Many of us go to great lengths to see if the contents of our closets and kitchens reflect the lifestyle we want to lead and the healthy body we want to achieve. Unfortunately, thanks to marketing and different messages about different foods, it can sometimes get a little confusing as to what’s actually good for us. To keep things simple, we found 20 foods that are far from healthy, but are often misinterpreted as healthy.
1- whole wheat grains
The marketing of various drugs seems to get you exactly where you need to be. It uses healthy words, but it’s actually not healthy. But many boxes of sweet cereal are labeled “healthy.”
Cereals may contain a few white whole grains, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that they’re often coated in sugar or icing or mixed with marshmallows. Avoid those grains and try something healthier like oatmeal or crushed wheat flakes.
2. Dried fruit
Dried fruits are not only colorful and beautiful to look at, but they are also very delicious. In fact, many people enjoy this appetizer instead of dessert.
Unfortunately, dried fruit contains about three times more sugar than condensed, so you’d be better off eating cake. Therefore, eating a few dried fruits will result in a large amount of sugar and calories.
3. Fruit cocktail
Fruit smoothies can be easily canned, so you can keep them on the shelf when you’re looking for a delicious treat and run out of fresh produce. It’s no wonder people think that a filling with peaches, pineapples and cherries is a healthy choice.
Now here’s the frustrating part. The syrup used to preserve fruit actually contains a day’s worth of sugar. Don’t you think it’s not so delicious anymore?
Frozen Yogurt
Much like diet soda or protein bars, frozen yogurt has a reputation for being a healthy dessert you can enjoy in large quantities, without a worry. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. While “froyo” may be lower fat compared to ice cream, it is still packed with sugar and calories just like any other dessert. Not to mention all those fun toppings we tend to add on.
If you are looking to enjoy a healthy dessert, blending up a frozen banana with some dark chocolate chips and strawberries is a great alternative, it’s a surprisingly sweet treat!
13. Fast-Food Salads
When you have to eat at a fast food restaurant, opting for a salad may seem like a healthy option, and sometimes, it can be! The problem with fast food salads is how quickly the ingredients add up to calories. If you order a chicken salad with breaded chicken and use a package a creamy dressing over your bacon bits and shredded cheese, suddenly, your salad is basically the same amount of calories and fat as a hamburger!
With some healthy suggestions, you can make this healthy option a success. Make sure you asked for grilled chicken as opposed to crispy as your protein, and either enjoy without salad dressing or just use half a packet of dressing.
14. Agave Nectar
Agave nectar has earned itself a place in the health food world as a great alternative to regular sugar. Unfortunately, it does not deserve this place among other sweeteners such as maple syrup, simply because of what it actually is made up of.
Regular sugar contains about 50% fructose which is the stuff we are really trying to avoid. It messes with your metabolism and is a threat to your overall health. Believe it or not, agave nectar is actually between 70-90% fructose, making it even worse for you than regular sugar.
15. Processed Organic Food
The word “organic” is plastered on the front of a huge amount of food in the grocery store now. Marketers are making the word “organic” synonymous with the word “healthy”. For a lot of people, it’s paying off! There’s a huge group of people buying into this marketing technique and are being sadly misguided.
Just because a food says organic, does not mean it is healthy in the least. Sure, the products may not have pesticides on them, but at the end of the day, it’s the same ingredients that you would find in a regular bag of chips or bag of candy. The same goes for the nutritional facts – fat, calories, and other additives are still very present in these organic foods.
