‘I’m a doctor – here are the five snacks you should avoid between meals’

A doctor has revealed the five snacks you should avoid between meals as they are not good for your health.

In a 2023 Nestle survey, 87 percent of Brits admitted they ate a snack every day, the Express reports. The survey found that the most popular snacks were chocolate (63 percent), followed by chips (57 percent) and pastries (45 percent).

More than half of Brits (57.5 percent) say they replace a meal with snacks at least once a week. It’s important to make sure you don’t go hungry during the day, but snacking on certain foods can be harmful to your health.

One expert spoke to the Express about some of the best and worst snacks you can eat for your overall health.

Doctor Deborah Lee, of the Dr. Fox Online Pharmacy, said snacks actually have a lot of positive aspects. The expert said snacks can help curb hunger between meals, restore blood sugar levels and “provide an additional option for nutrition.”

However, too many snacks can “curb your appetite and cause you to skip meals.” The doctor added that snacking on foods high in fat, sugar and salt can lead to cravings and reinforce unhealthy eating patterns.

The worst snacks you can eat for your health

Dr. Lee said that some of our favorite snacks – as noted in Nestle’s research – are actually the snacks that are worst for our bodies. The five worst snacks we can eat are:

• Potato chips
• Cookies
• Cakes
• Pastries including sausage rolls
• Chocolate

Dr. Lee said: “Unhealthy snacks are snacks that consist of processed and ultra-processed foods. These are foods that are high in calories and have little or no nutritional value. However, they are often very tasty and contain a lot of sugar, fat and sugar. salty.

“Common examples of the unhealthiest snacks are chips, chips, cookies, cakes, pastries, chocolate, ice cream and desserts. Manufacturers deliberately produce these foods to make them taste great and make you want to keep eating them.”

The doctor also warned that these foods can be super addictive for avid snackers. She said: ‘Research has shown that eating processed and ultra-processed foods stimulates the pleasure centers in the brain in exactly the same way as a shot of cocaine.

“Sugar leads to the release of dopamine – the happiness hormone. Repeatedly eating sugary snacks strengthens the nerve pathways, leading to sugar cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is essential to break the cycle and stay away from an unhealthy sugar addiction.”

The best snacks you can eat for your health

Dr.’s general rule Lee for snacks is that you should choose them based on whether they can improve your health and not negatively impact it.

She said: “Snacks should only comprise 10 per cent of your daily calorie intake. Each snack should contain only 150 to 200 calories.

“Snack on foods rich in protein, fiber and whole grains, or fruits and vegetables. Nuts and seeds contain high amounts of healthy antioxidants. Use snacks as a way to get your five a day.”

The five healthiest snacks from Dr. Lee include:

• Carrot, celery or apple sticks
• Hummus, cottage cheese or avocado – spread on whole wheat crackers
• Fruit
• Nuts and seeds
• Probiotic yogurt

If you have a sweet tooth, Dr. Lee suggests: “Try a sugar-free jelly or two to four squares of dark chocolate (at least 70 percent cocoa solids).”

Don’t miss the latest news from across Scotland and beyond. Sign up for our daily newsletter here.