5 Foods That Aren't as Healthy as You Think

Susan Johnson

Published 5 years ago

With all different kinds of food trends crowding the world, it’s has become hard to determine which foods are actually healthy and which ones are not. However, just because something looks healthy doesn’t mean it actually is. The bittersweet truth is that the health food that comes in blocks, and packets are nothing more than a marketing gimmick and contains as many calories, preservatives, fat, and food additives that could completely damage your health. In order to help you make smarter and healthier choices, here we bring to you 5 healthy foods that are actually bad for your health.

1. Wheat Bread

If you swapped white bread for the healthy wheat bread, you haven’t made much of a healthy decision. Wheat is literally just another carbohydrate, and unless it is 100% whole wheat, the bread would contain enriched flour. Enriched flour simply means a loaf of bread with zero nutritional value which could spike your sugar levels.

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In order to really make a healthy decision, go for fiber-rich or multigrain bread that is 100% whole wheat. Additionally, if you would like to cut another 200 calories, ditch the bread, and use romaine lettuce to wrap your sandwiches instead.

2. Fat-Free Flavoured Yogurt

Often times, the word ‘fat-free' is all that we require to believe that the food is healthy. Moreover, fat isn't what makes you fat; it is sugar that makes you fat. Though fat-free flavored yogurt is packed with probiotics, it contains loads of sugar - in some cases, 15 grams or more.

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What if the yogurt is flavored with fruits? They aren't healthy even so. If you crave yogurt, grab some Greek yogurt, top it with fresh fruits and blueberries if you have any. We bet that it tastes heavenly!

3. Sushi Rolls

Are you a sushi lover? Well, most of us are, because it’s health food, right?
Sushi mainly contains rice and a few veggies. But, the westernized versions, with salmon, rice and seaweed make for 120 calories per serving. Obviously, not a single sushi is going to satisfy our hunger, and we end up eating a lot.

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A Philadelphia roll comes around 500 calories per serving which is equal to McDonalds’s Big Mac! If you want to go for healthier options, try Sashimi. Rolls wrapped in cucumber are also a great option.

4. Granola Bars

Do you rock a pantry stuffed with granola bars? After all, it’s a healthy option, right?
Granola bars aren’t healthy always. They are tiny bricks packed with sodium, 28 grams saturated fat, and 24 grams of sugar which all accounts to a massive 597 calories. Moreover, many granola brands even use tons of sugar, dried fruits, chocolate chips, and processed oils in crafting a healthy granola bar.

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To put it short, if you are having a granola bar, you could as well swap it for Snickers. Your best bet would be to enjoy a slice of mango with a piece of dark chocolate. A bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh fruits and honey also works well as an alternative.

5. Soy Milk

Soy milk or plant milk as vegans’ call it, is often thought to be a healthy dairy-free option. After all, it is a great source of potassium and protein. Nonetheless, researches conducted on processed soy products prove otherwise. Processed soy products like soy milk contain alarming levels of goitrogens which causes thyroid problems.

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Furthermore, if you enjoy flavored soy milk, the added flavors such as vanilla or chocolate contribute to an additional 50 calories per cup and 10 grams of sugar. Thus, if you still want to stay away from dairy products, go for unsweetened nut milk such as almond milk or hemp milk.