5 “Healthy Food” Myths Blocking Your Weight Loss Goals

Let’s say it’s Sunday afternoon. You’re walking through the grocery store looking for some healthy meals and snacks you can prepare for the week.

You’ve decided to get serious about making a lifestyle change, and work hard for the body of your dreams!

You walk down the aisles, shopping list in hand, ready to make those good choices.

You keep in mind all the “healthy food” advertisements you’ve seen popping up on the internet lately and promptly fill up your cart.

The grip on your 6 shopping bags is as strong as ever as you make the super human one-trip-trek from the car to the kitchen.

Then you realize, you didn’t actually look at the the nutrition labels before you bought the food.

You start reading through each of your items and you’re practically speechless at the amount of sugar and fat that’s actually in these supposed “healthy” foods!

You’re not alone in this situation, advertising has a funny way of making not-so-healthy foods appear to have all the right nutrients your body needs.

Warning: These foods may be a shock! But if you’re truly serious about getting in shape, you should definitely continue reading!

Granola

healthy bowl of granola with mixed nuts and dried fruits

The crunchy, sweet grains that add that extra something to your morning yogurt might actually be adding a little extra something to your body, if you catch our drift.

Granola is perceived to be a healthy, protein packed snack. In reality, in order for it to have that sweet taste we love, a lot of sugar, oil, and butter is thrown into the mix.

If you read the nutrition labels on granola, some of them reveal a staggering number of calories.

For example, in 1/2 cup of Nature Valley Oats N’ Honey Granola, you’re eating 210 calories and 12 grams of sugar! The nutritionist recommended amount of sugar intake a day should only be 25 grams – so you’ve already eaten half of your sugar intake for the day in just that 1/2 cup!

For all you granola lovers out there, you can still enjoy these crunchy clusters. Try researching some brands that offer organic grains, and use coconut oil or olive oil in their ingredients as a healthier option.

Flavored Yogurt

We’ve got another big liar in the house!

Flavored, pre-packaged yogurts are crowned with the title of an easy, on-the-go breakfast or snack. Often paired with our old friend granola.

Don’t be fooled! Just because the label says “contains real fruit”, doesn’t mean it’s your healthiest option.

Many of the yogurts that contain fruit is pureed, or has been sitting in some kind of syrup. This means most of its nutrients have been stripped and have little nutritional value. Say hello to sugar overdose!

So what should you do? Start buying plain, Greek yogurt. You’ll get much more protein, calcium, and vitamin D than you would in flavored yogurts. Plus, you can add your own whole fruits to the mix without the guilt!

Smoothies/Juices

healthy strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry smoothies in glasses with colored straws

If you’re one of those people who enjoys making a smoothie or juice every morning before work or after a workout, you may want to reconsider.

We get it, your intentions are completely pure.You’ve been led to believe that smoothies and juices are just fruits and vegetables, and therefore good for you, right?

While they’re not totally bad for you, they’re not totally great either. When you blend up your fruits, you’re stripping away the fiber and important antioxidants within it. This causes your blood sugar and insulin levels to spike.

Additionally, fruit has its own natural sugar that, when eaten in moderation, is good for you. But if you’re making a juice or smoothie a few times a day, that’s a lot of sugar you’re consuming!

When you drink your calories, you get a short term fullness that doesn’t last too long. This may cause you to eat more than what you need. If you eat an apple, you feel significantly more satisfied than just drinking a glass of apple juice.

Health professionals argue that fruits and vegetables in their natural state are the best way to get the nutrients you need to keep your body functioning at its best!

Now, this isn’t to say you should never gulp down a smoothie or green juice again. Drinking your fruits and veggies is by far a better option than picking up a soda or store bought juice.

Just keep in mind that in addition to those juices, make sure you’re still getting in your fiber and protein to make up for any lost nutrients in the juice.

Whole Wheat Bread

“No! It can’t be! It’s whole wheat! How could it be bad for me?!”

Did we correctly read your mind?

We know how amazing bread is – you can stick practically anything you want between two slices and suddenly it becomes a delicious, filling meal.

The problem is when you’re taking in the wrong kind of bread. Despite what you may think, carbs aren’t always the enemy. In fact, we need them to give us energy and promote a healthy digestive system.

The “whole wheat” bread you find in the store isn’t telling you the whole truth. Unless you see “100% whole wheat” on the label, chances are you’re getting white bread with a tan.

What some manufacturers do is mix in some wheat flour into the mix, and then label it as whole wheat bread.

Sneaky!

Another mark of a truly healthy bread is if you see that each slice contains at least 2 grams of fiber.

Reduced Fat Peanut Butter

It’s peanut butter facts time!

Peanuts on their own are full of healthy monounsaturated fats, which help lower cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease.

When you opt for peanut butter brands that say “reduced fat”, you’re not really getting a fair trade off of nutrients.

They actually have the same number of calories, but with added sugar to make up for the lack of fat.

Our advice? Stick with a natural peanut butter that has all that wonderful fat in it. Remember, not all fats are bad fats!

 

It’s easy to believe what you see in advertisements – after all, they’re supposed to be truthful in their claims right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If you’re ever at a loss for what you should put into your body, just remember that foods in their most natural form are usually the healthiest options!

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Real People With Real Results

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