Food

Foods Women Over 40 Should Avoid

2. Imitation Crab Most of what you buy in the grocery store labeled as “crab” is really “krab,” and no, we don’t mean the Mr. Krabs… Trista Smith - January 30, 2022

You try your best to eat right, but once you hit 40, you can’t just make sure that you eat healthy foods. You also need to be avoiding certain foods that will cause health problems. Many of the foods on this list are best avoided altogether, no matter your age, but their harmful effects begin to really take root after you go over the hill. Keep reading to learn more about what you should avoid putting into your body once you pass this milestone.

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40. Too Much Coffee

By the time you blow out 40 candles on your birthday cake, you may be struggling to get up in the morning. It can be hard to find the energy to get through your day. You may think you have become desensitized to the effects of caffeine and need to drink more of it. However, the opposite is true; as you age, you become more sensitive to caffeine (via LA Times). Consuming more than two cups per day after going over the hill can mess up your sleep cycle (via Eat This).

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39. Powdered Coffee Creamer

What do you take in your coffee? Many people opt for the convenience of powdered coffee creamer, which is shelf-stable and ultra-portable. However, when you add the powder to your coffee, you increase your intake of stuff that your body does not want. You cannot process this as well after 40, including the sodium aluminosilicate (an ingredient in detergent) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (via LA Times). You are much better off opting for regular cream or nut milk to add that extra touch to your coffee (via Eat This).

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38. Excessive Alcohol

In your twenties, you probably could recover from a hard night of drinking alcohol by downing six cups of coffee the following day. You probably could even get through the workday without any significant problems. As you age into 40, though, you need to reduce more than your caffeine intake; the alcohol needs to come down, too (via Eat This). While one or two servings of alcohol at a time is usually nothing to worry about, excessive drinking in middle age can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease and cancer (via The Daily Meal).

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37. Canned Soup

You may have long believed that bringing a can of soup to work is a much healthier option than eating out, and you might be right when it comes to some restaurants. But canned soup has its own woes, including excessively high sodium levels. This can lead to heart disease and cause water retention and bloating (via Eat This). You are much better off preparing your own soup and freezing it in portions that you can eat in one meal or buying prepared soups that have low sodium on the label (via The Healthy).

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36. Processed Meat

Once you hit 40, the time has come to put childish things away… along with hotdogs, bacon, salami, and other processed meats. These foods have high levels of sodium, nitrates, and saturated fats. Nitrates lead to a host of health problems (via Eat This). That includes cancer and seeing as your risk of cancer naturally increases as you age, you don’t need to add nitrates to that risk. Sodium and saturated fats both contribute to an increased risk of heart disease, increasing naturally as you age (via The Healthy).

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35. Sugar-Free Candy

One of the deadliest myths in healthy eating is that sugar-free products are better than high-sugar alternatives. No. The sweetness of sugar-free candy and sodas triggers the body to respond as if it is receiving a high dose of sugar (via Eat This). Thus, you can still get the insulin spikes and other harmful effects of sugar — without the sugar! Additionally, sugar-free products are loaded with chemicals that you cannot pronounce and higher fat levels to make up for the different taste (via Editor Choice).

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34. Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is a Sunday staple for many people, and they cannot imagine parting with this time-honored family tradition. However, there should be no surprise that fried chicken is pretty terrible for you because of the high levels of oils used in cooking (via Eat This). Instead, opt for breaded chicken that is baked or air-fried, as air-frying uses significantly less oil. You can still get the nutrients in the chicken and the traditional experience of eating the ultimate comfort food but without the side of clogged arteries (via Editor Choice).

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33. Soda Pop

There should be no surprise that soda is on the list (via LA Times). Though, parting with the favored beverage may be more difficult for some who are used to drinking it every day. The high sugar content in soda dramatically increases the risk of heart disease and gout; a study shows that women who drink one can of soda per day have a 75% greater chance of developing gout! Moreover, lest you think that opting for diet soda will make a difference, think again: sugar-free products are worse than their high-sugar cousins (via Eat This).

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32. Meal-Replacement Bars

Plenty of people believe that meal-replacement bars are a healthy alternative to meals. When you were in your twenties, you may have been able to get away with skipping lunch and just eating a meal-replacement bar. But they have high levels of chemicals that you don’t want to be putting in your body, along with saturated fats and lots of sugar (via LA Times). You are much better off snacking on a bag of nuts and a piece of fruit if you can’t eat a regular meal (via Eat This).

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31. Egg Whites

Many people have swapped out regular eggs for egg whites. Why? Because they believe that the lower-calorie egg whites are healthier than eggs with cholesterol-laden yolks. Nevertheless, neglecting to eat the yolk means not getting the high levels of nutrients found in the eggs (via Eat This). These are nutrients that your body needs more and more of as you age. These include B-12, which is critical for brain and blood health. It also includes omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins E, D, K, and others. Eat the whole egg but be careful of what you add to it (via The Daily Meal).

