The recent fitness craze that has swept the world can be witnessed quite accurately across every superstore.
Healthy foods are inscribed with – “organic,” “no sugar added,” “low-fat,” “best of all,” “all-natural,” etc. buzzwords are mostly just marketing-oriented buzzwords. These words attract most of us, especially when we tend to be diet- or health-conscious.
Why are some healthy foods bad for you?
Many food items we pick or eat as part of our everyday diet aren’t as healthy as we think. We are often introduced to healthy bad food in the shade of best of all or best food to eat. Therefore, it is important to identify bad, healthy foods to prevent health issues often caused by food items.
Take a look through this list of unhealthy foods that are mistaken for healthy foods. These are some of the most common foods people think they eat healthy, but the reality is very disappointing.
Also Read: The foods you can rely on when you are sick
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- Wraps
Wraps seem healthy because they are thin and full of healthy foods, but each wrap is generally big enough for two people. Depending on size, a wrap alone can deliver 300 calories to your body. Moreover, wraps will likely be prepared with refined grains instead of healthy dietary fiber.
Don’t be misled by colorful choices, including veggies. Have a look at the ingredients list, and you will possibly find the veggies listed on all counts at the bottom, which means they are negligible.
Solution – If you can’t control your craving for wraps, make it your own instead of ordering. This way, you will ensure you add the best veggies you like to eat. Also, try to use or add less sour cream or sauces to make it a much healthier wrap.
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- Veggie burgers
They look like a superfood because of the title “veggie” assigned to them. They can be considered healthy food when they are made with vegetables. The trouble is that many frozen and prepared burgers are filled with more fillers, such as corn starch and yeast, than real veggies.
Your best shot is to glance at the ingredients list and ensure the foremost item is a vegetable. Each veggie patty should have 7 grams of protein and not more than 150 calories. Any veggie patty offering more than 10 grams of protein is possibly made with more soy protein and wheat gluten than veggies.
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- Couscous
Couscous is likely to enjoy a healthy status because it’s admired among vegetarians. But be watchful. The main ingredient contained in this “supposedly” healthy food is semolina flour, just like plain white pasta.
So, it’s time to revise your list of healthy and unhealthy foods. Merely one-third of a cup of couscous will render you 230 calories. You may opt for similar healthy foods like whole-wheat couscous or quinoa.
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- Gluten-free bread
You can’t call something healthy because it comes with a ” gluten-free ” tag. Gluten-free products are prepared for those who are intolerant of whole grains like wheat, and they are usually crammed with refined grains, sugar, and sodium to improve their taste.
As gluten-free bread lacks whole grains, vital nutrients like naturally-occurring fiber and B vitamins are missing from it.
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- Taco salad
Taco salad generally seems healthy, but it can still impair your diet. These salads are usually served in a tortilla shell that has been deep fried, and most varieties are loaded with sour cream, ground beef, and guacamole, all high on calories and high on fat items. Just because it contains some healthy veggies and the word salad in its name doesn’t make it healthy.
Also, pay attention to salad dressings. Salads drenched in dressing overpower the benefits of its healthful ingredients. Most dressings are almost 100% fat, so always order it on the side and stick it to a tablespoon or less.
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- Premade smoothies
You may consider a premade or store-bought smoothie brimming with health benefits, but it may contain more calories than a cheeseburger. Smoothies can contain as much as 650 to 1000 calories owing to the extreme portions of fruits, vegetables, and, most often, added sugars, syrups, and saccharine.
You feel more comfortable getting larger smoothies because they are rich with essential plant-based nutrients for the body, but as with anything, you can’t overdo it. It is best to prepare homemade smoothies to enjoy the fresh flavor; be mindful of adding ingredients, fruits, syrup, sweeteners, etc, you like.
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- Fat-free sweets
Fat-free chocolates, cakes, and cookies are deceiving. You may mistake “fat-free” to be “calorie-free”. Further, sugar replaces fat in these products, so you still get a high number of calories.
Also Read: Friendly Foods for Weight Loss
Conclusion
Don’t get misled by healthy bad food alternatives. The bad healthy food should be identified and removed from your regular diet. Find healthier alternatives, and ensure your kitchen has healthy ingredients to cook/prepare yourself as and when you crave healthy eating.
