THE FIVE WORST FOODS YOU CAN EAT Published Dec. 18, 2008 By Maj. Jason Fetterolf,Public Affairs Officer 2-113th Infantry Battalion Camp Buca Iraq -- The year 2008 has seen many famous people pass away at relatively young ages. You may recall the names of Tim Russert, broadcast journalist, Tony Snow, former White House press secretary and broadcaster, and Bernie Mac, comedian and entertainer, as just a few examples of people who departed this earth at the young ages of 58, 53, and 50, respectively. Even more unfortunate is the fact these deaths could have been prevented, and were possibly caused, in part, by one of the most common addictions people have - food, and more specifically, processed, nutrient -poor 'junk food.' Leading nutritional researchers believe that up to 70 percent of all chronic degenerative disease, which includes cancer, heart attack, and stroke, could be prevented with proper nutrition and nutritional supplementation, according to Dr. Ray Strand, nationally renowned author of "What Your Doctor Doesn't Know." Based upon the preventative aspect of proper nutrition as suggested here, it seems fitting to discuss the "five worst foods you can eat." These foods not only contribute to disease, but they are so deficient in nutrition, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola, he can't see any reason to eat them. According to Mercola, he authors the largest online natural health newsletter (http://mercola.com) and devised the list that follows. Doughnuts - The average store-bought doughnut is not only loaded with an average of 200 - 300 calories, but is laden with artery-clogging trans-fats (labeled as partially hydrogenated oils), sugar and white flour. Doughnuts contain almost no nutritional value and elevate your blood sugar sharply, but only temporarily, so you will feel hungry again shortly after eating one when your blood sugar quickly drops. It is unfortunate many Americans view doughnuts as a breakfast food, as they should only be considered a dessert. Soda, appropriately named "liquid candy", one can of regular soda contains 150 calories or more, 10 teaspoons of sugar, habit-forming caffeine, and teeth and bone-eroding acids. Diet sodas are just as bad, and perhaps even worse, as they have been linked to weight gain and contain neurotoxins such as aspartame or Splenda (sucralose), which was originally designed to be a pesticide - and it still being used as such. The next time you consider drinking a soda with your meal, ask yourself, "Would I eat a candy bar with my meal?" Consider that regular soda has the sugar content of some candy bars. As 30 percent of the calories in an average American diet comes from soda, eliminating it from your diet is one of the simplest and most powerful health improvements you can make and will decrease your risk for diabetes significantly. French Fries - White potatoes are already unhealthy enough in their raw state, as eating them will elevate your blood sugar and increase your risk for diabetes. But when you deep-fry potatoes, they really set you up for disease. Whether fried in trans-fats (shortening) or commonly used frying oils such as canola, soybean, or corn oil, the oils used for French fry frying are easily damaged by the cooking heat and produce the cancer-causing substance acryl amide. The bottom line is French fries can cause accelerated aging, inflammation, weight gain, arterial clotting, and cancer. If you must have French fries, consider making your own using sliced sweet potatoes lightly fried in heat-resistant virgin coconut oil. Chips Most chips, including potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, etc., are fried in trans-fats, but in the cases where they are not, they still have cancer-causing acryl amides and contribute to heart disease and diabetes. Fried non-fish seafood - Fried shrimp, lobster, clams, etc., not only have the issues caused by trans fats, and acryl amides as previously discussed, but also have the concern of mercury - the most toxic non-radioactive element on earth. Shellfish, such as lobster and shrimp, can be contaminated with parasites and viruses that may not be killed under high cooking heat. A good guide to determine which seafood is safest to eat, in terms of low levels of mercury, can be found at: http://www.gotmercury.org. Tim Russert, Tony Snow, and Bernie Mac were talented human beings who touched many people's lives and will be missed. While their passing is tragic, let it be a lesson poor lifestyles and bad eating habits can harm anyone. Take charge of your health and be a role model to other Service members and civilians that watch what you do and what you eat. Avoid these five worst foods and you will be well on your way to better health and to provide for better mission strength. Disclaimer: the information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a medical professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.