Ensuring a long and healthy life often hinges on the food and drinks we consume daily. While there are exceptions to every rule, maintaining a balanced diet is crucial for most people. TikTok heart surgeon Dr. Jeremy London recently shared a video highlighting four types of foods and drinks that he believes should be avoided to maintain optimal health.

Fast Food: Tasty but Dangerous

The heart surgeon’s first target is fast food. He describes much of the fast food available as “edible food product,” implying that it lacks genuine nutritional value. Fast foods are notorious for being high in calories and low in essential nutrients. According to a 2017 article in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, fast foods are typically loaded with chemicals, synthetic ingredients, extra corn syrup, sugar, artificial sweeteners, salt, and coloring agents, all of which can be detrimental to health.

Soft Drinks: Liquid Death

Dr. London refers to both regular and diet sodas as “liquid death.” The heart surgeon says that soft drinks are infamous for their high sugar content, which is linked to numerous health issues such as obesity, poor blood sugar control, and diabetes. UCLA Health highlights that even one soda per day can significantly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, diet sodas, often marketed as healthier alternatives, have been found to increase hunger and disrupt metabolism. This can lead to adverse health effects similar to those caused by regular sodas. Therefore, avoiding soft drinks altogether is advisable for maintaining good health.

Milk Products: Not as Healthy as You Think

The consumption of milk and dairy products is another contentious issue. Dr. London points out that humans are the only mammals that consume milk beyond infancy and from other species. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine notes that dairy products are a major source of saturated fat in the American diet, contributing to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.