Healthy Foods That Turn Unhealthy

 

Even though food manufacturers are required to include nutritional information on food packaging, it is harder than ever for shoppers to make smart food choices.

A bag of crisps that include lard as a main ingredient obviously aren’t the healthiest choice, but what about a snack that contains azodicarbonamide or monosodium glutamate? Few consumers know what these test tube creations actually are, let alone what they can do to your health.

To truly protect yourself and your family from harmful food additives, stick to a diet based on whole, unprocessed fruits and vegetables. However, when you have to visit a supermarket, be especially sure to avoid the following “healthy” options that are loaded with harmful ingredients.

Diet soda

While these zero calorie, zero sugar drinks may seem like a good option for dieters, the ingredients substituted to make them low-cal have serious health risks. The artificial sweeteners used in place of real sugar usually contain aspartame, which can act as a neurotoxin. While tests are still ongoing, studies of aspartame have linked it to an increased risk of cancer and other serious health problems. Acid used in diet sodas also erodes tooth enamel and the lining of your stomach.

Instead: Drink tea or seltzer infused with fresh fruit for a sweet treat

Fruit juice

Since fruit is inherently healthy, most people assume that drinking fruit juice is just as beneficial. Studies have shown, however, that most fruit juices can have just as much sugar and calorie content as regular soda. After juice is derived from whole fruit, the pulp is processed before sugar, preservatives and artificial sweeteners are added.

Instead: When you are shopping for a fruit drink, make sure it is labeled as “100% fruit juice” with no other ingredients. Even better, invest in a juicer and make your own fruit and veggie juices from whole produce so you can control what goes into your drink.

Canned beans

One regular can of beans can contain more than half the daily recommended amount of sodium in it. To make matters worse people will usually add several shakes of salt on top of beans before they are eaten, adding even more sodium. In limited amounts, salt helps maintain your body’s balance of fluids and transmits nerve impulses. However, when you take in way more salt than your body needs, sodium can collect in your blood and cause severe heart and kidney damage. Canned beans (along with many other processed and pre-packaged foods) are loaded with unnecessary sodium.

Instead: Use dried beans, which contain just 2-10 mg of sodium per serving, or rinse canned beans thoroughly before eating to remove up to 40% of excess salt.

Granola

Though the packaging often makes granola and granola bars look like a healthy, natural snack, these products are overflowing with sugar, trans fat and preservatives. Granola bars often start out with a healthy combination of oats, nuts and dried fruit, but the sticky syrup used to hold it all together makes them a calorie-laden junk food. Most of these bars also offer only 1-2 grams of fiber in a serving, which is not enough to justify or offset the unhealthy ingredients. High levels of sugar in a diet lead to an increase in uric acid and waist-line weight gain, a risk factor for heart disease.

Instead: Make your own low-sugar granola bars at home, or shop for a brand with at least 3 grams of fiber and less than 8 grams of sugar.

by Ashley Kemper from Long Island Heart Associates