Many chocolate products contain toxic heavy metals: new study

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This is a bitter pill to swallow. Many cocoa products in the US contain concerning levels of toxic heavy metals, a new study from George Washington University warns. Many cocoa products in the US contain worrisome levels of lead and cadmium, a new study from George Washington University warns. Picture Partners – stock.adobe.com Researchers analyzed 72 cocoa-based foods — including dark chocolate, often praised as a heart-healthy treat — over eight years. They found that 43% of the products contained an amount of lead that tops recommendations, while 35% exceeded cadmium limits. Surprisingly, organic-labeled products had higher levels of lead and cadmium than non-organic products, the researchers said. Contamination can come from soil or occur during manufacturing. A single serving of these cocoa items may not pose significant health risks, but several servings might. Leigh Frame, director of integrative medicine at GW, led the testing of 72 cocoa-based products. The George Washingto...

Weight loss coach reveals 3 foods that could sabotage your goals



She’s no friend of store-bought blends.

Premade smoothies and cocktails, as well as frozen dinners, should be avoided if you’re trying to shed pounds, a Georgia women’s weight-loss coach claims.

“These foods I’m seeing eaten in excess, not moderation, which can make weight loss really difficult,” Jenna Rizzo said in a Monday TikTok that has garnered more than 28,200 views.

If you love smoothies, Rizzo recommends making them at home, because they’ll have real fruit and less added sugar. pilipphoto – stock.adobe.com
Premade smoothies and cocktails, as well as frozen foods, should be avoided if you’re trying to shed pounds, Georgia weight-loss coach Jenna Rizzo claims. TikTok / Jenna Rizzo

Store-bought smoothies and açaí bowls

The American Heart Association recommends consuming 4½ cups of fruit every day — but Rizzo says store-bought smoothies and açaí bowls aren’t the way to go.

“They are going to be loaded with a bunch of added sugars, and the fruits and vegetables they use are often just a powder, so you’re not even eating real food,” Rizzo said.

“So that’s why I say, just make these things at home,” she continued. “You’re going to be using real food, and you’re not going to be adding a cup of sugar to them.”

Beware of frozen dinners. Research has linked ultra-processed foods to a higher risk of premature death, heart disease, colorectal cancer, obesity, depression and other serious conditions. ÃÂýýð Ãâõüøôþòð – stock.adobe.com

Frozen foods

“These foods are very calorie-dense, so that means you’re only getting a little bit of food for a lot of … calories,” Rizzo explained. “So this can make portion control really hard, because you don’t want just a little, tiny slice of pizza, you want three [or] four.”

She added: “And these foods typically just don’t have the best ingredients in them.”

Research has linked ultra-processed foods like frozen dinners to a higher risk of premature death, heart disease, colorectal cancer, obesity, depression and other serious conditions.

Rizzo calls herself an “alcohol hater.” She notes that booze can interfere with the body’s fat-burning mechanisms. didesign – stock.adobe.com

Ready-to-drink cocktails

Consuming alcohol can make it harder to lose weight — booze is high in calories and it can interfere with fat burning.

Rizzo calls herself an “alcohol hater,” especially the premixed cocktails.

“You got to think of the juices, the syrups that are added into these cocktails, which will skyrocket the amount of calories,” Rizzo said. “So you can easily drink hundreds to even thousands of calories in one night. And to add on top of that, I don’t know about you, but if I get a little tipsy, I get the drunk munchies really bad.”





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