We live in a world of dieters, with new diet trends coming out all the time. With so many new diet fads, it is often difficult to differentiate between what is and isn’t good for you.
Peanut butter, whole grain, protein bars—they’re all healthy, right? These seemingly nutritious foods are actually not as good for you as you thought.
Here are six food items from Au Pair you thought were healthy, but actually aren’t:
1. Whole Wheat/Whole Grain
Most people who think of whole wheat or whole grain bread automatically assume that it is healthy. This is actually not the case. There are still refined flour ingredients, which can increase blood sugar levels. The increase blood sugar levels can lead to unnecessary weight gain, hyperinsulinism and diabetes. Next time you reach for the whole grain/wheat bread, know that even though you might be eating healthier than you would be with white bread, you are still not eating healthy.
2. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is also known as one of most girl’s favorite snacks. Peanut butter is certainly yummy! However, when you’re watching your favorite television show eating a spoon full of peanut butter, you might want to find an alternative snack. Peanut butter in its organic form contains a lot of oil and high amounts of monounsaturated fats. Not to mention, the most common type of peanut butters that most people purchase from grocery stores contain high amounts of sugar.
3. Fruit Smoothies
There are so many girls that choose to skip a meal and have a protein smoothie instead. While smoothies from frozen fruit that you make in your house can be very healthy for you, smoothies that you would buy from a restaurant or store often contain purees and mixes that have high amounts of sugar. This does not exempt stores that say they use fresh fruit, as the fruit usually sits on a base with a high amount of sugar and preservatives.
4. Deli Meat
Deli Meat, the perfect addition to a quick lunch. When you’re at the store looking for deli meats, make sure you look for the ones that come in lean varieties. Most deli meats contain high amounts of sodium, artificial preservatives and other chemicals that can affect long-term health. The high level of sodium in processed meats can cause a wide variety of cardiovascular issues, such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks. On your next trip to the grocery store, look for natural organic sources of meat. Regardless, you should eat your deli meat of choice sparingly.
5. Protein Bars
Protein bars are the perfect go-to snack after a work out or for a quick pick-me-up. However, substituting a protein bar for a meal is a definite no. Many protein bars contain high amounts of sugar, artificial sweeteners and soy byproducts. They also contain artificial dyes and other chemicals they use to add flavor and color.
6. Diet Soda
Soda is bad for you regardless of whether you are drinking regular soda or diet soda. Surprisingly, diet soda is actually worse for you than regular soda. Diet sodas contain high amounts of citric and phosphoric acid. These acids can damage tooth enamel and lead to long-term dental problems. Constant consumption of acidic drinks like diet soda are also bad for the intestinal system, causing problems such as acid reflux and indigestion. This is because the artificial flavoring and sweeteners in the diet soda are something the body is unable to process properly, and can lead to unnecessary weight gain. These high amounts of artificial sweeteners, dyes and other chemicals that have also been linked to cancer.
All of these food products are not something you should avoid completely. You just need to make an effort to try and choose the healthier option of each of them!
For more information, visit www.aupair.org/blog/8-food-items-you-thought-were-healthy.
