1. Fizzy drinks
Why? With practically no 'natural' ingredients whatsoever, fizzy drinks are full of colourings and additives and the 'diet' varieties are especially bad, since they contain artificial sweeteners that have no nutritional benefit at all (and may be damaging to your health in the long term).

Fizzy drinks have been linked to hyperactivity in children, and the potentially harmful artificial sweeteners have caused some health experts to be alarmed at their over-use in foods. Worryingly, a recent study showed that fizzy drinks were linked to a higher incidence of gullet cancer, which has risen by 65% in the last 30 years.

2. Salt
Why? Though some sodium chloride, or salt, is essential for health, the foods we eat (particularly meat and fish, even more if eating processed foods) supply so much that we don't need to add any more to our diets. Care should be taken with the processed foods we buy, as some contain very high levels of salt, which is strongly linked to high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.

Try using fresh herbs and spices to add flavour instead, and reduce salt gradually from your diet until you get used to food without it.

3. Hydrogenated & saturated fats
Why? Saturated fats are those found in butter, lard, hard cheese, and fatty meat and meat products. They are related to coronary disease and obesity and 'clog' the arteries in the body. Hydrogenated fats, the types found in margarines, are even worse, since they have been thickened through a process of hardening for preservation purposes.

Medical opinion is pretty much consolidated now in the importance of reducing these types of fat from the diet and instead using mono- and polyunsaturated types, such as olive, rapeseed, walnut, linseed and other vegetable and nut oils, which have health benefits.

4. Sugar
Why? Type II diabetes is increasing in Western societies, as is tooth decay and obesity, all connected to high levels of sugar in the diet through eating processed foods such as cakes and cereals, fizzy drinks, sweets and chocolate. Sugary foods also cause blood sugar surges then plummeting lows, affecting mood and causing us to feel hungry again soon after eating.

Choose foods without added sugar (but not with artificial sweeteners) and refrain from adding sugar to your diet. Instead, pick fresh fruits like grapes and strawberries or dried fruits like dates to satisfy a sweet tooth.

5. Fast foods
Why? Fast foods are the ultimate combination of all the baddies: hydrogenated and saturated fats, salts, additives, refined carbohydrates and many ingredients you wouldn't feed to your dog if you knew what was there! They are a major concern if eaten too frequently, being related to high levels of obesity and malnutrition. Burgers and fries have little in them of value to a healthy diet, but are full of flavourings to make you want more.

If you have a hunger attack after a night out or in the middle of shopping, and fancy something quick and cheap, try a chicken kebab instead. Much healthier, just as tasty, yet you still feel like you're doing something naughty!