumption of sugary drinks has been proven numerous times as one of the drinking habits that shortens your life and is related to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
In addition, a large study published in the journal Circulation revealed that people who drink more sugar-sweetened drinks have a higher risk of premature death – especially from heart disease – than those who drink less.
As a result, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you drink drinks such as water, tea or iced tea without sugar.
When it comes to energy drinks, the Mayo Clinic doesn’t even advocate its consumption in moderation. In contrast, they are considered to be harmful to health, in part because of their high sugar and caffeine content.
According to the Mayo Clinic research, drinking just a 500 ml energy drink can significantly increase your blood pressure, as well as your stress hormone responses. In addition, previous studies have indicated that energy drinks are particularly harmful when mixed with alcohol.
“In previous research, we found that consumption of energy drinks increased blood pressure in healthy young adults,” noted co-author of the Mayo Clinic study, Dr. Anna Svatikova. “We now show that increases in blood pressure are accompanied by increases in norepinephrine, a chemical stress hormone, and this can predispose you to an increased risk of cardiac events – even in healthy people.”
Instead of looking for one of those sugar-laden energy drinks, the organization suggests trying to get quality sleep, maintaining a healthy diet and increasing physical activity to naturally increase your energy levels.
RELATED: 12 dangerous side effects of energy drinks, according to science
The Mayo Clinic has no problem with people who like an occasional drink (whew!), But the organization warns against drinking too much at once and over time.
According to the Mayo Clinic, high-risk drinking is defined as more than three drinks in a day or more than seven drinks a week for women. For men over 65, it’s just one drink a day, and for men under 65, it’s more than four drinks a day or more than 14 drinks a week.
“Beer or occasional wine at dinner, or a drink in the evening, is not a health problem for most people,” explained Mayo Clinic doctor Terry Schneekloth in a question and answer session. “When drinking becomes a daily activity, however, it can represent the progression of your consumption and put you at greater risk to your health. Alcohol can damage your body’s organs and lead to various health problems. For women , this damage happens with lower doses of alcohol, because their bodies have less water content than men. That’s why the moderate drinking guidelines for women and men are so different. “
Given this information, the Mayo Clinic recommends drinking in moderation. As a general rule, this means no more than one drink a day for women, or two a day for men – which translates to about 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of alcohol. .
Sorry, fans of dressings, the Mayo Clinic is not a fan of this popular condiment. That’s because the ranch dressing contains 320 milligrams of sodium in a two-tablespoon serving. Eating this amount of sodium regularly can lead to heart health problems, such as high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease.
In addition, the Mayo Clinic recommends that adults keep their sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams per day – and specifically mentions avoiding foods with more than 200 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Other high-sodium foods that may exceed Mayo Clinic’s serving recommendations include canned soup, cold cuts and pretzels. To help control your sodium intake, look for foods that are low in sodium.
On the surface, margarine, which contains polyunsaturated and monounsaturated unsaturated fats, may seem like a healthy alternative to high-calorie butter, but it is not necessarily the case.
According to the Mayo Clinic, not all margarines are created equal. “Some margarines contain trans fat, which is considered the worst type of fat you can eat. Unlike other dietary fats, trans fat increases LDL cholesterol and also lowers high-density lipoprotein, or HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol , “the organization explains. “A diet full of trans fats also increases the risk of heart disease, as well as stroke and type 2 diabetes.” You will have to be careful with more than just margarine to protect your heart. See: Popular foods that can lead to a heart attack, according to Science.