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30. Fat-Free Yogurt

Fat has more calories per gram than proteins and carbohydrates. Thus, many people avoid it, mistakenly believing that less fat in the diet will lead to weight loss. Not so. Your body needs fat, and fat helps you feel fuller to eat less (via LA Times). Fat-free foods, such as yogurt have additional sugar added to make up for the loss in taste. So, when you eat fat-free yogurt, you get less of what your body actually does need and more of what it doesn’t (via The Daily Meal).

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29. Cookies

If you have hit 40, your days of stress-eating with a box of cookies need to come to an end. Sugar wreaks havoc on your body and causes disruptions known as glycation when sugar molecules bond to fats and proteins. The result is advanced aging and health problems that include wrinkles, tangled nerves, hardened arteries, and numerous diseases (via LA Times). Start satisfying your sweet tooth with foods that balance the sugar with proteins, fats, and fiber. Fresh fruit on a bowl of yogurt is a great start (via The Healthy).

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28. Sports Drinks

Do you think that sports drinks are a healthy substitute for soda? You need to go back and learn the purpose of sports drinks. Sports drinks are meant to replenish athletes who have intense training sessions that cause them to need extra sugar and electrolytes (via LA Times). Ordinary people, including those who go to the gym regularly, do not need sports drinks or the high levels of sugar. Sugar is the leading cause of so many health problems that you are best off eliminating as much of it from your diet as possible (via The Healthy).

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27. Gluten-Free Bread

Many people wrongly associate “gluten-free” with healthy. They don’t realize that gluten is a protein that is almost identical to meat, making it ideal for vegetarians and vegans. Gluten-free bread not only tastes like cardboard, but it has many essential nutrients removed (via Best Life). If you are not gluten intolerant, opt for multi-grain bread with plenty of fiber. Bread with lots of fiber from ingredients like seeds is bursting with nutrients that will help you age better and reduce the possibility of chronic or life-threatening disease (via Editor Choice).

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26. Coffee Ice Cream

Of all the decadent and guilty pleasures our short lives afford us, perhaps none is as tantalizing as coffee ice cream. However, coffee ice cream may be the one that people over 40 need to avoid, given that the caffeine content (because, yes, coffee ice cream is made with real coffee) is enough to keep you awake until the wee hours of the morning (via Best Life). Frozen yogurt is a much healthier alternative to ice cream, and if you need to reach for the ice cream, opt for a flavor that does not have caffeine (via Editor Choice).

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25. Sugary Cocktails

Sure, drinking a cocktail after dinner may help you fall asleep more quickly at bedtime. However, alcohol does not help you stay asleep. People who drink alcohol before bed tend to wake up in the middle of the night and have difficulty falling back asleep, and this problem is made worse with sugary drinks (via Best Life). Once you hit the big 4-0, you need to eliminate things that prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep, as sleep deprivation can lead to intense carb cravings the next day (via Eat This).

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24. Fruit Juice

You may believe that fruit juice is healthier than soda but think again. Fruit juice can have even more sugar than soda, and often, some of that sugar is added in. Much of that sugar is fructose, which is a leading culprit in metabolic diseases that can cause chronic, life-limiting complications (via Best Life). Additionally, the processing of fruit juice eliminates most of the nutrients in the fruit. If you want to drink juice, opt for fresh-squeezed or cold-pressed vegetable juice that has some fruit added for flavor (via Eat This).

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23. Hot Sauce

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as too much hot sauce! Especially if you are going through menopause or preparing to in the next few years, you will want to adjust your palate to milder flavors. Hot sauce can worsen hot flashes that menopausal women experience and can also lead to other health problems when consumed in excess (via LA Times). If you are over 40, start getting used to eating less spicy foods so that you can begin removing the hot sauce from your diet (via The Daily Meal).

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22. Iceberg Lettuce

Iceberg lettuce is a common ingredient in many salads. It is often the type of lettuce used on hamburgers and tacos. Nevertheless, it is almost entirely devoid of nutrients, unlike dark leafy greens like spinach and Romaine lettuce (via Best Life). If you are over 40, you cannot afford to miss out on iron, which is present in abundance in dark leafy greens. Change up your salads so that you are mostly eating dark leafy greens and consider a Caesar salad a treat rather than a healthy meal (via The Daily Meal).

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21. Almond Milk

Almond milk in itself is not necessarily bad. It is basically pressed almonds emulsified with water, and almonds are nutrient powerhouses. The problem is not getting the calcium that is prevalent in cow’s milk (via LA Times). Aging bodies need more calcium, and if this is not obtained through diet, the body begins leaching it from the bones, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Additionally, almond milk tends to have a lot of sugar added to it, and added sugar is one thing that people over 40 definitely want to avoid (via The Healthy).

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20. Margarine

Once touted as a healthy alternative to butter, margarine has revealed itself to be a carrier of heart-disease risk factors. That includes lots of trans fats that wreak havoc on your cardiovascular system. Look for plant-based butter and oils for a healthy alternative to butter and margarine (via Best Life). If you are cooking and the recipe calls for butter or margarine, smashed avocados can be a healthy alternative that provides the same flavor and texture but with more nutrients and less bad fats (via The Healthy).

