As a nation, we’re becoming more and more obsessed with our health and appearances than ever before. This is generally considered a good thing, as eating
healthy foods on a daily basis will obviously provide countless advantages for your body. The problem however, is that there are many so-called
healthy foods out there, that actually are not, and we’re falling for clever marketing tactics hook, line, and sinker. We believe promises of rapid weight loss and healthy bodies, with no real evidence to back up these claims at all. With many of these so-called
healthy foods actually doing us more harm than good, here are several unhealthy foods which many people believe to be healthy.
Readymade smoothies – If you wish to be healthy, starting your day off with a handful of fresh fruits, vegetables, oats, and other healthy ingredients, is a great way to go about things. If however, you drink readymade smoothies purchases directly from the grocery store, they may not be as healthy as you think. Readymade smoothies are often full of natural fructose sugars from the fruits, to give them a nice taste and to make them more appealing. A little fructose from fruit is fine, but many of these drinks contain upwards of 700 calories per serving. This is far too much. When it comes to smoothies, always make your own, and be careful of too much fruit.
Sugar-free foods and drinks – If you walk down the grocery aisles while shopping, you will see countless bottles, jars, packets, and boxes, advertising “sugar-free” products. The manufacturers market them as being diet-friendly because they contain no sugar, but in fact, they contain something far worse. To get the natural sweetness, these products contain chemical sweeteners such as aspartame, which have been heavily linked to depression, dementia, and cancer. Look for natural sources of sweetness such as honey, stevia, or agave syrup.
Instant flavoured oats – In terms of convenience, flavoured instant oats are ideal. You simply tear open the packet, empty into a bowl, add milk or water, and heat in the microwave. However, many instant flavoured oats contain excessive amounts of salt and sugar, which will do your health and waistline no good at all. Instead, opt for natural oatmeal and add your own sweetness to it.
Sushi – A lot of the time when people are dieting and trying to eat healthily, they can be seen munching on ready-made sushi pieces purchased in the convenience store. The problem is that most readymade sushi is made with filler ingredients such as cream cheese, mayo-based sauces, and fake fish. The white rice is also a simple carb and contains a lot of sugar, plus extra sugar is added to sushi rice before it is rolled and shaped. Some sushi, I.E sushi made properly, with quality ingredients, is not all that bad, but if your sushi was purchased in a gas station or convenience store, it isn’t going to be very good for you at all.
