There is always a debate on what is healthy and what isn't. Many of the food options people view as healthy are not as healthy as it looks. Many food products may say "low fat" or "no sugar added," but in reality, they are loaded with different forms of sugar or fat. Here are some Foods that people should double check.
Juice and smoothies
Juices and smoothies are generally considered healthy because of the term "fruit." People typically find drink packages labeled with "100% pure" or "no sugar." However, juices or smoothies are not as healthy as one might think.
When the juice is squeezed from the fruit, it turns to into a sugar concentrated drink. All the healthy stuff are left in the fruit, mainly fiber. The same thing happens when fruits are blended into smoothies. Most smoothies in juice bars or restaurants are blended with lots of fruit and added more sugar and flavor syrup.
According to Authority Nutrition, fiber helps the liver metabolize fructose (the natural sugar found in fruits) in a controlled amount. When the liver receives too much fructose, some of it is stored as fat. Instead of juice or smoothies, eat the fruit whole. Drinking a juice that contains 4-6 pieces of fruits won't make you feel full, but two whole fruits will.
Energy Bars
Many people today are always on-the-go and would grab an energy bar for a meal or a snack.
The geniuses of the marketing today, label energy bars "healthy," but it's not always the case. According to NY Daily News, bars were made as space food for astronauts and was turned into energy bars for fitness fanatics around the 1980s.
Most energy bars are packed with corn syrup, added sugar and saturated fat that can be compared with candies.
When a person intakes a lot of sugar, it stimulates the body to crave more sugar. Lakatos Shames, a nutritionist, says that energy bars are high in calories but they don't fill you up. Nutritionists recommend an apple or a banana for a quick snack instead of energy bars.
Salads
Salads are always thought of as healthy being correlated with vegetables.
Like the other foods on this list, it's not always healthy. People tend to ignore the healthy serving size of the salad itself and the dressing. Some salads get additional bacon bits, croutons, crispy chickens or different kinds of cheese defeating the healthiness of a salad.
According to an article by The Daily Meal in Huffington Post, a healthy serving of two tablespoons are the way to go. At the same time, people should be cautious of buying pre-made salad dressings. They are high in fat, calories, sodium, flavorings, preservatives, and additives. Instead, opt for a simple healthy vinaigrette can be made with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice.