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19. Low-Fat Foods

Some fats are bad, especially trans fats and saturated fats. However, many fats are good and even necessary for healthy aging. Avocados are very high in fat. Yet, consuming one avocado a day is linked with less risk of memory loss and other brain-related issues associated with aging (via Best Life). On the other hand, low-fat foods also tend to have reduced amounts of necessary nutrients, which are stripped in the process of removing the fat. In their place are high amounts of added sugar, the one ingredient you want to avoid as much as possible (via The Healthy).

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18. Donuts

Donuts are the ultimate comfort food. They have just the right amount of sugar and fat. Plus, that perfectly crisp outside with a soft inside makes us want to eat a half dozen in one sitting. Moreover, that high amount of sugar and fat leads to weight gain (and all of the problems associated with carrying excess weight), along with the host of health problems caused by extra sugar and hydrogenated oils (via LA Times). If you are over 40, you are best off avoiding donuts altogether in favor of a hearty breakfast of eggs with whole-wheat toast and a smoothie made from vegetable juice and fresh fruit (via Editor Choice).

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17. Pasta

Pasta is a quick and easy meal that is both satisfying and comforting. It also leads to spikes in blood sugar because of the high amount of carbs (via LA Times). Simple carbs, such as those found in pasta, are very similar to sugar and cause many of the same health issues when eaten in excess. If you can’t give up your pasta, opt for versions made from beans, peas, or legumes rather than refined wheat flour. Also include lots of vegetables and healthy seasonings to create a healthy, fiber-rich meal (via Editor Choice).

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16. Muffins

If you like to eat store-bought muffins as an on-the-go breakfast or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, think again about what you are putting into your body. Store-bought muffins tend to contain excessive amounts of hydrogenated oils and a full day’s worth of added sugar (via Best Life). You can make much healthier muffins at home by using recipes that incorporate superfoods like flaxseed and much lower amounts of sugar. You can store your homemade muffins in an airtight container or freeze them so that they will last longer (via Eat This).

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15. Butter

Nothing beats warm, flaky biscuits made with heaping amounts of butter. Unfortunately, as you age, your risk for developing heart disease increases. Furthermore, the high amounts of saturated fats in butter increase that risk even more. Just two tablespoons of butter each day will set you over the limit! Opt for plant-based kinds of butter instead and try a spoonful of peanut butter on your toast instead of regular butter (via Best Life). Definitely avoid smothering chicken in butter and adding butter to every dish you eat! Some butter is fine in moderation, but you may need to reduce your intake severely (via Eat This).

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14. Low-Carb Alternatives

Nothing sounds healthier than eating riced cauliflower over white rice, right? Moreover, spiralized zucchini has to be loads better than regular noodles. However, think again before you go overboard with the vegetables-over-carbs trend (via Best Life). Cauliflower is definitely healthier than white rice, but brown rice has many nutrients that your body needs, and that cauliflower does not have. Furthermore, while there is generally nothing wrong with zucchini, bean-based pasta will leave you feeling full longer and less likely to eat sweets an hour later (via The Daily Meal).

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13. Powdered Peanut Butter

Powdered peanut butter boasts a much lower fat content than regular peanut butter (via Best Life). However, the fats in peanut butter are so incredibly good for you that you are much better off eating the real thing! The problem arises when peanuts are processed with hydrogenated oil, which is most certainly not beneficial for you. Instead of powdered peanut butter, which has a pasty rather than creamy texture and loses many nutrients in processing, look for peanut butter that only has peanuts, no added sugar, or hydrogenated oils (via The Daily Meal).

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12. French Fries

As you age, your metabolism begins to work more efficiently. It means that you need fewer calories because the calories you consume are stretching further than they did when you were in your twenties. As such, your metabolism simply cannot keep up with the exorbitant number of calories in foods like French fries (via LA Times). Further, high sodium contributes to heart disease, and the fats are terrible for your skin. Not all fats are created equal, and the fats in French fries are definitely on the bad side. Use an air fryer or make oven-roasted fries at home if you need a fix (via The Healthy).

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11. Using Straws

Many people who have spent their lives smoking have pronounced wrinkles around their lips from the repetitive motion of sucking on the cigarette and then blowing out the smoke. Using straws regularly can lead to the same issue, albeit on a reduced scale. Once you pass the age of 40, your skin begins to lose its elasticity, and fine lines and wrinkles start to appear (via LA Times). Another good reason to stop using straws is that they are terrible for the environment (via Editor Choice).

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10. Charred Meats

You may love summer barbecues and especially the charring on meat that comes right off the grill, but if you are concerned about your health, you need to cut out the charred meats after the age of 40 (via LA Times). Charred meats cause glycation, which accelerates the effects of aging in your skin and throughout your body. The charring process also produces heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These can cause changes to your DNA and lead to cancer (via Eat This).

