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Are you having a healthy diet? How do you know it’s healthy? It’s one thing that you’re eating home cooked food, but if you are considering packaged-food to be healthy just because the labels and marketing campaign say it is, you need to think again.
Healthy foods like multigrain breads, yoghurt, energy bars, and plant-based milks sound good, don’t they? Unfortunately, a food can still be unhealthy even if it sounds healthy, especially when combined with trendy buzzwords like “all-natural,” “gluten-free,” and “live active cultures.”
It’s not that they are lying, but it’s only the half-truth they are telling. Those lines concentrate on a single aspect of a much bigger food issue. Even while the terminology could be accurate, that doesn’t mean the food is inherently healthful. A cookie can have low cholesterol, be organic, and be free of gluten while yet having a high calorie, fat, and sugar content. With that in mind, let’s explore some popular foods that are less healthy than you may think.
Multigrain bread
Think that multigrain or seven-grain bread is a healthy alternative to that of the wheat-flour dough variety? Think again. The truth is that unbleached enriched wheat flour is still the primary ingredient in the majority of these breads. Although whole grains may also be present in these loaves, they are less of a focal point and more of an afterthought.
A safer option would be to stay away from loaves where the phrase “enriched” appears first on the ingredient list. The phrase implies that during processing, the nutrients in the grains were removed, and then those nutrients were reintroduced back to make up for the loss. Select breads where the first component is listed as whole grains, such as whole wheat.
Yoghurt
Even though it is one of the few foods that is naturally strong in probiotics, yoghurt’s reputation as a superfood for gut health and weight loss food isn’t exactly well-earned. That said, yoghurt is not the miracle food you might think it is.
Flavoured yoghurts have a lot of sugar and artificial colours and flavours that may cause health issues. It might be equally as awful as ice cream! Its toppings can turn it into junk in an instant. It has a lot of sugar on top, and unhealthy toppings like gummy bears and crushed Oreo cookies are frequently added. Snacks like peanuts, raisins, and pretzels dipped in yoghurt are also sugar traps.
Furthermore, flavoured yoghurt—especially those marketed toward children—usually contain a lot of added sugar.A better option would be to get plain, low-fat yoghurt or dahi and add whole fruits like bananas and fresh berries to flavour it.
Energy bars
When it comes to sugar, calories, and fat content, most energy bars are thought to be weight loss-friendly, when, in fact, they’re often just as bad, if not worse, than their counterparts. These are just like regular candy bars—especially the chocolate-covered ones. With ingredients like brown rice syrup and extra fibre, they might sound nutritious, but in actuality, they’re just conveniently packed calories.
A safer option would be to select bars with identifiable, basic ingredients. For instance, bars that are held together by a small amount of honey and a combination of nuts and seeds. Additionally, you can opt for something else entirely if you’re trying to reduce your calorie intake. Since calories and energy are equal, all energy bars are high in calories.
Crisp munchies
If you’re snacking on kale chips, sweet potato chips, veggie straws, or pretzels, you are probably consuming a lot of calories without gaining much nutrients. Research has shown that the majority of these prepackaged snacks contain refined grains, such as soy, maize, or enriched wheat flour. Even though these snacks may contain some vegetables, they are typically in the form of powder and are far from a full meal.
A better option would be carrots, celery, cucumbers, and bell peppers, which are all excellent raw vegetable sticks or rounds if you’re in the mood for something crunchy. For a well-balanced snack, add some hummus or even peanut butter for dipping.
Popcorn
Here are some things to keep in mind about popcorn: Not everything is made equally. The popcorn you get at the movies and the popcorn you air pop at home are very different. The amount of nutrients in your popcorn decreases when you start adding a lot of butter or oil to the mixture.
A better option is air-popped popcorns : They are whole grain, making them a terrific snack. Air-popped popcorn with a light seasoning and lots of fibre can help reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems.
Plant-based milks
Many individuals select plant-based milks—such as rice, almond, and soy—due to their perceived higher nutritious content. They believe that plant-based milks are superior to cow’s milk. While many brands of plant-based milks claim to be a great choice for the weight-conscious people, these milks lack the same nutritional composition as cow’s milk. Furthermore, a lot of plant-based milks—particularly the flavoured ones—are highly sugary and fattening.
A better option will be cow’s milk over fortified plant-based alternatives unless you have a severe sensitivity to the flavour.
Low-fat peanut butter
The number of calories in these highly processed spreads is identical to that of regular peanut butter; the fat has been swapped out for sugar and fillers. Additionally, a lot of producers are putting high-calorie flavourings like chocolate or strawberry into these reduced-fat butters.
Choosing the actual thing over any nut butter imposters is a better bet. In moderation, the fat in nut butters is beneficial to the heart.
Sports beverages
You might require a sports drink to replenish lost electrolytes if you work out for longer than two hours a day or if you are a marathon runner. Nonetheless, sports drinks are potential saboteurs to your well-being. They add more sugar to an already high-calorie diet. Most sports drinks consist artificial sweeteners, even if they are labelled with “no added sugar”. These artificial sweeteners are more harmful.
It’s wiser to hydrate with water rather than caffeinated drinks. You’ll not only avoid a needless financial hit, but you’ll also be able to slake your thirst in a healthy way.
Closing thoughts
Many foods that appear nutritious may not be the best for you or your weight loss objectives. By pointing them out, we’re here to assist you in avoiding these pitfalls. The most crucial thing to remember when searching for healthy meals is that you won’t get the complete picture from a label that only lists one or two healthy terms or ingredients. It’s also critical to consider your entire diet, not just certain meals.
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