Lemon water
Health influencers stick by this in the morning, but drinking too much can be harmful. The acid from the lemon can damage your teeth’s enamel, which can make your teeth prone to cavities. If you do want to drink it everyday, use a straw to minimise contact with your teeth.
Broccoli
But vegetables are good for you? True, but not in huge amounts. Broccoli has many nutrients that are beneficial for health, but when consumed in large amounts they can affect how your body absorbs iodine. This can lead to potential hypothyroidism, which is a low thyroid.
Store bought plant based milk
More often than not, store bought plant milks, like almond milk, are full of added sugars. The most common brands will add additives to make their product taste better and to make it more shelf stable, so it’s not as healthy as you think. Try making your own at home with no added sugar.
Tuna fish
Tuna is a great source of protein and healthy fats, but you should limit how much you eat in a week. Tuna is high in mercury, and too much mercury can lead to mercury poisoning. This can cause muscle weakness and vision changes, and it’s especially dangerous for pregnant women and children.
Kimchi
Fermented foods are good for our gut, but in moderation. Kimchi is fermented cabbage and it’s super high in sodium through it’s pickling process. Kimchi should only be eaten in small amounts (even though it’s tasty) as you could easily go over your daily sodium recommendation with a few servings of kimchi.
Green tea
Green tea has catechins which are antioxidants that help with fighting diseases. However, the tannins found in green tea can prevent the absorption of iron from plant based sources. This means if you’re vegetarian and you have low iron typically, green tea could further that. Drink in between meals rather than with every meal.
Grapefruit
Citrus fruits are healthy for most people, however grapefruit can interfere with certain medications, including antidepressants. The compounds in grapefruit can decrease the absorption of the drugs, meaning they work less efficiently than they should. Check your medication information to see if you could be affected.
Fiberous veggies
If you suddenly start to change up your normal diet and include way more veggies than you’re used to it could cause some pain. Fiber swells in the stomach and keeps you feeling fuller, but too much can cause bloating and gas. This is because it’s not digested like the rest of carbohydrates and it should be included slowly to the diet.
Cabbage and Kale
For the average person these foods are great for health, but they can be a problem for people on blood thinning medications. These foods are high in vitamin K, which is a nutrient that helps the blood clot. So they can be counteractive to you if you have specific needs and medications regarding blood clots.
Brown rice
A good source of whole grains but some strains of brown rice have higher levels of inorganic arsenic. This can be due to the conditions where it’s grown and the water that’s contaminated in the soil, but eating brown rice every day should be avoided to lower your exposure to arsenic.
Fruit juices
Fruit juices are mostly sugar, regardless of the brand you buy. An occasional glass of orange juice is perfectly fine, however don’t make it a habit to have a glass everyday. The amount of sugar is way more than if you were to just eat the fruit alone. Most people drink more than a serving at once too.
Protein powder
Most doctors would advise the average person not to use protein powder to reach their protein intake. Those who exercise and lift weights regularly should be okay, but there is such a thing as too much protein. Excessive protein can lead to strain on the kidneys, so try to meat your protein levels naturally.
Water
This may seem like not a big deal, but there is a thing called over-hydration. Drinking gallons of water over a short time can cause imbalances in electrolytes and cause dangerously low sodium levels. It’s rare for the average to drink too much water, but it has definitely happened.
Nutmeg
Spices are tasty and are essential for making our food taste better. Nutmeg is safe in most levels, however extreme overconsumption can cause hallucinations and poisoning from the chemicals in myristicin, found in the nutmeg seeds. You can actually get nutmeg poisoning, leading to nausea and dizziness.
Spinach
Full of nutrients and minerals essential for bodily functions, spinach is great in the right servings. However, due to the high levels of oxalate it has, those who suffer from kidney stones could be at risk of developing more from adding too much spinach to their diet.
Salt
Sodium is needed in our diets for bodily function but it shouldn’t be over consumed. High salt in your diet can lead to a lot of issues, including heart disease, osteoporosis, kidney disease and certain cancers. Salt is already included in most foods, so try not to add anymore when eating or cooking.
Red meat
You may get a protein kick from red meat, but it’s really not recommended to eat red meat regularly. Red meats are actually considered carcinogenic, due to the studied links between consumption and diagnosis of cancers. Try replacing your red meat choices with leaner white meat swaps.
Kombucha
Containing probiotics, kombucha is considered a bit of a ‘health’ drink. However, due to the carbonation also found in most Kombucha, this can lead to even more gassiness as probiotics and fizz don’t necessarily mix. If you struggle with acid reflux it’s best you don’t drink these regularly.
Smoked salmon
Salmon is full of healthy Omega 3 fatty acids, but smoking it can change some of it’s health benefits. When it’s smoked salmon can generate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which when consumed in excess could increase risks of cancers. Stick to eating smoked fish max twice a week.
Coconut oil
A favorite in the health community for its cholesterol lowering properties, but that doesn’t mean it’s low in calories. With 121 calories per tablespoon, adding it to your dishes without thinking can start to increase your weight without you realizing it. Make sure to measure it out carefully when using it to avoid too many hidden calories.