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9. Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese has been touted as a healthy food because of its low-fat content, but what it lacks in fat, it makes up for in sodium (via Best Life). As you age, the effects of sodium become more pronounced and begin causing problems in your heart, kidneys, and bones. High sodium consumption can even lead to stomach cancer! If you want cottage cheese texture but without sodium, mix a spoonful of cottage cheese into half a cup of yogurt and add lots of fruit (via Editor Choice).

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8. Bacon

Bacon has more fat and calories than just about any other meat, making it a prime factor in weight gain after the age of 40 (via Best Life). Furthermore, those fats are not the healthy fats found in fish, avocados, and nuts. However, rather the saturated fats that cause heart disease. Additionally, bacon is high in sodium and nitrates. Sodium leads to heart disease and numerous other problems, and nitrates have strong links to cancer. Check the sodium content before you start gorging on turkey bacon because turkey bacon can have just as much as pork bacon (via Editor Choice).

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7. Non-Enriched Nut Milks

Nut kinds of milk have exploded in popularity. Why? Mainly due to concerns over the factory farming of animals and how animal agriculture, especially bovine, has been contributing to climate change (via Best Life). However, dairy remains an excellent source of calcium. Unless nut milks have been enriched with calcium and other nutrients found in dairy, drinking nut milk will cause you to lose out on your health. Look for nut kinds of milk and other plant-based milk that have been fortified with enough calcium to make them comparable to dairy (via Eat This).

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6. Chinese Takeout

You may have heard that Asian food is very healthy and that as a result, many Asians have fewer allergies and other health problems. This is very true, but that does not mean that ordering Chinese takeout is healthy (via Best Life). What we call Chinese food in America bears little similarity to a traditional Chinese diet. It is so high in sodium that you may need cardiac paddles afterward! Find another cuisine, such as Indian, for your takeout treats, and remember, takeout is a treat (via Eat This).

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5. Excessive Wine

When you were in your twenties, you may have enjoyed drinking a lot and even getting drunk for fun. Once you turned 40, though, you need to seriously cut back on the alcohol and only drink it to help relax after a long day or as a side with dinner. The dangers of excessive alcohol consumption include fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, alcohol poisoning, osteoporosis, and memory loss (via Best Life). You are never too young or too old to cut back on the alcohol, and once you are past 40, you absolutely need to stop getting drunk (via Editor Choice).

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4. Diet Soda Pop

We all know that soda has a high sugar content. It is terrible for you, so one might reason that diet soda is fine. After all, no sugar, no problem, right? Diet soda is worse for you than regular soda! The sugar alternatives devastate your microbiome or the bacteria in your gut, which is essential for healthy digestion and absorption of nutrients (via Best Life). Furthermore, those artificial sweeteners are loaded with harmful chemicals linked to cancer and brain damage. Not only that, but they still cause the insulin spikes associated with regular sugar. If you are over 40, nothing beats a glass of water (via Editor Choice).

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3. Doritos

Did you just turn 40 and want to have a party? The ultimate party chips are not orange-colored because of the cheese. No, they are orange because of the artificial colorings, which have been known to cause cancer and other health concerns. Doritos are also loaded with sodium and unspecified artificial flavors, so need we say more? If you need some party chips, go for homemade nachos that have organic tortilla chips, lots of veggies, and cheese that is not artificial (via Best Life). Binging on Doritos may have been fun in middle school, but once you start nearing median age, they are nothing but trouble (via Eat This).

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2. Imitation Crab

Most of what you buy in the grocery store labeled as “crab” is really “krab,” and no, we don’t mean the Mr. Krabs from SpongeBob SquarePants. Krab is composed of processed white fish and fillers, including the “meat glue” known as transglutaminase. Avoid the California roll, with its krab filler, as well as the krab dip at the supermarket (via Best Life). Instead, look for real seafood that is wild-caught, and when you really have a hankering for crab, get the real thing (via Eat This).

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1. Bagels

You may have grown up thinking that bagels are a healthy alternative to donuts. However, now that you are 40, you should know that one bagel is the equivalent of six pieces of white bread (via LA Times)! Sure, a warm, toasted bagel smothered with cream cheese is an indulgent breakfast that might make you actually want to get out of bread. Nevertheless, bagels are made with refined carbs that will cause your blood sugar to spike. Whole wheat bread with some cream cheese is a much better alternative to a bagel that will send your insulin soaring (via Editor Choice).

Lifestyle

People Confess Their Guilty Pleasures and They Are Stranger Than You Think

Let’s face it – we all have guilty pleasures. Whether it’s a certain type of food, movies, or something a little stranger, it’s nothing to be… Trista Smith - January 25, 2022

Let’s face it – we all have guilty pleasures. Whether it’s a certain type of food, movies, or something a little stranger, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Owning who you are is a big part of ensuring your overall happiness. We were curious about some of the stranger guilty pleasures, so we decided to scour Reddit to find some of the strangest out there. Some of these stories will leave you scratching your head, while others are normal in a sense. People worldwide turn to Reddit to share things about themselves, and guilty pleasures are no exception. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy reading stories about people confessing their strange guilty pleasures. You might think they are weird or gross, but you might find yourself doing some of the same things!

