Food & Nutrition
Food Myths Debunked, 15 Healthy Foods That Are Actually Unhealthy
Jun
Many packaged foods labelled ‘sugar-free’ or ‘fat-free’ are often not what they seem.
Despite health claims, these foods hide excess sugars, sodium and fats that are detrimental to your weight loss plans.
Beware you folks! Do not get fooled by misleading food brands and their marketing gimmicks.
Just because the brands label themselves as “healthy”and “fat free”, does not necessarily mean the food is actually healthy.
And yes, I mean it when I say this. Check out here our list of 15 so called “healthy” foods that are actually bad for you before you go on your next shopping trip, or out to pick up a quick bite.
1. Brown Bread
It is a well known fact that white bread is an unhealthy option as it is made of all-purpose flour and can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes so we made a healthy transition towards brown bread.
But is brown bread really nutritious?
Now, it has turned out that brown bread locally available in the market is no more than a regular white bread been colored using chemicals.
By having brown colored bread regularly for breakfast you are doing your body no good. Instead, you can opt for more coarse multi-grain bread which is way more nutritious and healthy.
2. Breakfast Cereals
Considering that parathas are lousy for breakfast, we have been stocking all sorts of breakfast cereals for a healthy option.
But not all breakfast cereals available in the market are low-calorie, or even healthy.
Before buying these cereals, you have to be extra cautious about their sugar content, artificial coloring, salt, fibre and fat content. Instead, a bowl of oats in the morning is better and healthier option.
The high-fibre content in oats balances the blood sugar, and relieves people prone to depression. You can even alternate it with wheat porridge which is a nice change from run-of-the-mill breakfast cereals.
3. Granola Bars
Crispy granola bar has been considered as one of the healthy snack options to satisfy sugar cravings.
But are they really healthy?
The truth is granola bars are simply loaded with refined sugar and no less than sugar bars packed with cereals.
4. Fat Free Salad Dressing
Fruits and vegetables have fat-soluble nutrients that need fat in order to work; like the lycopene in tomatoes, which has been linked to lower cancer and stroke risk.
Opting for a fat-free dressing may deprive you of those benefits. Try olive oil-based options instead, or instead add avocados and nuts to your salads, both of which contain healthy fats.
5. Fruit Juices
Fruit Juices are not at all healthy. Sometimes they are not even made of real fruits but chemicals that just taste like fruits. What we are drinking is basically just fruit-flavored sugar water.
6. Flavored Fat-Free Yogurt
Don’t fall into the fat-free trap. Just because something is fat-free doesn’t make it healthy. In fact, many flavored yogurts have upwards of 15 grams of sugar in that tiny 6-ounce serving.
Instead you can buy plain, fat-free Greek yogurt and flavor it up with some fruit or even a small drizzle of honey.
7. Flavored Soya Milk
Soy has many health benefits, including being high in protein and potassium and low in cholesterol. However, those tasty chocolate and vanilla varieties are not the right options.
Flavored soya milk is loaded with high sugar and unnecessary calories that are not good for health.
8. Gluten-Free Products
Gluten-free products are all the rage these days. Although some gluten-free products are healthy, by no means does the label “gluten-free” equate to health.
Whether it is packaged or processed, gluten or no gluten, it is definitely not as healthy as other whole foods you could be eating.
9. Diet Soda
The word “diet” doesn’t always equal healthy, and that is certainly the case with diet soda.
Made with artificial ingredients and flavorings, it is not only unnatural and high in sodium, but regular diet soda drinkers have been shown to eat more calories after consuming diet cola.
While the reasons aren’t fully understood, researchers suspect it is the body’s way of making up for calories it thinks it received in the diet soda but did not.
10. Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter
Peanuts are full of healthy monounsaturated fats, so when it comes to choosing a peanut butter, it is best to go with a natural version of the full-fat variety.
Most reduced-fat versions contain the same number of calories per serving because when they take the fat out, they add sugar as filler.
11. Sports Drinks
Sports drinks are little more than flavored water mixed with sugar and electrolytes.
Sports drinks are ideal for workouts that last longer than an hour or for when you’re working out in hot weather and sweating a lot, but for a short indoor workout or just as a beverage it is a very unhealthy option.
12. Protein Bars
It is impossible to generalize that all protein bars are unhealthy, but it is safe to say that if you flip most of them over and read the nutrition information, you might be shocked to know most protein bars are highly processed.
Unless organic, most of these protein bars comprise of artificial ingredients and fillers. If your protein bar has more than 200 calories or 8 grams of sugar, it is more like a candy bar with added protein than health food.
13. Flavored Nuts
Nuts are a wonderful health food when eaten in moderation. But roasted nuts? No not healthy as they predict to be.
Most roasted nuts are coated with unwanted sugar and salt. Try to limit your nut consumption to plain raw nuts.
And if you want to make your own flavored nuts, roast some in the oven with spices like turmeric, pepper, or even hot sauce!
14. Protein Shakes
Protein is important for our bodies to build muscle and stay strong, but regularly downing protein shakes in place of meals is not healthy.
Many are highly processed, high in sugar, and despite being fortified with vitamins and minerals, you’re missing out on having real healthy and filling food.
15. Multi-Grain Chips
Choosing whole-grain chips over potato chips may be a smart snack choice. The problem is, you tend to eat more of the multi-grain version because they’re billed as “healthy.”
Unless you are indulging, get your whole grains from more nutritious sources such as quinoa, wild rice, or beans.
Now that you are aware of the most common foods thought to be healthy which in reality are far from that, you need to make conscious eating decision.
These foods can easily be categorized under “diet disasters”!
To know more about healthy diet plan talk to Possible Nutritionist . You will get to know more on weight loss & management and healthy living. The first consultation is on us. Click here to avail.
Yes eating flavored nuts could be wrong for health as we don’t know how much extra sugar or salt is added to it.
Hi! We agree with you and the same has been mentioned in the article as well. But you can prepared flavoured nuts at home and have it. Keep following our blog to know more health information.