‘Healthy Foods’ That Are Really Bad For You
By Juliet Smith
1 year ago
Granola
Image Source/ All recipesThe majority of granola types sold at your neighbourhood grocery store are made using butter, vegetable oil, and white sugar. Just a half-cup of Special K Touch of Honey cereal contains nine grams of sugar per serving. You might be eating much more calories than you think depending on the brand you buy.Dried Fruit
Image Source/ Spoon UniversityDried fruit could be pumping your diet full with sugar. In addition to being preserved with sulphites, one of the most frequent food allergies, many commercially produced dried fruits are coated with additional sugar. Sounds like a waste of time and money.Yogurt
Image Source/ HealthlineYogurt may be promoted as a superfood for gut health and weight loss, but it's not quite the elixir you might think. Yogurt flavours contain a lot of sugar as well as potentially cancer-causing artificial colours and flavours. It might even be worse than ice cream!Whole Wheat Bread
Image Source/ Bigger Bolder BakingWhole wheat bread isn't the nutritious food you were hoping for. High fructose corn syrup and molasses are commonly found in many loaves, notably those labelled as "honey whole wheat." To ensure that you are getting additional nutrients without additional sugar, choose a sprouted bread like Ezekiel.Salad Dressing
Image Source/ Love and LemonsOnce believed to be beneficial for weight loss, low-fat foods are frequently just as bad as or even worse than their full-fat counterparts and low-fat salad dressings are no exception. They replace the satiating fat in their recipes by adding sugar and unsettling additives and preservatives.Coconut Water
Image Source/ Cleveland ClinicFor better health, skip the coconut water and drink more normal water. The coconut water with pineapple flavour from Vita Coco contains 15 grams of sugar per cup. While drinking coconut water is preferable to drinking soda, try to limit your indulgence in the fruity beverage to once per week.Baked Potatoes
Image Source/ Kitchen SanctuaryDespite the fact that baked potatoes may well be healthier than French fries, they are not always a wise choice. As a result of being generously salted and butter-brushed to give them a crispy exterior, the majority of baked potatoes you get at restaurants are almost as calorie-dense as their deep-fried counterparts.Green Juice
Image Source/ Veggie QuestEven though the pressed juice at your health food store is loaded with vegetables, the fruit that was used to sweeten it also adds a lot of sugar. Unfortunately, unlike a smoothie, your juice has very little fibre, so before you know it, you'll be craving food again.Trail Mix
Image Source/ Eat This, Not ThatIf we're being real, trail mix is actually nothing more than an excuse to consume large quantities of chocolate chips and sweet dried fruit. Instead, choose a handful of raw nuts to help you feel satisfied without the added sugar and calories. You'll thank me later!Fruit Cocktail
Image Source/ The Mercury NewsProviding you don't soak the fruit in syrup, fruit may be a welcomed part of your diet. A single cup of fruit cocktail in syrup can contain upwards of 37 grams of sugar, more than you'd get in an equivalent amount of soda, in addition to the BPA that many fruit cocktail cans are lined with.Veggie Chips
Image Source/ The Big Man's WorldVeggie chips reputation as a healthy food is largely due to effective marketing. In actuality, the majority of vegetable chips consist primarily of potatoes, oil, salt, and vegetable colouring. There are zero grams of fibre and 300 milligrams of sodium in a 6.7-ounce bag of Sea Salt Veggie Stix.Microwave Popcorn
Image Source/ Shugary SweetsWhile a lot of the popcorn you'll find on the shelves of your neighbourhood supermarket isn't very nutritious, it can occasionally be low in calories. One serving of Orville Redenbacher's Ultimate Butter Popcorn comprises 4.5 grams of saturated fat and 330 milligrams of sodium.Soup
Image Source/ EatingWellWhile many soup companies tout themselves as excellent options for those watching their weight, they are frequently laden with salt and sugar. Campbell's Harvest Tomato with Basil Soup boasts a whopping 16 grams of sugar and 33 percent of your daily recommended intake of sodium in every cup.Protein Bars
Image Source/ InsiderWhile protein can be an excellent source of fuel for your muscles, most protein bars are hardly nutritious. They are often potential health saboteurs because they contain high fructose corn syrup, sodium, belly-bloating soy, artificial colours, sugar, and artificial flavours.Protein Shakes
Image Source/ HealthlineThe protein shake is not so far from the milkshake, you would believe, and is probably as bad as. Many protein drinks are filled with sugar and stomach-bloating dairy, and even those that are sugar-free may cause weight gain due to their artificial sweeteners.Rice Cakes
Image Source/ Eat This, Not ThatAlthough rice cakes generally have few calories, their toppings can quickly transform them into junk food. The combination of sugar, fructose, and maltodextrin in a single Quaker Caramel Corn rice cake results in three grams of sugar in addition to the high sodium content in savoury flavours like cheddar and ranch.Soy Milk
Martí Sans/Stocksy United
Açai Bowls
Image Source/ Jessica GavinAvoid wasting money on açai bowls since they might not be as healthy as you thought. Many açai bowls are calorie-dense, and some even substitute sweet, stomach-bloating frozen yoghurt for whole-fruit smoothies as their basis. Not to mention they're often not worth the money.Bottled Smoothies