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Bringing Comfort Foods Into the Shower

For many people, one of the best ways to comfort themselves after a long day is to make or buy their comfort foods. While people usually will sit in front of the television to watch their favorite TV show or a movie, other people will decide to spend time with friends and family so they can vent about the day’s events. However, one Reddit user, ChuckZombie, noted that they eat their favorite comfort food somewhere else. “I eat in the shower. Showers are relaxing, and some foods are comforting to me, a double whammy.”

At the end of a long day, it isn’t up to anyone to really say where food should or should not be eaten. However, it might be hard for some people to wrap their minds around eating in the shower, especially if the food is messy. However, another Reddit user, mitchdude1, added their own guilty pleasure in supporting ChuckZombie by stating they do something similar. “Nothing like a shower beer after a long day.” When it comes to long days, and you find yourself just needing to unwind and collect your thoughts, is there really any right or wrong way to eat or drink?

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The Guilty Pleasure of Making Faces at Children… or Farting Near Them

It happens to everyone – you see a child in the grocery store, and you can’t help but smile and sometimes even make a funny face or two just to play with them for a little bit. Usually, this is done behind their parents’ backs, unless you don’t care to hide the fact that you want to say “hi” to their little one. But one Reddit user, whytrypie, takes it a little further by stating this is their guilty pleasure, so they do it often. Making goofy faces in grocery stores at children that are too young to express themselves while their parents aren’t looking.

However, this is not the only Reddit user who admitted to something similar as their guilty pleasure. Iamjustadreamer replied, “I fart near children in grocery stores. Everybody always blames them.” KateEW stated I do it too. “They start giggling maniacally, and then I nonchalantly walk away as their parent looks around trying to figure out what they’re laughing at.” Finally, cwstjnobbs stated, “I love doing this. The parents never suspect me either. They turn to see what their kid is laughing at and don’t even look twice at the extremely bored-looking man behind them.”

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Gossip and Drama From Other People Is Pretty Entertaining

In this day and age, it’s hard not to learn about everyone’s gossip and drama, especially when they discuss it through social media. While some people tend to scroll past or ignore these types of comments, other people tend to read about it, head to the comments, and continue reading. Voteforjello was one Reddit user who admitted to this as their guilty pleasure. I love other people’s gossip and drama. “I don’t like to be in the drama, but I love to hear other people’s drama. I have reasons for this, and they are as follows a) I’m uninteresting as f*ck and b) I don’t have to deal with the sh*t directly.”

Of course, voteforjello was far from the only Reddit user to admit to such a guilty pleasure. Sparty_party confessed, “Yes. I lead a pretty drama-free life, but I love knowing everybody’s business. Even if I don’t know you, I want to know. I’m nosy as heck. I want to have all of the information and all of the secrets.” While a deleted Reddit user added, “I too hate drama in my own life, but reading about others drama is somehow satisfying to a small degree. As shameful as it may be, read your local topix forums. They’re delightfully amusing and filled with local drama.”

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The Enjoyment of Stuffed Animals

You have probably had stuffed animals at some point in your lifetime. In fact, you might still have a couple that means a lot to you; they might just be hidden or put in a safe spot where no one can see them. Maybe you are proud of your stuffed animals and have them showing off to everyone who walks in the door. You might also hide them when you know someone is coming over. If this sounds like you, don’t worry because Reddit user PlaytheBanjo also discusses this guilty pleasure.

“I am a dude in my mid-20s, and I keep two stuffed animals. I live alone, so I tend to put them on the couch and talk to them, do things like blame the bear when the remote or my keys go missing or explain programs I’m writing out loud (like rubber duck debugging). They have favorite TV shows and sports teams, and sometimes I feel bad if I realize I’ve just watched an episode of Doctor Who or something without them. Actually, now that I’ve written this all out, I’m pretty sure something might be seriously wrong with me.”

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23. Sitting in the Shower

Reddit user howaboutdorsia admits that their guilty pleasure is sitting in the shower. “Hopefully, somebody else shares this peculiar guilty pleasure… Maybe it’s just me but does anyone else ever find themselves sitting down in the shower? I must admit, I do it at least once every time I shower. What do I do, you ask, when I lower myself onto the floor of the tub? I read the ingredients lists on all my shower stuff, and the luxurious directions featured on the backs of all of them.

“Even though I’ve done this countless times, I always do it. Sometimes I even clean myself sitting down. It’s just SO much more comfortable! Especially after a hard workout, I find myself smiling the whole time. However, if you dare to try this, make sure to turn up the water. It gets cold all the way down on the ground…” Of course, this Reddit user was not alone, and many other users admitted to sitting in the shower, sometimes for long periods.

