7 Worst Foods that Middle-Aged Men Must Avoid

When it comes to diet, moderation is the key to a healthy and happy middle-age. However, once men reach middle-age, there are certain foods which should be moderated more heavily than others, and a few which you should avoid altogether. Read on to find out which foods should rarely if ever, find a place at the dinner table once you hit middle-age.

Salty Foods

Heart disease risk increases proportionately to your age, and a significant contributor is to add too much salt to your diet.

Our love of salty foods ensures we get plenty of salt in our diet, with most of us consuming too much.

Salt retains water in your blood vessels, which increases blood volume, and subsequently raises the blood pressure. The health issues of rising blood pressure can cascade into other areas of the body, such as the kidneys, arteries, and the brain.

By reducing or cutting out salt, you can reduce the risk of kidney disease, stroke, and heart attack.

Foods typically high in salt include processed red meats (salamis, pepperonis, etc.), pizza, chips (hot and packet varieties). A few salad dressings are also quite high in salt. [*1]

Soft Drink and Sugar

Soft drinks should be reserved for special occasions because of their high sugar content. Carbonated beverages are ubiquitous, so it can be hard to avoid them, and our excessive consumption starts at an early age.

The biggest problem with a soft drink is the massive amounts of sugar you are injecting into your system with every mouthful. One can (375 ml) of a soft drink can have up to ten teaspoons of sugar.

The daily recommended intake for added sugar in your diet are nine teaspoons. You can imagine the damage a single can of soft drink a day can do to your health and waistline.

The metabolism starts to slow around middle-age, and excess calories (of which too much sugar is a big part) are more likely to be stored as fat. Reduce your soft drink intake, as well as sugary foods such as pastries and cakes.

Excess sugar can lead to weight gain, diabetes, and a fatty liver, which are all dangerous conditions for the male on the wrong side 50. [*2]

Bacon and Saturated Fats

A lot of older blokes will throw up their arms in despair when they hear they should limit their intake of bacon. For many families, bacon is a staple breakfast food, and a burger isn’t a burger without a slice or two of the flavorful condiment.

It’s not just what’s in bacon (large amounts of saturated fats) that can cause problems; it’s how it’s cooked as well. Fried bacon has more quantities of heterocyclic amines than all other types of meat. As a processed meat, bacon also contains a few potentially nasty preservatives.

You don’t have to cut bacon entirely out of your diet. It’s full of flavor, so you only need a sprinkle of bacon bits on your burger, instead of a slice or two. Use bacon as a condiment instead of as a primary serving, and you can enjoy it still, without having to worry so much about its unhealthier aspects. [*3]