Diet Wreckers: Foods You Think Are Healthy but Are Not

Lisa Franchi January 14, 2014

Are you eating well? Some foods we think are healthy may actually be diet wreckers. They include the following:

Fresh Smoothies

Many restaurants and coffee shops offer ‘healthy options’ for diet-conscious customers. These include fresh smoothies. The problem is, most smoothie drinks available in stores today are overloaded with sugar – one of the biggest diet wreckers! Not only that. Instead of using fresh fruits, many stores are using ‘fruit concentrates’ and commercial powder mixes that rarely contain real fruit extracts. If you’re up for a glass of refreshing smoothie, better make your own. This way, you are sure that you are using real, fresh produce and you can choose not to add sugar or find a healthier sweet substitute like honey perhaps.

Energy Bars

They may sound like a healthy option if you’re in a hurry to eat breakfast, but energy bars may also contain lots and lots of sugar, and some calorie-dense ingredients like chocolate chips. What’s more, you are less likely to get full just by eating these bars. It’s like three bites and they are gone. Always check the labels. Opt for energy bars that contain high protein and less sugar.

Enhanced Water

Coloured water is so popular nowadays. These are bottled water that contains added vitamins and are being marketed as a healthy stuff. But some brands contain sugar, converting zero-calorie water to a 125-calorie drink. Furthermore, some brands contain two or three servings per bottle – so you end up consuming more calories.

Multigrain Foods

Products labelled as ‘multigrain’ might really sound so healthy and diet-friendly. But before you toss one into your shopping cart, flip it over and check out the label. Often, even though the product contains more than one type of grain, it could be made largely from refined grains. That is, white flour that has been stripped of fibre and nutrients. Opt for whole grains and choose the brand which has more fibre.

Sugar-free Drinks and Stuff

Many people are hooked by the ‘sugar-free’ stuff, thinking it can save them plenty of calories even if they overindulge. The dark truth is that most ‘diet’ drinks and foods contain artificial sweeteners that are far more harmful than regular table sugar. Such artificial sweeteners are also linked to serious health problems including diabetes and cancer. Opt for water or fresh fruit juice instead of fizzy drinks. And most importantly, watch your calorie intake. Remember, if your total calorie intake exceeds what you burn off, you still gain weight.

Low-Fat Granola

Try comparing a low-fat granola brand with the full-fat version and you will realise that the former has only about 10 calories less than the latter. Another thing – both of them are full of sugar. And here’s a diet-wrecking truth: according to a study by Cornell University, people eat 49% more granola when they thought it was low-fat so that means they end up consuming more calories.

Milk

Milk products labelled as ‘reduced fats’ or ‘low-fat’ sounds healthier than whole milk. But in reality, they contain more than half the saturated fats contained in whole milk. Consider skim milk which has 80 calories, 0 grams fat, 8 grams protein, 300 mg calcium, and 100 IU Vitamin D. Another reminder – cut back on ordering milk latte in coffee shops. One regular-sized cup could contain as much as 500 calories!

Yoghurt

Yoghurt has always been in the list of nutritional superstars. Why not? It’s super rich in calcium and protein and contains billions of probiotics that promote good health. The problem is that a lot of yoghurt varieties found in stores today are very high in sugar, especially the fruit-flavoured ones. This counters the beneficial effects of the superfood. Opt for plain Greek yoghurt instead. To sweeten it up, add fresh slices of ripe mango, avocado, or some cherries and strawberries. Yum!

Omega-3 Fortified Food Products

Some brands of yoghurt, milk and dairy products boast of having added omega-3. But here’s the bitter truth – aside from being expensive, not all brands contain the types of omega-3 that are good for the heart, such as EPA and DHA. If you’re looking to boost your omega-3 intake, eat foods that naturally contain this nutrient, such as salmon.

It really pays to compare and read labels. It’s one great way of knowing whether you are buying a healthy, diet-friendly food. Don’t get hooked with these health wreckers. It’s time to be wise and smart, and most of all – healthy!