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The Guilty Pleasure of Nose Picking

Even though you probably don’t want to admit it – you might have this guilty pleasure. If you do, you’re not alone, and Reddit proves this. Reddit user bats-don’t-prance was the first one to open the door to this guilty pleasure. “Being 100% honest, for real… I love the feeling of a solid nose-picking. Never been a pick n licker, that’s gross, but it is so satisfying to clean out the snout every so often. Just do it in private, stick it in a tissue and wash your hands after… I feel cleaner for it overall…”

Reddit user exteus admitted that this is also their guilty pleasure and has been doing since they were a child. However, they do handle their nose-picking a little better now than they used to. “I blow my nose quite often, so I don’t get a lot of buildup of snot to pick. I used to wipe boogers under the edge of my nightstand as a kid, and it built up this thick crust. Absolutely disgusting, and it’s something I am taking to my grave”. If you’re a nose picker, that’s fine, but let’s all use a Kleenex and toss everything away.

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Some Guilty Pleasures Make People Into Heroes

There are many guilty pleasures that people want to hide because they feel that it’s not a positive pleasure and something they shouldn’t do. However, this isn’t always the case. There are many guilty pleasures out there that make people look like angels, even if they continue to hide the fact that they do something nice. Take Reddit user AsianHawke, who states that they like to make a person’s day better, especially when it comes to their co-workers.

“Sometimes, when a co-worker is upset for whatever reason, I slip a dollar bill in their coat pocket when they’re not looking. It’s not much, but I always feel better when I find a long-forgotten dollar bill in my pocket. I’ve actually seen it brighten up their day, so I know it works. They’re usually confused but excited about it. While a dollar bill probably doesn’t seem like much and can’t buy much, it’s always a good feeling when you come across money you didn’t know you had.”

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This Guilty Pleasure Is For Dirty Stories

Reddit user Gh0stworld confesses their strange guilty pleasure. “My guilty pleasure is Reading terrible original erotic fiction online. It’s not a turn-on, but it’s also not just for ironic purposes. I just really get a kick out of how a lot of bad erotica is written. Especially unusual fetish stories that take place in unstated ‘fetish worlds’ where everyone is just down to clown for some reason. I have no explanation for this interest. I just really enjoy reading it, and this is the first time I’ve told anyone. I’m sure people will think I’m strange.”

There is a huge following of erotic fiction on the internet. While it’s strange to read these stories, some of them may be well-written. This Reddit user seems to be embarrassed by their confession, but there really isn’t anything to be embarrassed about in this situation. It’s normal to explore sexuality and find things that you enjoy. It would be a different story if this Reddit user acted out what they read, but they are simply reading the stories to see how badly they are written. If you think this story was strange, you won’t be disappointed with what’s coming up next!

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An Itch That’s Hard To Scratch

Reddit user Velvet admits their strange guilty pleasure, and it’s definitely something unexpected. They say, “I love a good deep ear scratch. I keep a pack of bobby pins just to scratch my ears with. Sometimes I use a straightened paper clip. Q tips are too soft and flimsy. The feeling of being able to scratch that itch we all feel in our ears is incredible.” According to doctors around the world, doing things like this is extremely dangerous. You should never use something like bobby pins or paper clips inside your ear. It can lead to permanent damage to your eardrum.

Your eardrum is a thin membrane in your middle ear that vibrates to allow you to hear sounds. A tear in the eardrum can cause a variety of painful symptoms, including sharp ear pain, ringing in the ear, drainage, and even hearing loss. If you must use something to clean your ears, do it safely with a Q-tip or a saline solution kit. You can buy saline ear cleaning kits at your local pharmacy and at stores such as Walmart. While a perforated eardrum heals on its own, it is not worth the pain and hearing loss you’ll get by using a bobby pin or paper clips to scratch the inside of your ear.

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Is This Guilty Pleasure a Possible Joke?

Reddit user Quantum-Bot shares their unique and albeit strange guilty pleasure. This is definitely one for the books! Quantum-Bot says, “I dream of becoming a carrot. When I’m home alone, I dig holes in the backyard and stand in them, put lettuce on top of my head from sun up to sundown. I would steal sun tan spray from stores and use it until I turned bright orange. People tell me it’s impossible for me to be a carrot, but I know I can be anything I want to be. I choose to be a carrot, and no one can change my mind.”

Well, dreaming of becoming a carrot is certainly a strange guilty pleasure. It makes you wonder why they chose a carrot in the first place. It’s strange to want to be a vegetable, but the real kicker is actually digging holes and stealing self-tanning spray to become orange. If this is a real guilty pleasure, I hope this Reddit user gets the help they need to live a productive life instead of spending all their time in the backyard trying to be a carrot. It’s a sad way to live your life if you really think about it.

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A Fan Fiction Writer Is the Best for this Redditor

ChuushaHime says, “One of the best things about writing fanfiction is that you don’t have to be a ‘good’ writer to make an enjoyable fanfic. Some of the hardest parts of strong writing (three-dimensional characterization, meaningful relationships, quality worldbuilding) have already been done for you by the original creators, so all of your readers go into your story already fully armed with that knowledge. Plus, a lot of the time, your audience is going into your story with a specific purpose in reading it (i.e., looking for a particular non-canon pairing, looking for stories that tie up loose ends from canon, and fleshing out a side character or side plot).”

