5 Common Consumed Foods That Sounds Healthy But aren't
so they can maintain their health no matter where they are. Eating healthy doesn't just require healthy food instead of the right food. According to nutritionists and health experts, even natural fruit juice isn't as healthy as you might think. Sure, it can be beneficial in moderation, but it's best to blend it with some veggies to increase your fibre intake and prevent blood sugar spikes.
Let's face it, most of us aren't even making our juice anyway. Instead, we are grabbing pre-made smoothies and juices at the supermarket, which are often loaded with additives and sugars.
But it's not just juices that are deceiving us. Plenty of other packaged foods and drinks are marketed as "healthy" when in reality, they are anything.
Medical scientist and public health nutritionist Dr Fedrica Amati calls this the "health halo" effect. Manufacturers hit labels on their products like "low fat", "low calorie, and "high in fibre" to make them seem like healthy options, even if they are ultra-processed and lacking in nutrients.
Image source Unsplash on Google
It's not your fault for falling for these labels. This is are trap anybody can get trapped. Food marketing is designed to sell to us, so it's in their best interest to make their products seem as healthy as possible. But we can be smarter if we are fully conscious of health--consumers by looking past the labels and examining the ingredients list. If you see a bunch of unpronounceable chemicals, chances are it's an ultra-processed food. And just because something is low in calories or fat doesn't mean it's good for you. Cardboard is low in all those things too, but you wouldn't want to eat it.
Image source Deepstash on Google
Image source Deepstash on Google
I am going introduce you to five common foods and drinks that sound healthy but are often hiding a dark secret that most people don't know about:
Supermarket juice & smoothies
A classic example of a source of vitamin. Supermarket juices and smoothies may claim to be "made with real fruit" one of your five a day, These juices and smoothies are loaded with sugar and other preservatives and food extract. These sweet beverages contribute directly to preservatives' increased risk of tooth decay in children and the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults.
Protein bars
“These are often labelled as ‘high in protein, ‘paleo’, ‘keto’ and ‘low in sugar’, and they often contain dozens of ingredients, many of which are artificial sweeteners and emulsifiers that we know are not helpful for our gut microbes and health. Let alone the fact that virtually nobody in the UK needs to be supplementing with protein.”
Breakfast cereals
“Again, breakfast cereals are a source of vitamin D’, ‘made with whole grains’, ‘plant-based’ and ‘contain iron’, but are mostly UPF: high in sugar or sweetener, low in nutritional value and not a great way to start the day.”
Supermarket pastries and bread
“These are almost always UPF, have been frozen for weeks and cooked ‘fresh on site’ that morning. They can contain up to 30 ingredients, including different types of preservatives, emulsifiers, extracted sugars and starches and artificial colours. Fresh bread and pastry only requires flour, water, yeast or sourdough, and an additional pinch of salt or butter for pastry.”
Children’s snacks
“The worst culprit. It’s almost impossible for parents to know that they’re UPF because they’re marketed so well. One of the highest rates of UPF consumption is in children under the age of two. They are often weaned on pouches and pre-packed finger foods – this should be an occasional treat, not a majority part of their diet. Examples of marketing terms include ‘encourages the ‘real fruit pieces’ and ‘finger food’.”
So, next time if you're looking for something healthy but delicious, you will food that contains a halo effect--take a closer look at what you are putting in your cart and make informed decisions about what you eat. Don't self-feeding your body by the word healthy, eat naturally and health satisfy naturally, your body will thank you later.
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