Image Source/ The Active TimesThose smoothies in bottles may be seriously boosting your diet's sugar and calorie intake. A small Jamba Juice Orange Dream Machine smoothie contains 350 calories and a whopping 71 grams of sugar, compared to a large smoothie's 590 calories and 120 grams of sugar.Seasoned Rice
Image Source/ Life Made SimplePlease be wary of seasoned rice blends that prevent you from losing weight. While their original Instant Brown Rice has none, one cup of Uncle Ben's Flavour Infusions Parmesan & Butter rice contains 510 mg of belly-bloating salt. Most of the additives in these rice packs are completely unnecessary.Wraps
Image Source/ WikipediaYou might be shocked to learn that, in comparison to sliced bread, wraps don't truly save you that many calories. The 160 calories in one Toufayan Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat Wrap are equivalent to the calories in two slices of whole-grain bread. Furthermore, there is only one gram of fibre in it!egWhole Grain Cereals
Image Source/ Bakery and SnacksAlthough whole grains can add bulk and fibre that is good for your gut, that does not necessarily mean that your whole-grain cereal is nutritious. Be on the lookout for brands with eight grams of sugar or less in each serving. Yes, even "healthy" cereals can contain hidden sugar.Sugar Substitutes
Image Source/ The New York TimesDon't be tempted by them sugar substitutes being calorie-free, they are still not considered to be healthy foods. Artificial sweeteners, just like real sugar, may increase your risk for diabetes and obesity, make you crave real sugar, and increase your overall calorie intake.Omelettes
Image Source/ CookistWhen you choose eggs without the yolks, you forego a satisfying source of fat as well as a source of vitamin D, which helps with weight reduction, and B12, which gives you energy. You also miss out on a way to raise your good cholesterol. Choose to make your omelettes with one whole egg and one egg white to lower your cholesterol.Diet Coke
Image Source/ Manchester Evening NewsYour diet soda addiction may be the cause of your subpar health. Diet sodas contain a lot of caramel, which Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers found to have potential carcinogenic properties in addition to their obesogenic artificial sweeteners.Salmon
Image Source/ Once upon a ChefSalmon has a low omega-3 level, which does little to balance out the fattening, sugary sauces that are often served with this carby fish. Salmon is frequently covered in toppings that have no place in a healthy meal, such as sweet barbeque sauce and plain butter.Honey-Roasted Nuts
Image Source/ Paleo GrubsThose honey-roasted almonds are not good for your health, even if honey is a potent antibiotic. This is one incredibly calorie food that you should absolutely avoid because the purported honey coating on them is frequently nothing more than a combination of brown sugar and butter.Porridge Mixes
Image Source/ Delicious MagazineDon't get off to the wrong start of your day/diet with Cream of Wheat or other similar foods. One packet of Maple Brown Sugar Cream of Wheat contains just one gram of fibre and 13 grams of sugar, making it a breakfast food that is definitely responsible for bloating and weight gain. Be aware!Baked Beans
Image Source/ Peppers Shop UKBeans can be a healthy food choice on their own, but baked beans are anything but. Bush's Original Baked Beans have 140 calories per half-cup, but they also contain 12 grams of sugar and 550 milligrams of sodium, which is more than a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!Couscous
Image Source/ Life Made SimpleContrary to popular belief, couscous is actually just tiny balls of semolina, a refined grain devoid of fibre. So in actuality, while you think you're eating some lighter, healthier whole-grain, it's actually just white pasta with some very believable marketing.Gluten-Free Snacks
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Gluten-free snacks are obviously a health benefit for people who need them, like those with sensitivity to gluten, but that doesn't mean they're the healthiest things to eat. A lot of gluten-free snacks have A LOT of sugar, and sometimes even more than non-gluten-free snacks.Turkey Bacon
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!You might have been eating turkey bacon thinking it's a healthy alternative to the standard pork bacon - but it isn't. You'll definitely get less calories with turkey bacon, but you'll also get extra artificial colors, saturated fats and nitrates.Flavored Oatmeal
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!A lot of people choose flavored oatmeal to make it taste a little nicer compared to plain oatmeal, but all that extra flavoring means is extra sugar. Flavors like maple syrup or brown sugar mean that you're eating extra sugar with your breakfast.Spicy Tuna Rolls
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Sushi and fish is altogether a healthy diet option if you want your omega-3s, but spicy tuna rolls contain a lot of saturated fat. This is due to the sauce used to give the tuna roll its spice, resulting in extra fat content you wouldn't get with normal sushi.Baked Chips