“So, as long as your story fulfills that purpose and keeps the world and characters believable and intact, the bar is otherwise pretty low for people to respond positively to a fanfic.” A lot of people enjoy reading fan fiction stories that put characters from your favorite books or movies into new situations. This was very popular with the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. People enjoyed the movies and books so much that they didn’t want them to end and decided to create new stories with all of the characters. Writing is a fun way to express yourself and delve into the fantasy worlds you love.

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Hunt For The Unexplained

This anonymous contributor shares his passion for the unexplained. He says, “I really enjoy watching UFO videos and the paranormal. It gets me away from the mundane and everyday thinking for a bit. Some of my favorite shows include Alien Highway, Ghost Adventures, Kindred Spirits, and The Holzer Files. I find it so intriguing that there could be life on other planets and ghosts living with us in our homes. I’d love to go on some ghost hunting tours at some point in my life. Does anyone else have this same guilty pleasure? Maybe we can meet up and start a group of our own! There are tons of UFO videos on YouTube if anyone is curious.”

It sounds like this Reddit user has an immense passion for the paranormal and unexplained. There are plenty of groups available for him to join to go on his very own ghost hunt. Depending on where he lives, there are probably haunted areas in his own town to explore. If you have this same guilty pleasure, always get permission before entering an abandoned structure. Entering without permission would be considered trespassing and could get you in quite a bit of trouble! There are plenty of ways to find out who owns a building to get the permission to enter.

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This Guilty Pleasure Could Be Dangerous

Emperor_Cartagia shares a dangerous guilty pleasure. They say, “My guilty pleasure is Redbull. I love the yellow ones. But I don’t need them for energy or anything. Yes, I just like the taste. If I could get a Yellow Redbull flavor that doesn’t keep me up all night, I’d buy cases of it. I tend to drink at least six of the yellow ones a day.” Drinking that much Redbull in a day can be dangerous, especially to those with heart conditions. If you plan to drink that much Red Bull every day, you should at least have your doctor check for any health concerns that may cause issues while drinking it.

Studies show that while consuming Red Bull doesn’t have any major effects on the body for healthy people, it can cause problems for some. If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, it’s recommended to stay away from energy drinks as they can cause higher blood pressure and heart problems for those already susceptible. This Reddit user claims they only drink Red Bull for the taste, so maybe they would be better off finding something similar without the caffeine. One can of Red Bull contains 111 milligrams of caffeine. Caffeine can actually be fatal in high doses! Caffeine toxicity can cause headaches, lightheadedness, anxiety, and more unpleasant symptoms.

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Too Much Thinking for This Guy

Cmontygman says, “I don’t know if you’d call it a guilty pleasure, but here it is. I’m constantly thinking about “what if” scenarios. Mostly to how I handled myself in high school and the beginning of my military service and how I could’ve bettered things if I would’ve stayed away from games. I’m not in a bad spot; I just have some regrets about how I handled things.” It sounds like this Reddit user has some regrets about his life. The best way to handle these sorts of situations is to seek professional help. No one should have to go through something like this.

If you or anyone you know is having a difficult time dealing with certain situations in their lives, there’s help available. Anxiety can cause major upheaval in your life and lead to a life of seclusion. If this Reddit user has regrets, the best thing he can do is seek out ways to better his life now. The past is the past for a reason. He should try to look forward to the future and how bright it could be if he let go of the past. Stewing in those “What if” scenarios can lead you into a rabbit hole you may never get out of.

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They Thought It Was A Great Idea, But it was Just a Weird Combo

A deleted Reddit user believes they came up with a delicious and unique snack that everyone will love. They go on to say, “My guilty pleasure is red vines (licorice) and Cheez-It crackers. You wrap the cracker in a portion of the licorice rope and enjoy. It also works well with licorice and cool ranch Doritos. I may like that even more. It may seem odd, but it’s seriously so delicious!” Well, this is certainly a unique combination, but I’m not sure if I’d try it. Each of these foods is great on its own but mixing them seems like a bad idea.

People come up with all kinds of strange food combinations. While some are good and end up being extremely popular, others are disgusting. I guess it’s good to try different combinations of foods together, but there has to be a line somewhere. I don’t know anyone who would try Red Vines with Cheez-It crackers. Strawberry flavoring mixed with cheese just sounds terrible. I’m usually the person who says, “Don’t knock it until you try it,” but in this case, I think I’ll pass. Using Red Vines as straws have grown in popularity over the years, and that’s completely understandable, but this combination just seems wrong.

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Video Games Are Many People’s Guilty Pleasure

A deleted Reddit user shares their strange guilty pleasure. They go on to say, “My guilty pleasure is video games! Does anyone else like looking through the game list on Unity? I just love reading the different game names that people are running, the various homebrew games, seeing which modules are popular. So far, my favorites are Chronicles of The Frozen Crown, The Great Deserts Of Athas, and Wednesday Wanderings (despite it being a Tuesday). It looks like a lot of people like Curse of Strahd and Rime of the Frostmaiden at the moment!”

