It turns out, there are quite a few unhealthy foods we were led to believe are nutritious!
Not all junk food is created equal. And sometimes, it doesn’t take the form of a fast food burger or some greasy potato chips.
On certain occasions, junk food is wrapped up in buzzworthy marketing packaging and injected with enough fruits and veggies to make us believe we’re eating something nourishing. But we’ve had our doubts.
So we went and spoke with doctors and nutritionists who revealed the unhealthiest foods out there that you were made to think were good and should either drop from your diet altogether.
From granola bars to those super-trendy acai bowls, take note of these 9 unhealthy foods in disguise.
Certain plant-based meat products
Eating less meat and following a plant-centric diet can benefit your overall health and help the environment. But, some plant and vegan-based meat replacement items are chock-full of ultra-processed ingredients, sugar, salt, and many others.
So, rather than relying on store-bought vegan meat products, try using whole-food ingredients to make your own at home. For instance, you can make plant-based burgers from mushrooms, black beans, rice, and cashews instead of relying on this unhealthy food.
Gluten-free snacks
For those with gluten-related issues, avoiding gluten is vital. But, even if you see that a food product is labeled “gluten-free,” it’s not necessarily healthier than gluten-containing foods.
Some processed gluten-free sweets and other snacks contain just as much, if not more, added sugar and calories as other snacks.
Also, studies have shown that this unhealthy food item tends to be lower in fiber, protein, and specific minerals and vitamins than their gluten-containing doppelgangers. And let’s not forget that they’re also generally more costly.
Protein drinks and bars
Many folks believe that the higher the protein content of a food item or beverage, the healthier it is. And we’ll agree that some naturally high-protein foods, like eggs, fish, and beans, are undoubtedly beneficial choices.
Yet things like protein bars and shakes aren’t as healthy as you’d think. Many healthy people who eat balanced diets don’t need extra protein through supplements. However, active people and those who follow vegan and vegetarian diets can benefit from more protein.
But you can get this by eating more protein-rich foods if you need extra protein. As such, eating supplemental protein products like drinks and bars isn’t necessary for many people to stay healthy.
And remember that many of these unhealthy foods are packed with added sugar and other unnecessary ingredients, like thickeners, artificial sweeteners, oils, and artificial colors.
Granola
For decades, people have boasted of granola as a “healthy” food. But even though some things made of granola are fairly nutritious, many are very high in calories and loaded with added sugar.
For instance, a 2/3-cup serving of Nature Valley Oats and Dark Chocolate Protein Granola has 7 grams of added sugar and is 290 calories. To compare, Quaker Chewy Yogurt Granola Bars have 10 grams of added sugar per bar.
According to the FDA, the recommended Daily Value of sugar is 50 grams for a person who consumes 2,000 calories daily.
For optimal health, it’s best to limit your added sugar intake as much as you can because consuming too much added sugar can increase the risk of many health disorders in adults and kids. These can include:
-Heart disease
-Obesity
-Fatty liver
Pro Tip: Rather than buying this unhealthy food at the supermarket, try making some healthy bars at home. You can use nutritious ingredients like nuts and oats and add sweetness using dried fruit.
Frozen yogurt
That “Fro-Yo” you love so much may be delicious, but it’s not always a healthier choice than just regular ice cream. Frozen yogurt is typically considered lower in fat than ice cream but can be very high in extra sugar.
And let’s not forget that most self-serve fro-yo locations only provide large cups, which people tend to fill. These shops also offer a huge variety of sugary, high-calorie toppings, which can add significant amounts of sugar and drive up the calorie count of your favorite dessert.
And even though it’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy ice cream or frozen yogurt periodically, one of those isn’t necessarily a healthier choice like you believed.
But you CAN choose whichever you prefer, and consider sticking to smaller portions of this unhealthy food to keep your added sugar and calorie intake in check.
Breakfast cereal
Many people assume this unhealthy food item is a clever way to begin their day right. But we’re sorry to say that’s not always the case. Many breakfast cereals lack filling nutrients like protein and fiber, are made with refined grains, and can be very high in added sugar.
Even brands marketed toward adults can be packed with lots of extra sugar. Honey Nut Cheerios, for instance, is marketed as “heart healthy.” But even that contains 12 grams of added sugar per cup.
Eating considerable amounts of cereal like this, particularly as part of a diet already high in added sugar, doesn’t help your heart at all. Diets high in added sugar pretty much have the opposite effect.
Research has linked high sugar diets to an advanced risk of heart disease and heart disease risk factors, including triglyceride levels and high blood pressure.
Some vegetable oils
We already know that our bodies need both omega-3 and omega-6 fats to function correctly. But sadly, modern-day diets have a ratio of roughly 20:1, which far exceeds the body’s needs for omega-6 fats.
Studies have shown that this imbalance in the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is linked with systemic inflammation, and research suggests it might contribute to a higher risk of disease.
Most folks who eat a Western diet consume too much omega-6-rich fat and not enough omega-3s. So, limiting your intake of unhealthy foods high in omega-6 fats is probably a good idea. These include:
-Sunflower oil
-Soybean oil
-Corn oil
-Products made with these oils, including processed and prepackaged foods.
Another solution is to boost your intake of omega-3s. Suitable sources of omega-3s include:
-Walnuts
-Flaxseed oil
-Fatty fish, such as salmon
Some plant-based milk
Plant-based milk has become very popular in recent years as more and more people transition to a more plant-based diet.
Yet even though nut milk can be an excellent alternative to dairy products, especially for those who are intolerant to dairy, some nut milk might not be as healthy as you believe. Unless it’s explicitly noted on the bottle, most plant milks contain added sugar to enhance their taste.
For instance, original Almond Breeze almond milk contains 7 grams of added sugar for each 1-cup serving, with cane sugar detailed as the second ingredient.
For this reason, choosing unsweetened nut milk is a better idea if you want to cut down on your added sugar intake and avoid unhealthy foods.
Diet soda
Although diet soda doesn’t have any sugar and typically zero calories, research shows that individuals who drink any kind of diet soda on a regular basis are more likely to develop specific health issues than those who don’t drink it at all.
For instance, this unhealthy food is also linked to a higher risk of getting a metabolic syndrome, which has a cluster of symptoms that include increased blood sugar, belly fat, blood pressure, and blood fat levels.
Studies indicate that diet carbonated drinks can contribute to these health problems by modifying brain responses to food, increasing the urge for highly palatable foods like calorie-dense sweets.
Did you know about these unhealthy foods? Let us know in the comments section below. But don’t leave yet! If you liked this article, you might want to also check out: 9 Potentially Harmful Vitamins That Can Threaten Your Health
