This new healthy fad running through Ireland has got me thinking. What foods do we think are healthy that actually aren't? I am no scientist or nutritionist, so, I've done a bit of research and consulted some experts for these facts. Through much research and note taking I have narrowed it down to 17 foods that I was quite shocked to discover were not as healthy as I thought. Here is Unhealthy Foods You Think Are Healthy.
Smoothies
According to an article based on scientific facts on the Daily Mail: "They said smoothies can contain as much sugar as a large Coke. Juicing removes fibre and some of the nutrients that would be found in a fruit or vegetable. The natural fruit sugars in smoothies can also add hundreds of extra calories to your daily intake."
Dried Fruit
According to The Wellness Warrior: "Dried fruit contain sugar, dextrose, glucose syrup, fruit juice, coloring derived from fruit, glycerin (422), sorbic acid (200), sulphur dioxide (220), paraffin, edible fats, and oils. Dried fruit is also very hard to digest."
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Cous Cous
According to Best Health: "It may look like a whole grain, but couscous is actually a tiny pasta that is a staple of some North African nations, especially served with meat stews. Elsewhere, its unwarranted healthy reputation probably stems from its popularity among vegetarian and foodies owing to its versatility and unique texture."
Diet Drinks
According to Health Magazine: "The Artificial sweeteners added to diet drinks trigger insulin, which sends your body into fat storage mode and leads to weight gain."
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Energy Bars
According to Cookinglight.com: "Many energy bars are filled with high fructose corn syrup, added sugar, and artery-clogging saturated fat. Plus, some bars contain more than 350 calories each―a bit more than "snack size" for most people."
Frozen Yogurt
Huffpost Healthy Living revealed that: "We came across additives like guar gum, maltodextrin, sodium citrate, cellulose gum, disodium phosphate and propylene glycol monoesters to name just a few don't-sound-like-food ingredients. Some contained carrageenan, a thickening agent derived from red seaweed that has been associated with adverse health effects, albeit hardly conclusive at this point".
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Granola
According to Live Healthy: "Granola has received a reputation that leads people to believe that it's always a healthy part of any diet. That's not always true, however. A 1-cup serving of a typical homemade granola contains almost 600 calories and almost 30 grams of fat, of which 5 grams are saturated."
Multi-Grain and Wheat Bread
According to Cooking Light: "Many breads labeled "multi-grain" and "wheat" are typically made with refined grains, so you're not getting the full nutritional benefit of the whole grain. Read nutrition labels carefully. If the first flour in the ingredient list is refined you are not getting a 100% whole-grain bread."
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Rice Cakes
According to Shape.com: "Rice cakes can have a glycemic index rating as high as 91 (pure glucose has a rating of 100), making it the kind of carbohydrate that will send your blood sugar on a roller coaster ride. This is bad for weight loss and for your health."
Vitamin Water
According to Popsugar: "Vitamin Water is fortified sugar water. One bottle of Vitamin Water contain 125 calories and 13 grams of sugar. That's more calories and sugar than a 12 ounce serving of Coke."
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Veggie Crisps
According to the Food Network: "As for calories and fat, they’re pretty much in the same ball park as regular potato chips. Calories range from about 125 to 160, while fat is about 10 to 11 grams per ounce."
Yoghurt Covered Raisins
According to Spark People: "The "yogurt" on the outside is far from the yogurt you know from the dairy aisle. Mostly sugar, oil and some dry milk and yogurt powder, that "yogurt" coating is often a source of hydrogenated oil (trans fats), which you'd never find in real yogurt. A single serving (1/4 cup) also contains about 130 calories."
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Prepared Salads
Cooking Light, again, have pointed out the harsh reality behind prepared salads: "Prepared tuna salads, chicken salads, and shrimp salads are often loaded with hidden fats and calories due to their high mayonnaise content. An over-stuffed tuna sandwich can contain as many as 700 calories and 40 grams of fat."
Reduced Fat Peanut Butter
Men's Health have showcased how bad reduced fat peanut butter can be. "What the food companies don’t tell you is that they’ve replaced that healthy fat with maltodextrin, a carbohydrate used as a filler in many processed foods. This means you’re trading the healthy fat from peanuts for empty carbs, double the sugar, and a savings of a meager 10 calories."
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Sports Drink
Nutrition Wonderland highlighted how sports drinks are never the better option. "Study after study has found that, in general, the additives in sports drinks have no effect on water absorption in our bodies. Nothing gets more water into your system than – shockingly – water. Sports drinks, with their sweet-tart tastes, do the opposite of what you’d expect – they don’t quench thirst."
Trail Mix
Forbes showed why trail mix is not the healthy snack people think it is. "Packed with salted nuts, sugar covered raisins and even M&M’s, even a small handful can contain 300+ calories. In your everyday life you don’t need that ton of sugar and salt."
