Over the past decade, the people of Bethesda and the rest of the world have placed more importance on eating healthily. Much of the world has become yoga-obsessed, vegan and salad-loving. Streets are often filled with yoga pants and Nike sneakers, coupled with Naked smoothies and Sweetgreen salads.But troubled times are upon us, Bethesda health addicts, for here are some foods that have led a double-agent life and have been uncovered as unhealthy.
1. Granola Bars
However scrumptious, most granola bars are contradictory to their health claims. One serving size of standard dark chocolate granola bars is filled with 27 grams of carbohydrates and 8 grams of sugar. There are, in fact, no artificial ingredients in certain brands (like Nature Valley) but if you’re looking for a healthy breakfast, 8 grams of sugar might not cut it.
2. Light Yogurts
When companies produce yogurts with low fat contents, it tends to produce a bland taste. To add taste, these “low-fat” yogurts have a high sugar content to make up for the lack of fat, according to Best Health Magazine. Many artificial sweeteners are also added to yogurt to enhance taste.
3. Sports Drinks
These drinks should only be had during or after exercise, since they’re high in sugar (only necessary to replace when one is sweating and burning calories). However, the high sugar content in these drinks has been linked to increased risk of heart disease. Additionally, Minq.com reported that sports drinks often have citric acid, which has been found to erode dentin and consequently stain teeth.
4. Microwave Popcorn
Popcorn has long been considered a “healthy” snack. Yet The Food Babe website recently released an article that takes up many stakes against microwave popcorn which, as it turns out, is often filled with “diacetyl”. This gives off harmful vapors while the popcorn is heated. Depending on the type of popcorn, this snack can also have high amounts of sugar and fat. Lastly, the bag that the popcorn comes in is lined with perflurooctanoic acid, which is toxic and can lead to increased risk of cancer and infertility.
5.Nut Butter
According to AuthorityNutrition, when nuts get processed, some of the natural fats are lost. In order to compensate, many companies add sugar and salt to make up for the lack of taste. Almond butter is a healthier alternative because it is low in sugar and also high in monounsaturated fat (which is good for the heart).
So beware of those aisles in the grocery stores that scream “organic”, “NO GMOS!” and “No added preservatives.” In this case, you can fully judge a book by its cover and take a look at the nutritional facts to see if this proclaimed “healthy” food is really all it advertises to be.
