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10 Foods That Are Not As Healthy As You Think

By Tara Hari

The whole world has become obsessed with being healthy. You must have given up a number of your favourite snacks and food as they came under the limelight for being unhealthy. But before you move onto picking the supposedly healthy choice of foods, you need to make an informed decision.

This is because a lot of food that is perceived as being healthy is in fact much unhealthier than the food traditionally categorized as unhealthy. Sometimes it is better to eat the supposedly unhealthy food in moderation, rather than hog on food which you think is healthy. In this article, we will look at 10 foods that are not as healthy as you think.

Wheat or Multi-Grain Bread

Wheat or Multi-Grain Bread

Although wheat or multi-grain bread is a better option than white bread, it does not mean it is healthy in itself. Although they may sound healthy, they might not actually contain heart healthy wholegrains. Although the label might say wheat or multi-grain, they are actually made of refined grain, so you are missing out on the real nutritional value.

Ketchup

Ketchup

Although ketchup supposedly contains the antioxidant lycopene which is known to greatly reduce the risk of mutations in your body and risk of developing diseases such as cancer, the lycopene levels is much lesser than those in real tomatoes as ketchup is processed and non-organic. Moreover, ketchup contains a large amount of sugar and empty carbs, as well as a huge amount of salt.

Breakfast Cereals

Breakfast Cereals

Although cereals are considered healthy and labeled nutritious, if you read the labels of the boxes closely, you will realise that they contain high levels of sugar and salt. Also, their supposedly healthy vitamin and mineral content is actually chemical based.

Fruit Juice

Fruit Juice

Although the label to the fruit juice says 100 percent, fruit juices are not sugar-free. They usually contain added sugars, in most cases fructose. Bad cholesterol, obesity and lack of appetite control will be the result of excess fructose consumption by the body.

Frozen Meals

Frozen Meals

Although eating frozen fruits or vegetables is completely healthy, the same cannot be said for frozen meals, even if they are labeled healthy or light. They should be avoided as they are highly processed, contain high levels of sugar and sodium.

Diet Soda

Diet Soda

Just because you add the word diet in front of food names, it does not make them healthy. Diet sodas contain high levels of artificial sweeteners that affect your body much worse than sugar.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches

Sandwiches can be healthy if eaten right, but they usually contain fattening dressings, very few vegetables or proteins and white bread which contain refined grains. The solution is to make your own sandwiches.

Prepared Salads

Prepared Salads

Just because something has the word salad in the name, it must be healthy. Prepared tuna salad, Caesar salad, shrimp salad or chicken salad is packed with hidden calories due to the high mayonnaise content. If you really want to eat healthy, prepare your own salads and never eat salads in a restaurant.

Energy Bars

Energy Bars

Although energy bars are considered the perfect workout snack, they can be quite unhealthy. Many of these energy bars contain corn syrup with high fructose levels, added sugar and processed fats that can clod your arteries. And most of these bars contain high calories levels as well.

Vegetable Chips

Vegetable Chips

Although vegetable chips may seem like the obvious choice when compared with regular old potato chips, it has been proven that both have the same levels of calories, nutrients and fats. The main ingredients in these chips are potatoes, as well.

Story first published: Friday, September 6, 2013, 16:51 [IST]
Read more about: food nutrition health