Food Hall of Shame...and Fame

Foods to Avoid—Sugar

Learning how to read food labels is like looking at a prescription for your health and your life. Dr. Oz says to look for red-flag ingredients—if they're listed among the top five ingredients overall, steer clear!

When you eat or drink sugar, Dr. Oz says the sudden energy surge your body experiences is followed by an insulin surge that rapidly drops the blood sugar level—so two hours later, you feel famished and tired. To keep an even keel, Dr. Oz says to replace simple carbohydrates with complex ones so the absorption is more controlled and you experience long-term satiety. "Sugar is supposed to be eaten, of course," says Dr. Oz, "but it should come together with fat or some element like fiber—as you would find in fruit—so you can absorb it a bit more slowly."