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Baked chips do have less fat than deep-fried chips, this is true - and makes sense why you'd want to pick these instead. But where there is less fat, there is more sodium to make up for it. Aside from that, anything marketed as a healthier chip alternative means you mean unintentionally eat more than you usually would thinking they're 'healthy'.Vegetable Oil
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Based on name alone you may think this oil is healthy. Anything with 'vegetable' in it is a winner, right? But vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated) can result in a higher dose of bad cholesterol, resulting in an increased risk of heart disease.Low Carb Snacks
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Low carb snacks sound like they should be healthy, but oftentimes, anything that's 'low' in a key ingredient is made up for by packing more of other unhealthy stuff instead. If it's a snack, it's never going to be a healthy option, no matter what it is. Low-carb therefore doesn't mean high-health!Parfaits
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Parfaits contain fruit, which is always a good thing when you're trying to be healthy. The problem with parfaits is the rest of the stuff in them, which cancels out any health benefits you may get from the fruit. They're packed with sugar, whipped cream and yogurt.Veggie Burgers
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Veggie burgers can be a great choice for anyone trying to be both healthy and give vegetarianism a go. But they're unfortunately also not the healthiest. They can be loaded with soy, salt, fat and preservatives, so they're not great for a healthy diet.Frozen Yogurt
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Frozen yogurt has long since been a great alternative to ice cream for those looking to feel like they're being a bit healthier. But the fact is, frozen yogurt is still packed full of sugar. As an example, one serving of Ben & Jerry's Half Baked Froyo has 30 grams of sugar.Organic Snacks
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Organic doesn't mean 'healthy', but a lot of people can think that simply because it sounds like it should be. Organic snacks can still be packed with fat or sugar in the same way that a non-organic snack can be, so there's a still a risk of gaining weight with organic snacks.Egg Substitutes
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Most of the health benefits which come from eggs is stored in the yolk. While the white of the egg still has nutrients, it's the egg yolk which contains key vitamins like D, so if you're having egg substitutes - which are mainly egg whites - you're not getting key vitamins and minerals.Skim Milk
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!We all know that skim milk doesn't taste as good as full-fat or semi, because of it being a healthier alternative, but that doesn't mean it's healthy in itself. It's actually suggested that full-fat dairy products could be linked to lower risks of diabetes.Veggie Pizza
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Nobody has any illusions about pizza being the number one choice for healthy food, but you feel a little bit less guilty when you choose a veggie option instead of one loaded with meat or heavy sauce. But with veggie pizza, you're getting a huge amount of calories and fat from the cheese and flour, too.Margarine
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Margarine has always been thought of as the healthy alternative to butter, so when you're reaching for the toast and sandwiches, margarine may have lowered your health guilt a bit. But did you know it's actually worse for you? Based on the trans fat content, you might be best with butter.Pita Chips
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!If you're a fan of tortilla or potato chips as a snack (and aren't we all), you may have been reaching for the pita chips instead as a healthier options. But pita chips, even though not deep-friend, still have butter, sugar and seasonings - so a lot of calories.Yogurt-Covered Raisins
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Raisins are a great healthy option, and you may have turned to yogurt-covered ones thinking they'll taste a bit nicer and that yogurt is healthy anyway. Wrong! All it means is you're covering your raisins in sugary yogurt, and extra calories.Low-Fat Peanut Butter
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!We know the pain of trying to ditch delicious spreads like peanut butter when you're going on a diet, but unfortunately low-fat peanut butter isn't going to help much. This is because with low-fat options you always have a lot of extra stuff trying to make up for the lack of flavor, and in peanut butter this can be extra sugar and salt.Sports Drinks
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!Sports drinks are great options for hardcore athletes who really need them when they're working hard (and sweaty). So if you're sitting at home on the sofa sipping on a sports drink, it's not going to be very good for you. They'll have a lot of sugar and artifical colorings.Maple Syrup
Image Source / Eat This, Not That!If you were already thinking that maple syrup was healthy, you might have been told that by somebody who was really in denial. Because maple syrup isn't very good for you. And especially because, unlike table sugar, you're much more likely to pour a whole load over things like pancakes rather than just a sprinkling of sugar.What To Read Next
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