The not-so-healthy ‘health’ foods

Discover the diet traps lurking in some everyday foods which Louise Pyne‘s lowdown of the not-so-healthy ‘health’ foods.

Even when you try your best to follow a healthy diet, sometimes it feels like the odds are against you. You eat low-fat foods, swap regular sugar for sweeteners and spend your days counting calories. Just what are you doing wrong? Everything! We hate to break it to you but your favorite ‘healthy’ foods might fall a bit short on the nutrition scale. Here’s a rundown of the biggest diet saboteurs and some smart alternatives to help you reach your wellbeing goals.

1 Fruit juice

Kickstarting your day with a glass of OJ is the ultimate diet mistake as fruit juice is high in fructose – even if it’s free from added sugar. ‘Eating whole fruit is much better for you because of the fibre content which helps to support our digestive system – especially by making sure we have a healthy bowel movement every day,’ says Shona Wilkinson, Head Nutritionist at NutriCentre.

2 Tofu burgers

Tofu burgers are often lauded as a healthy alternative to beef burgers and used to fulfill protein requirements by vegetarians and vegans, but most shop-bought tofu burgers are actually processed food disguised in healthy packaging. ‘Soya contains small amounts of plant oestrogens which may lead to a hormone imbalance,’ adds Shona.

3 Cereal bars

A cereal bars sounds like a good-for-you substitute to your favourite chocolate bar but many cereals contain refined sugars which can lead to weight gain. ‘Sugar syrups such as glucose and high-fructose corn syrup. These types of sugar syrups travel through our bodies very quickly and are potentially damaging on a cellular level, which isn’t good for the immune system and skin, for example. Fruit added to cereal bars is often pre-coated in sweet syrups so that just loads on more sugar,’ reveals Shona. Try to stick to a sugar-free seed-based bar such as 9bar Original (90p, nutricentre.com)

4 Low-fat yogurt

Low fat foods generally have added sugars to make up for the reduced fat content. And don’t be fooled into thinking low-fat foods contain less calories then their regular fat counterparts as they sometimes contain even more. ‘When the fat is removed from a yogurt what also goes with it is the creamy taste. To make up for this, extra sugar is often added. Some low-fat yoghurts can end up having as much sugar as a can of fizzy cola,’ shares Shona.

5 Peanut butter

Nut butters made from cashew nut or almond are a healthy idea but peanut butter is not such a beneficial addition to a balanced diet. In fact peanuts are not actually a nut, they are a member of the legume family and come with some not-so-nice side effects. ‘They can disrupt the thyroid gland which makes hormones that control the metabolism. Peanuts also contain aflotoxins which are known to negatively impact the liver,’ says Mary-Lou Harris, senior nutritionist at New You Boot Camp.

6 Sushi

Swapping a sandwich for a bento box might not do your waistline any favours. ‘Typically, sushi rice has around one tablespoon of sugar to every cup of rice. White rice is also high-GL, so the weight will pile on if this is your standard choice for lunch,’ explains Mary Lou.

7 Rice milk

Dairy-free milks like those made from coconut, almond, oat and hemp can be a useful alternative for people who cannot tolerate regular milk, but steer clear of rice milk. ‘Rice milk unfortunately is made from white rice which is quite sugary and releases its sugar more quickly than brown rice. Instead look for a brown rice brand as brown rice contains many more nutritional benefits,’ explains Shona.