We’ve got some bad news you may not want to hear… The healthy foods that you love aren’t actually healthy. However, if you make the foods at home it can be healthier since you know the exact ingredients. Read more about these 17 foods that seem healthy but aren’t…
1. Anything “Sugar-Free”
Artificial sweeteners are just as bad for you as regular sugar. Some artificial sweeteners contain aspartame which is linked to inducing cancer. Go for zero sugar snacks instead of sugar-free snacks.
2. Gluten-Free Products (if you’re not celiac)
Gluten-free products often contain more sugar, calories, flours, & starches than products with gluten. You don’t have to go gluten-free.
3. Flavored Yogurt
Plain yogurt is a much better option than fruit-flavored yogurt. Flavored yogurt has way more sugar (and probably no real fruit).
4. Trail Mix
The trail mix with Reese’s Pieces and M&Ms aren’t doing you any favors. Grab the all-natural trail mix with unsalted nuts, a little fruit, and a bit of dark chocolate.
5. Diet Soda
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a soda a day can increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer by 40%. Diet soda is not better either because the artificial sweeteners trick your body into thinking it’s eating real food and store it as fat.
6. Dried Fruit
Dried fruits are perfect for an energizing afternoon snack, but they regularly contain unnecessary preservatives and way too much sugar.
SEE ALSO: 52 Unhealthiest Foods On The Planet
7. Meal Replacement Bars
Beware of meal replacement bars. They’re loaded with sugar and more than few are about as nutritious as a normal candy bar. Remember to look at the nutritional information before you get the 12-pack.
8. Microwave Popcorn
Stoved-pop or air-popped popcorn is much better than microwaved popcorn. The bag is lined with perfluorooctanoic acid, and the popcorn comes with a variety of bad ingredients.
9. Salad Dressings
Many salad dressings found in the aisles of grocery stores are full of flavorings, salt, fat, preservatives, and calories. All you need is oil & vinegar, lemon juice, or balsamic vinegar.
10. Smoothies
The smoothies made at stores, like Jamba Juice and Smoothie King, rarely contain real fruit and are packed with extra sugar. However, smoothies that are homemade are much healthier. As a general rule, stay away from fruit juice when making your smoothie.
11. Fruit Juice
Fruit juice is one of the worst drinks for you. Whenever you’re craving something tangy and fruity you should go for a piece of fruit instead of its’ fruit juice. They don’t stand up to their health claims and even contain added sugar.
12. Veggie Chips
Baking, frying, and cooking vegetables remove nutrients, so it doesn’t matter whether your store-bought chips are made with vegetables or not. Try making your own.
13. Sushi
Some sushi isn’t bad for you, but specialty rolls have much more calories and fat because they’re stuffed with cream cheese, fake crab, and fried fish. Avoid the unhealthy fats and carbs when choosing your rolls.
SEE ALSO: 7 Reasons Why You Should Go Sugar-Free
14. Prepared Salads
Salads found in restaurants and fast-food chains are rarely healthy. They contain the same, if not more, calories as a burger. Plus, they carry tons of sugar.
15. Most “Fat-Free” or “Low-Fat” Foods
Foods modified to be low-fat or fat-free may have higher sodium content, up to 10% more calories, and 40% more sugar. Fat usually means flavor, so when fat is removed, businesses need to add additional flavors and sugars to their product.
16. Frozen Yogurt
Frozen yogurt isn’t a bad option if you choose the natural flavor, but usually, the cup of frozen yogurt gets loaded up with candy, cookie dough, sprinkles, and more.
17. Granola
A serving size of granola is 1/4, and it’s easy to eat far more than a serving if you don’t measure it out. There’s no need to double or triple up on the amount of sugar and calories for breakfast. Choose healthy nuts with little sugar in your granola.
