Beach season has well and truly landed, which means some people are looking to slim down ahead of squeezing back into their swimwear. For those hoping to lose weight, diet guru Michael Mosley has shared three foods to 'avoid or minimise'.
The health expert, who is famed for creating the 5:2 and the Fast 800 eating plans, has a new podcast on BBC Sounds where he's been revealing his biggest life hacks, including snacking on nuts and the best fruit to eat if you have a sugar craving.
Dr Mosley, who also posts regular blogs, has now listed the three food groups to avoid if you want to shed some pounds quickly.
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Sugar
The first one is sugar, including pastries, ice creams and other desserts. "Cut right down on sugar, sugary treats, drinks and desserts," he said.
"That includes most breakfast cereals, which are usually full of sugar, as well as most commercial smoothies."
Starchy carbs
The second food group to consider is "starchy carbs". Dr Mosley said: "Minimise or avoid starchy carbs – meaning the white stuff: bread, pasta, potatoes and white rice."
Instead, he recommended switching "to whole grains including bulgur (cracked wheat), whole rye, wholegrain barley, wild rice and buckwheat - brown rice is OK".
He said: "Legumes such as lentils, kidney beans and chickpeas are healthy and filling, too."
Ultra-processed food
And finally processed food and meat should also be avoided when trying to lose weight.
Dr Mosley said: "Ultra-processed foods include chicken nuggets, burgers, chips, pizzas, hotdogs, pre-packaged meals, mass-produced ice cream, sweets, crisps, energy bars, bakery goods, biscuits, margarine and pretty well anything that says 'instant'.
"Processed foods and takeaways could be to blame for the UK's obesity epidemic," he claimed.
