10 Foods You Think Are Healthy But Actually Do More Harm Than Good

Healthy foods full of promises are on the rise and are more popular than ever, but some so-called healthy foods bring more harm than good.

How many of these do you consume every day as part of your healthy diet?

10. Fruit juice

That carton of fruit juice we all love is not really made of fruit — just delicious chemicals that give the perfect fruit colour and taste. Basically, we’re drinking some fruit-flavoured water full of sugar.

Even if you make juice yourself using 100% fresh ingredients, it is still not that healthy because you have taken out all the good stuff (fibre). The only thing left is the sugar. Unless you want to gain weight, just go for fruit.

9. Granola bars

It doesn’t matter if your favourite granola bar snack has nuts and fruit or is high in fibre. Almost all of them have a high level of sugar and a surprisingly low level of nutrients. If you are looking for a truly healthy snack, choose apples or almonds (raw ones!).

8. Baked beans

Beans are great as they are high in fibre. Plus they are an amazing plant-based source of protein. Not so much for baked beans. Your favourite can is just a mix of beans, sugar, sodium, and other additives. Avoid the unnecessary calories, and boil your beans at home.

7. Pretzels

Pretzels, the all-time healthy snack praised by millions throughout the world as a solid low-fat crunch, turns out to lack nutritional value. They also have high levels of sodium and almost no protein. If the craving is that bad, then you can occasionally pair pretzels with food that is high in protein and fibre (low-fat cheese or an apple).

6. Veggie chips

Don’t be surprised to find out that the actual veggie in a veggie chip is so small, thin, and highly processed (no matter if it’s baked or fried) that the nutritional value from it just disappears. Go for raw veggies!

5. Processed “fat-free“ and ”low-fat” foods

Saturated fat was announced as the enemy, and food manufacturers rushed to remove it from their products. The problem is that food doesn’t taste good when the fat is removed, so manufacturers found a simple solution: adding more sugar. Saturated fat is relatively harmless, but sugar is not.

4. Rice crackers

Fluffy, airy rice crackers are the number one choice for the millions who are trying to lose a bit of weight. These not-so-innocent crackers lack fibre and protein and are considered a carb-dense snack (a high ratio of carbs compared to their weight). Basically, you add calories without feeling full.

3. Sports drinks

A sports drink is nothing more than flavoured water with sugar and electrolytes (salt), which is useful for training athletes. Ordinary people don’t really need extra salt, and only a few need liquid sugar. If you are not planning an epic long training session, then go for good old water.

2. Nuts

Don’t go nuts over nuts might sound funny, but it’s true. Nuts are healthy when eaten in moderation, and approximately 6 nuts will give you all the benefits and should make you stop feeling hungry. More nuts = more calories. Forget about all flavoured nuts (salty, sugary, roasted). They have to be raw. Not raw? No benefits.

1.      Processed organic or gluten-free foods

“Organic“ and ”gluten-free” foods are enjoying their heyday, luring millions into their fan base every day. What is not mentioned is that these organic and gluten-free products can be high in sugar and contain refined grains and unhealthy oils that turn them into low-nutrient foods. The real organic and gluten-free foods are fresh fruit and vegetables.

Sourced from BrightSide.