You’ve decided that the time has come. You are going to improve your health.
You will start to work out every single day.
You pledge to eat nothing but healthy foods. You set an alarm to make sure that you go to sleep on time so you can get a full eight hours every single night.
Good for you – all those plans sound great!
The first step is to prepare. Buy a cute workout outfit and new sneakers. Download an app for your phone to monitor your sleep and your activity. Go food shopping and buy healthy snacks.
But wait … are you sure that you know what foods are healthy and which are just pretending to be?
Food companies are well aware that the public wants to feel good about what they eat. They market their products in ads showing active people with slim bodies, but that doesn’t mean their food is healthy.
When you go food shopping, make sure that you know what foods you should be eating more of and which you should shy away from.
Top 8 Foods That Seem Healthy (But Aren't)
1. Energy bars – What could be bad about a food that promises to give you more energy? A lot! Some energy and protein bars have as much sugar as candy bars.
Make sure that in addition to reading the description, you also check out sugar, fat, and other ingredients.
2. Diet soda – If you think you are doing yourself good by switching from soda to diet soda, you’re not alone. And you’re also wrong. The artificial sweeteners in diet soda make you think you’re eating sugar and can spike your insulin levels.
Stick to water, or if you need something sweet, try coconut water.
3. Bran muffins – They sound healthy and keep you regular, right? Bran isn't that good for you because it can cause gut inflammation and I recommend avoiding it. There are better ways to get your fiber. Most of these muffins are loaded with sodium and sugar anyways.
The bran muffins sold by a popular chain have twice as much sugar as their Chocolate Frosted Cake Donuts!
Tweet4. Dried Fruit – Sure, they’re fruit, but they are preserved using sulfur dioxide and sweetened with sugar. A little is okay for the nutrients, especially if you're making your own but if you eat it a lot you might as well be eating candy.
5. Wraps – Just because they are on a bread that is thin doesn’t mean that they are good. Most commercial wraps are filled with ingredients that are working against you. Think dressing or mayonnaise, bacon, lots of cheese, and sodium.
I recommend Ezekiel wraps as a go-to but you still want to read the ingredients labels on those too.
6. Agave nectar – Lots of people think this is a great sweetener because it is natural. But it has more fructose than high fructose corn syrup.
Stick with unfiltered organic raw honey.
7. Flavored yogurt – We’ve all seen the studies about how dairy products help with weight loss. But flavored yogurts can have as much as 15 grams of sugar.
Just eat Greek yogurt and stir in some fresh berries for sweetness.
8. Granola – What could be healthier than granola, right? Wrong! A lot of granola mixes are loaded with sugar and oil. Make sure you read the ingredients and choose one that is sugar-free and is made of whole grains and oats.
Your best bet is to make your own for a breakfast or snack that is healthy and under your control.
Yours in health and happiness,
Danette
P.S. Please share this eye-opening list with your loved ones and I welcome your comments below. Which of these foods is most surprising to you?
