Our daily eating habits can quietly impact long-term health, with several foods we see as ‘normal’ gradually causing harm. Ayurvedic expert Dr Chetan Sharma from Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, highlights seven common food items that deserve caution. (News18 Hindi)

White sugar: According to Dr Sharma, white sugar is often called ‘sweet poison’. Excessive consumption can lead to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. (News18 Hindi)

Flour-based foods: Items like pizza, burgers, bread, and pastries are difficult to digest. Long-term consumption can increase digestive disorders, weight gain, and gastric problems. (News18 Hindi)

Fried snacks: Foods such as samosas, pakoras, and chips, repeatedly fried in oil, are rich in trans fats, which can act as slow poison for the heart and liver. (News18 Hindi)

Sweetened treats: Foods high in sugar and chemicals can disrupt insulin levels, weaken bones, and rapidly increase obesity. (News18 Hindi)

Packaged juices: Market-available juices often contain more sugar and artificial flavours than real fruits. Consuming them thinking they are healthy can be harmful over time. (News18 Hindi)

Packaged snacks: Chips, namkeen, instant noodles, and other packaged items are high in salt, MSG, and preservatives, negatively affecting blood pressure and kidney health. (News18 Hindi)

Completely avoiding these foods may not be easy, but limiting them and opting for fresh, homemade, natural foods is key to maintaining health. (News18 Hindi)