Canned soup
While it can be a quick way to sneak in extra veggies to your diet or to make a quick diner, canned soup shouldn’t be eaten every day. Most canned soups contain huge amounts of sodium, and that can lead to overconsumption over the rest of the day.
Grilled meats
Food research scientists have found that when meat products are cooked at super high temperatures like pan frying or grilling, they can create carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines. These should be avoided to lower the risk of cancers, so it’s best to limit meat consumption overall in the week.
Walnuts
Walnuts have healthy fats that can benefit us, but too many can lead to painful side effects. Over consumption of walnuts could lead to diarrhea, bloating or even kidney stones. Many walnuts could also lead to the low absorption of iron and calcium from other foods.
Carrots
Carrots have so many health benefits and make great quick snacks. However, don’t eat a ton at a time. Carrots contain beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant and is good for your health, but in large amounts it can turn your skin yellow or orange. It won’t necessarily affect your health, but can make you look quite strange.
Omega 3 rich foods
Omega 3 is super good for us in the right amounts, but too much can be a risk to certain people. High amounts of omega 3 can have blood thinning effects, which may be problematic with people who are prone to bleeding or are on thinning medications.
Cinnamon
Cassia cinnamon is the most common type of cinnamon and it contains high levels of coumarin, a harmful compound. Cinnamon in small doses has health benefits, but it shouldn’t be over consumed. Coumarin can lead to liver toxicity or cancers when eaten in too large amounts, so don’t have more than 2 grams a day.
Coffee
Coffee contains antioxidants that can support our immune system and is safe in regular doses. In a day a person should only have up to 400 mg of caffeine, because more than that can lead to negative side effects. Muscle tremors, insomnia and heart palpitations are all side effects of too much caffeine.
Liver
Animal liver contains essential vitamins like B12 and iron, however it has super high levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient but in excess amounts it can become toxic. A 100 gram portion of beef liver has 6 times the recommended daily intake of Vitamin A, so it should not be eaten more than once a week.
Brazil nuts
Rich in Selenium, brazil nuts can be added to a balanced diet. However, they have so much selenium in them it’s not safe to eat more than 4 in a day. The recommended intake is 50-75 micrograms but the upper limit is 300 micrograms, and a single large nut has 95.
Bananas
A banana a day won’t cause any harm, however multiple a day can effect certain people. They are high in potassium which is an essential mineral needed, but too much can lead to hyperkalemia. Those with kidney issues should avoid high potassium foods to prevent further damage to their kidneys or heart.
Apple cider vinegar
Health influencers swear by it and claim it helps shed the weight, but it can have more negative side effects. Vinegar is highly acidic, so doing shots of it in the morning will potentially erode the enamel on your teeth. It can also lead to acid reflux as you are swallowing straight up vinegar.
Eggs
Eggs in moderation make a healthy breakfast option, but eating loads a week may cause problems. Eggs contain cholesterol in lower amounts, but if you eat more than 7 a week you may start to increase your levels of cholesterol overall, which can lead to further health issues.
Almonds
Small portions of almonds have great health benefits, but they can easily become toxic. Eating a large amount of almonds in one sitting can lead to many side effects, including sudden allergy. Even if you don’t suffer from a nut allergy you may start to experience itchiness, nausea or short breath after eating a large amount in a day.
Energy drinks
Caffeine and sugar shouldn’t mix often. Energy drinks often have huge amounts of artificial caffeine, which after a few cans can easily add up to over the daily recommended amount. They also contain lots of sugar, which can cause even more added jitters and anxiety alongside high levels of caffeine.
Cherries
To the average person cherries make a great and healthy snack in moderation, but they can also upset your stomach. Cherries are a natural source of salicylates which some people are sensitive to. This compound in excess can lead to diarrhea or bloating, especially amongst those with IBS.
Processed meats
Hot dogs, deli meats and bacon are not considered to be healthy additions to our diets. Excess consumption of processed meats have been linked to the increased risk of bowel cancers and heart disease. If you can’t cut it out, limit your consumption to only 3 times a week.
Lentils
Lentils are full of beneficial nutrients and fiber but they also contain raffinose, a type of sugar that bodies have a hard time breaking down. This can lead to gas and bloating, especially if you’re not used to a high fiber diet. It can cause major discomfort if eaten in large amounts.
Sugar substitues
Sometimes we reach for the ‘low sugar’ options to reduce our sugar intake, but too much of fake sweeteners can cause stomach issues. Sugar alcohols ending in -ol, like mannitol, cause major bloating and discomfort because our bodies can’t break them down. Reach for natural sweeteners like monk fruit.
Diet sodas
Yes, even diet sodas aren’t the best. Drinking them occasionally is fine, but multiple cans a day can lead to issues. Some artificial sweeteners can increase appetite signals, so those calories you may be saving from choosing ‘diet’ sodas could be eaten elsewhere or even increased.
Figs
These tasty fruits have many health benefits, but in large amounts they have laxative effects. If you have a sensitive stomach it’s best to avoid figs as they are high in fiber and could cause stomach pains due to bloating and gas. Eating too many without realizing could have you running to the bathroom.