The next time you try to drown your sorrows in a pint of Chunky Monkey or plate of over-salted french fries, we have a word of advice for you: Don't. Contrary to what pretty much every rom-com ever made would have you believe: It just. Doesn't. Help. In fact, most "comfort foods" leave you feeling worse.
And by that, we mean that your health — or mood — will take a pummeling. Click through to see if your fave foods made the "do not eat" list.
We are SO bummed #7 is on this list. What about you?
Image © iStock.com/Blue_Cutler
Pizza
Don't get us wrong, we enjoy digging into a slice of pie as much as the next person. But a recent study has shown that the more processed, fatty or sugary a food is, the harder it is to stop eating it. And the #1 most addictive food there is? Sigh. Pizza.
Chips
There's something inherently stress-relieving about crunching chips, but you'll pay for it later. According to a Harvard study that analyzed over 120,000 people for 20 years, every 15 chips you eat translates into a nearly 2-pound weight gain over the next 4 years. Not comforting.
Cookies
Sure, you'll get a nice, fast sugar high from eating a cookie. But you'll also have to deal with a crash in energy right after. Plus, many store-bought cookies contain trans fat to increase their shelf life. Not only has trans fat been linked to obesity, but aggression, memory loss, heart disease and diabetes. So, you know, ick.
Ice Cream
Here's something you didn't ask for with your hot fudge sundae: Dairy consumption can actually increase menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms.
More From The Stir: Is Ice Cream Really as Addictive as Cocaine?
French Fries
That glistening, golden brown sheen you see on french fries? That's a sign of acrylamide, a chemical that forms in foods — especially plant-based ones — when they're cooked at high temperatures like frying. High levels have been linked to cancer, so the FDA recommends cutting back on foods that may contain it. Like … french fries.
Candy
Eating processed foods high in sugar actually dulls your brain's ability to tell you when to stop. The result? You gorge even more, and there's nothing sweet about that.
Chocolate
Chocolate is THE most commonly craved food, and interacts with a number of our brain's neurotransmitters. But when we seek it out to feel better, it's actually more likely to prolong our bad mood.
Cake
The more calories your comfort food contains, the worse you'll feel after eating it. And by "worse," we mean sad, ashamed, anxious or sleepy. If you're struggling with your weight already, you'll feel these negative emotions even more.
More from The Stir: Here's How Much Sugar We SHOULD Be Eating (PHOTOS)
Breakfast Cereal
If you're stress-eating cereal, it's probably not going to be something puritan like Grape Nuts. We're talking sweet kids' cereal. And you might be shocked (we were) at how much sugar they contain. Eating a bowl a day adds up to eating 10 pounds of sugar a year.
Cheeseburgers
Put red meat and bread on your "don't eat in case of emergency" list. (Pasta should go on there, too.) A 12-year Harvard study found that women who regularly ate these "comfort foods" were up to 41 percent more likely to seek treatment for depression. The reason? These foods cause inflammation in the body, which has been linked to depression.
More from The Stir: 7 Crazy Extremes People Have Gone To For Fast Food (VIDEO)
