Julia Zumpano, an Ohio-based registered dietitian<\/a> with Cleveland Clinic\u2019s Center for Human Nutrition.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201c[This] can lead to nutrient deficiencies if\u00a0nutrient-dense foods\u00a0are not consumed in combination with these meals,\u201d she told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n
2. Diet sodas<\/p>\n
It\u2019s best to exercise caution against daily\u00a0diet sodas,\u00a0as they have the potential to harm the gut biome, said Simmons.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, used in diet sodas may interfere with\u00a0gut microbiota\u00a0and insulin sensitivity, though mechanisms are still debated,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Diet sodas may be sugar-free, but artificial sweeteners can interfere with gut health and appetite regulation, experts note. Gado via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Drinking diet soda is also just as harmful for your teeth as full-sugar soda, Simmons said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDue to acidity, tooth erosion and dental decay still occur with\u00a0zero-sugar drinks,\u201d\u00a0she said.<\/p>\n
Zumpano echoed Simmons\u2019 advice, noting that diet sodas can still cause elevated triglycerides, blood sugars and weight gain.<\/p>\n
\u201cDiet drinks can negatively impact the gut microbiome and increase your cravings for sweets and carbs, therefore inhibiting\u00a0weight loss\u00a0or appetite control,\u201d the nutritionist said.<\/p>\n
3. Potato chips<\/p>\n
The amount of salt, unhealthy fats and calories in chips makes them a poor choice for a daily treat, said Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian based in South Carolina.<\/p>\n
\u201cEating them daily can contribute to high blood pressure and make it harder to feel full, leading to overeating,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cToo much sodium can strain your heart and kidneys, while the lack of nutrients means they don\u2019t provide lasting energy or satiety,\u201d she also told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n
Potato chips are high in sodium and fat, which can contribute to high blood pressure if eaten daily, say nutritionists. NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n
She recommended chips as an occasional treat \u2013 or swapping them for other\u00a0salty snacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cTry alternatives like air-popped popcorn or roasted chickpeas for more nutrients,\u201d Manaker advised.<\/p>\n
4. Sweetened coffee drinks<\/p>\n
Your sugary pre-work pick-me-up might bring you a lot of joy \u2014 but it can also raise serious health concerns.<\/p>\n
Excess sugar\u00a0in coffee\u00a0can spike your blood sugar levels and leave you feeling tired later, Manaker warned.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrinks like flavored lattes or Frappuccinos can pack a surprising amount of added sugar, sometimes more than\u00a0a dessert,\u201d\u00a0she said.<\/p>\n
Sweetened coffee drinks can contain more sugar than some desserts, an expert warned. sushytska \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
\u201cDrinking them daily can lead to energy crashes and increase the risk of weight gain or insulin resistance over time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, she suggested retraining your palate by going for unsweetened coffees \u2013 and saving the sugary versions as an occasional treat.<\/p>\n
5. Alcohol<\/p>\n
The hardest habit for some Americans to quit is\u00a0drinking alcohol.<\/p>\n
Daily alcohol consumption \u201ccan strain your liver, disrupt sleep and increase the risk of long-term health issues like high blood pressure and\u00a0certain cancers,\u201d\u00a0said Manaker.<\/p>\n
Daily alcohol consumption \u201ccan strain your liver, disrupt sleep and increase the risk of long-term health issues,\u201d an expert said. Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cEven small amounts can add up over time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Its mood-disrupting qualities and empty calories make it a less-than-ideal daily habit \u2013 and Manaker encouraged limiting alcohol to a few days a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways pair it with water to stay hydrated,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOr try\u00a0a mocktail.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As more Americans turn to healthier options and substitutes when it comes to their daily diets, some everyday\u00a0food…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":123368,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9062,8365,210,13161,29370,1165,1182,881,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-123367","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-food-safety","9":"tag-food-trends","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-health-and-wellness-products","12":"tag-junk-food","13":"tag-lifestyle","14":"tag-nutrition","15":"tag-public-health","16":"tag-united-states","17":"tag-unitedstates","18":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114981383885047926","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123367"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123367\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}