You read that right. Not everything that we read, hear about or label as ‘healthy food’ can give us the nutrition we need.
Some can even pose potential threat to our systems. Our bodies are genetically designed to adapt to the environment and respond to it as well. However, consumers must take necessary precautions in order to protect our sanctuaries. This may include avoiding these dietary consumption mistakes.
FISH
Be more conscious with your seafood intake
We see advertisements left and right regarding the health benefits from eating fish. It is a well-known source for animal-based proteins. However, one must be alert when eating fish especially with the rise of pollution. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) keeps a recorded list of certain fish farms for reported cases of environmental pollution in farming practices. If one is not careful enough, they may ingest harmful chemicals from the toxic surroundings where the fish is harvested from. This defeats the purpose of eating healthier food options.
YOGURT
Check your yogurt’s label
We love a good hearty serving of yogurt. And it gets better knowing that it can be a good source of high-quality protein. It’s also marketed as containing calcium, B vitamins, and even cancer-fighting nutrients. However, most yogurt are mainly sold as dessert. This might mean that it contains more artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and excessive amounts of sugar which is the opposite of a healthy food. If avoiding this food can’t be helped, it pays to check the label and the ingredients of the product before consumption.
MULTIGRAIN BREAD
Fancy sounding food gets our attention easily. Consumers usually think eating multigrain bread products are better than eating regular bread. The truth is that these products usually incorporate refined grain which cuts down the fiber. This can spike your blood sugar after eating it which leads to more cravings. If the ingredients contain “refined flour” then it may not be whole grain at all. Don’t skip reading the labels.
FAT-REDUCED PEANUT BUTTER
It’s about time to accept that fat from nuts are healthy. Consumption of nuts in considerable serving sizes is actually good for you. Take the time to compare fat-reduced peanut butter and the regular ones: they have the same calorie content. What’s going on is that they have increased sugar in fat-reduced peanut butter to make up for the lack of flavor. So go on and stick to 1-2 tablespoons of regular peanut butter.
VEGGIE PATTIES
Make sure there are real veggies in your patties
For those trying to get rid of meat in their diet, veggie patties may be a good start. However, grocery store versions may have more fillers in them than actual vegetables. Food companies use these fillers to keep the texture of the meat patties without imposing the guilt of eating actual meat onto their customers. Read the label of the product. Make sure that ‘vegetables’ are printed on top of the list of ingredients, as they should be the main constituent of the particular food. This is to guarantee good greens for you.
RICE MILK
It’s basically fluid from rice that’s full of carbohydrates and low on protein and calcium (unless fortified). Health-conscious people shouldn’t waste money on something giving ‘benefits’. If you’re good with dairy, it’s better to settle with organic low-fat cow’s milk. This contains calcium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and magnesium. Other healthier options include soy and almond milk.
VEGGIE CHIPS
Consumers who want to have healthier diets fall into the trap of this snack. However, they’re nothing really more than their potato chips counterparts. Manufacturers use corn flour or potato as base then add veggie powder or puree. The process is similar to making potato chips: they bake or fry them at high temperatures. This can lead to them producing harmful chemicals that can damage the body. Carrot sticks, celery sticks, radishes, and asparagus are better alternatives to this pretentious healthy snack.
SPINACH WRAP AND PASTA
Have actual spinach in your spinach pasta
Greens are attractive and make us think it’s a healthy food. Are they? Spinach wrap and pasta contain very little greens in them, actually. Consumers should incorporate actual spinach leaves in their dishes than settle for the product alone which may contain more unhealthy carbohydrates. Adding actual spinach leaves gives more amount of healthy nutrients such as vitamin B, fiber, iron, and calcium.
We see many foods claiming to be healthy. However, paying more attention to nutritional facts and getting to know its contents better, lets us decide what goes into our body and gives us the most benefit. No matter how healthy they claim to be, we have to make a proactive choice to provide our bodies with what’s best and avoid potential harm.
