iVillage.com has identified the unhealthy foods many would think are healthy. We excluded some processed products which, in the first place are already considered junk food.
* Fad of healthy smoothies. Because of known health benefits of fruits and tea, smoothie shopshad been popularly associated with it. The truth is, these shops concocting so called healthy fruit and tea smoothies are devoid of protein and fiber but rather contains hundreds of grams of sugar. Downing those smoothies every day will make you overweight.
The best is to make your own smoothies where you can control what goes into it –all natural and no artificial fruit flavors.
* Multi-Grain bread. Not all multigrain and wheat breads are created equal – some may not even contain “whole” grains, and maybe high in sugar and low in fiber. Look for “whole grain” on thepackage to ensure that’s what you are getting. If the first ingredient is a whole grain (whole wheat, whole oat, whole rye), you can be sure that contents is real and in large percentage since the list of ingredients is organized by concentration.
* Instant oatmeal. Because many are used to instants – coffee, food and everything, instant oatmeal were also thought to contain healthy nutrients. Instant oatmeal is already processed, and when a food is processed, it easily broken down and quickly digested by the body. As a result, it has a higher glycemic index, which leaves you with unstable blood sugar levels. A lot ofinstant oatmeal is also flavored, meaning it probably contains artificial flavorings and a lot of sugar.
Buy oatmeal that requires cooking. Anyway, it only takes five minutes to cook it. Sprinkle in some fruits to add flavor.
* Nuts. Traci Mitchell, sports nutritionist in Chicago said nuts (tree nuts or peanuts) in their raw form are completely healthy, but once heated in the roasting process, they lose most of theirhealth benefits. It’s because the nuts is largely polyunsaturated which means it oxidized quickly when exposed to air and heat. Oxidized fats are a breeding ground for free radicals, and free radicals damage the body much in the same way rust damages a car.
* Flavored or vitamin water. Another unfriendly sports or daily drinks in the market. Don’t be easily swayed that these flavored versions are good for you. Many contain artificial flavorings, sweeteners and sugar. If you really want to get more boost from your water, add ½ teaspoon of squished fresh lemon juice to perk you up. Besides, lemon juice in water is also a good way of alkalinizing your body.
Source: Journal News
Photos : artisanbreadco.com