According to a Google search, Unity is a cross-platform game engine offering various games and options for game developers to pursue making their own games. It seems like a good way to learn how to make your own games if you’re into that sort of thing. This Reddit user loves to peruse the lists of games to see what people are making. They don’t say anything about playing games, but I’m sure they love doing that just as much as looking through Unity. Unity offers gamers a chance to learn how to make their games, which is pretty cool for people who enjoy gaming and would like to make a career out of it.

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Are You Addicted To Spin-off Cartoons From The ’70s and ’80s? Guilty!

Reddit user dogtron64 says, “I honestly don’t know why. I’m talking about cartoons made in the 70s that are so bizarre and unconventional that you can’t help but not love them. Yes, include your “Scrappy Doo” sidekick character as it adds more to the absurdity. I’m talking shows like Laverne & Shirley in the Army, Partridge Family 2200 Ad, The Fonz, and the Happy Days Gang, Jose and the Pussycats in outer space, Robot 3 Stooges, Harlem Globetrotters with superpowers, etc. I said something about the Fonz cartoon that I made sound normal, while it’s not as it’s about Fonzy traveling through time with some girl from the future and an anthro cartoon dog.”

“I know these shows are terrible cash grabs to most people and completely cheesy. That is why they’re a guilty pleasure. They’re like these weird fan fiction of famous tv shows that got the green light for tv. They are always absurd. You can’t take them seriously; if you do, you won’t like them. The whole extra animal character they add adds to the absurdity. There is Goober and the Ghost Chasers where it’s the Partage Kids in a Scooby-Doo clone complete with their own dog character. Heck, the dog character looks like he listened to Bob Marley too much and became his biggest fan. I don’t know why I find good in these; I don’t know. I’m just a weird guy.”

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His Guilty Pleasure Is a TV Show… and Correcting Everything in It

A deleted Reddit User shares their guilty pleasure for a hit TV show. She says, “I tend to enjoy watching Grey’s Anatomy and then complaining about everything they do wrong to my husband. For this reason, I’m forbidden from binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy whilst my husband is home (which is all the time). I’m going to have to enlist some of my RN colleagues to complain with me.” Grey’s Anatomy follows the story of Meredith Grey, a doctor at a hospital in Seattle, Washington. It’s jam-packed with romance, shocking moments, and all of the things you’d expect from a drama series based in a hospital setting.

While hospital-based drama series’ are fun to watch, they often skimp on the reality of certain things during surgery. Some of the things that happen in the series would never happen in a real hospital. This Reddit User must be a Registered Nurse to notice all of the things done wrong on the show. While TV shows aren’t a crazy or strange guilty pleasure, this Reddit user enjoys complaining about the things doctors do wrong on the show. It must be interesting to know all of the things people not in the medical field miss out on.

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The Perfect Evening for a Guilty Pleasure

Another deleted Reddit user shares his ideas for a perfect evening with a significant other. He says, “Scene: bedroom, AC on turbo, and naked between semi-clean sheets. We just sat down with grilled cheese and tomato soup with pickles and Lays chips on the side. Suicide is Painless begins to play, and we watch as if I haven’t seen this episode 76 times. We smile at each other understandingly as Hawkeye makes his entrance. Then, we roll our eyes at Frank, and finally, at the same time, we dip our sammys into our soups. We lay upon our shameful mountain of crumbs.”

“Then, we leave our soup bowls beside the bed as we gently fade into the first hour…then repeat 23 times.” This Reddit user has everything completely planned out for a perfect night. Suicide is Painless is the theme song for the hit television show M*A*S*H. This Reddit user seems to be very passionate about the show, along with grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It sounds like this is a perfect evening for him. Hopefully, he has someone special in his life to live out this guilty pleasure with.

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A Trip To The Store is a Chore to Some, but For Them, It’s a Guilty Pleasure

Reddit user boat_against_current says,” I love perusing grocery stores. Certainly, I do it to get snacks and such, but I treat it almost like a museum trip and check out every aisle, including cleaning products. The people-watching is great, and it’s fun to compare the merchandise to what’s sold at home. Cool little story- a few years ago, I was in Ireland, and I mentioned to another traveler staying where I was that I was excited to check out the grocery store. She thought that was cool and joined my fun. And we became friends and have met up for a couple of trips.”

This guilty pleasure isn’t too strange. People like to peruse stores and find the best deals. It’s like going shopping for clothes and looking through all the racks to ensure you see everything. It sounds like this Reddit user has even made friends in the process. When traveling, it’s normal to check out the local cuisine at grocery stores to see how it compares to what you have at home. That is how people find new foods to try on vacation. It’s perfectly normal to do these things. People watching can also be a fun hobby, especially when on vacation. It’s interesting to interact with people of different cultures.

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