9 Foods and Drinks To Avoid for Weight Loss (2024)

Losing weight can be hard. Many fad diets are based on the idea that cutting out certain foods from your diet is the answer, but this is an oversimplification.

This article will look at nine foods and drinks to limit if you’re trying to lose weight.

Everyone responds to foods differently. What may help one person lose weight may not be right for another. The best approach will be unique to you.

With the ZOE at-home test, you can learn about your body’s blood sugar and blood fat responses, as well as the “good” and “bad” bugs in your gut. We’ll then provide you with personalized nutrition advice tailored to your body and health goals.

To get started, take our free quiz.

1. Deep-fried foods

Making foods like french fries, onion rings, and fried chicken involves large amounts of oil. The food absorbs lots of the oil, drastically increasing the amount of calories.

Fats are the least filling and most energy-dense macronutrient. A healthy diet has more fats with helpful compounds and fewer unhealthy fats.

In a recent review of the research, scientists found that regularly eating fried foods increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. An overall healthy diet incorporates fried foods infrequently, they found.

Instead of deep-frying, try sautéing or stir frying with a high-quality oil, like extra virgin olive oil or canola oil. You could also try roasting, baking, grilling, or steaming foods instead.

2. Baked sweets

Regularly eating foods like cookies, cakes, and pastries can make weight loss difficult.

They’re often high in calories, sugar, and saturated fat. And large quantities of these foods aren’t good for our health.

You don’t have to completely cut baked sweets from your diet. But focus on having smaller portions or having them less often.

Baking sweets yourself using quality ingredients can be a good idea. But keep in mind that even homemade sweets might have plenty of calories and sugar.

If you have a regular sweet tooth, fruits, Greek yogurt, and dark chocolate can be good replacements for baked goods.

3. Ultra-processed snacks

Many common snacks, like chips and cookies, are ultra-processed foods. They contain high amounts of unhealthy fats and salt, and they have few beneficial nutrients.

Research shows that a diet high in ultra-processed foods significantly increases the risk of overweight and obesity, as well as heart disease.

If you’re looking for something to munch on — nuts, like almonds, pistachios, and pecans, can be a convenient, nutrient-dense option.

4. Sugary drinks

Sugary drinks — like certain sodas, sweetened teas, juices, and sports drinks — are high in sugar and calories and provide little nutritional benefit.

Research shows that sugary drinks can promote weight gain and increase the risk of cardiovascular conditions.

Also, the feeling of fullness may cause you to eat less at mealtimes, reducing your intake of important nutrients.

Studies also confirm that having fewer soft drinks can help prevent weight gain.

If you don’t want to replace sugary drinks with plain water, try infused waters or herbal teas. And eating whole fruits can satisfy a craving for juice. Whole fruits offer more nutrients and no added sugars.

5. Alcohol

Alcohol is energy-dense, containing about 7 calories per gram.

Research links drinking more than the recommended amount to overweight and obesity, as well as many other health conditions.

Alcohol isn’t filling, but it can stimulate your appetite, causing you to eat more, research indicates.

6. Refined grains

In their natural states, grains, like wheat, corn, rice, and oats, have many health-promoting nutrients.

But industrial processing removes lots of these nutrients. As a result, “refined” grains are less nutrient-dense. White rice is one example, and refined grains are made into white bread.

Evidence links a high intake of refined grains with a greater risk of overweight and obesity.

Also, refined grains are less filling than whole grains because they have less fiber, and your body can digest them more quickly. The result can be big spikes in your blood sugar levels.

ZOE’s own research shows that some people are prone to blood sugar dips after these spikes. This can make you feel hungry sooner and eat more throughout the day.

Opting for less processed, higher-quality carbohydrates instead of refined grains can improve your health in many ways beyond weight loss.

It’s a good idea to focus on unprocessed whole grains, like whole oats, quinoa, wild rice, brown rice, spelt, rye, barley, and bulgur wheat.

7. Processed meats

Deli meats, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs are all processed, which means that manufacturers have salted, cured, or smoked them. This either preserves the meat or adds flavor.

In a recent meta-analysis with more than 1.1 million participants, researchers discovered that those who ate the most processed meats were more likely to have obesity and a larger waist circumference.

Eating a lot of processed meats over time may contribute to weight gain and increase your risk of chronic diseases.

These foods are OK to have once in a while, but try to limit how often you eat them, particularly hot dogs, burgers, and sausages.

Processed meats also contain nitrites and nitrates. These added preservatives may increase your cancer risk.

8. Artificial sweeteners

Companies have marketed artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives to sugar, but it’s unclear whether this is true —the current research is conflicted.

Some reviews have suggested that artificial sweeteners help people lose weight. Other evidence indicates that they may actually contribute to obesity and metabolic syndrome.

And some scientists believe that these sweeteners might alter your gut microbiome — the trillions of microbes that live in your gut and impact your overall health.

Moderation can be key. So, if you use a sweetener in your morning coffee, try to limit sugary foods and sweeteners throughout the day.

If you drink a lot of soda, diet soda is a better option. But it’s worth trying to cut down on sweeteners overall. You could try swapping some of your soda for sparkling water, still water, tea, or coffee.

9. Candy

Most candies are full of processed sugars. They can be a nice treat every now and then, but having candy too often can lead to oral health problems and possible weight gain.

Dark chocolate, with at least 70% cocoa, typically has less sugar and offers some health benefits. If you’re craving something sweet, it could be a good option.

Weight loss tips

No single weight loss plan works for everyone —all bodies are unique.

Still, a healthy diet is vital for good health, and here are some diet tips that might make your weight loss easier:

• Eat more fiber. To feel fuller for longer, get plenty of fiber. But it’s best to increase your fiber intake slowly and drink plenty of water with your high-fiber foods to help your body adjust.

• Look after your gut. A healthy gut microbiome is important for immunity, digestion, weight management, and other aspects of health.

• Maybe consider intermittent fasting. It’s not for everyone, but some people find that focusing on when they eat can help with weight loss.

• Focus on sleep hygiene. Research links poor sleep with an increased risk of obesity. Try minimizing noise and light, and aim for 7–9 hours a night.

• Keep your body moving. While exercise is great for your health, on its own, it’s unlikely to lead to drastic weight loss. Couple it with changes to your diet, and exercise can support your long-term weight goals.

Building a balanced, varied diet

One of the best ways to reach your health goals is to have a wide variety of plants in your diet. Plants are packed with important nutrients and compounds like fiber and polyphenols.

Everyone’s best diet is different, but a healthy, balanced one will include:

• vegetables, like spinach, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale

• fruits, like apples, pears, oranges, avocados, raspberries, and peaches

• whole grains, like quinoa, barley, oats, buckwheat, and bulgur wheat

• legumes, like chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, peas, and lentils

• nuts and seeds, like almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, and hemp seeds

• spices and herbs, like turmeric, oregano, basil, and rosemary

• healthy oils, like extra-virgin olive oil and canola oil

Summary

Losing weight is difficult for most people. And weight loss is unique to each person — there’s no magic potion or quick-fix solution.

At ZOE, we believe that cutting out foods isn’t a sustainable weight loss plan. But it’s best to have some foods and drinks in moderation — or to save them for special occasions.

And focus on having plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, spices and herbs, and healthy oils in your diet to promote your overall health.

With the ZOE at-home test, you can learn about your body’s blood sugar and blood fat responses. We’ll also send you a breakdown of the “good” and “bad” bugs in your gut.

From this, we’ll provide you with a personalized nutrition program to help you reach your long-term health and weight goals.

Take our free quiz to get started.