5 Health Foods That Are Bad For You!

From low sugar to low carb alternatives our supermarkets are full of seemingly healthy products that are supposed to be better for us. However, many of them are actually contributing to the rise of type 2 diabetes, obesity and many other illnesses thanks to their hidden sugar content. Read up on the 5 Health Foods That Are Bad For You so that you can be the wiser next time you’re out shopping!

1. Flavoured water

Water is vital to our health and we have to drink ample enough of it to help our  bodies function properly and our skin to glow. But don’t be fooled by bottles of flavoured water that you can buy because many of them have large amounts of free sugars that contribute to ill health.

Unfortunately, one of the offenders is This Juicy Water’s range with one bottle containing as much as 37g of sugar. (Our recommended daily allowance of added sugar is 20-25g!) If you really can’t stand the taste of natural water then make your own flavour variations by putting sliced fruit in water.

2. Cereal bars

They usually claim to have whole grains in them or maybe even fruit but it’s generally best to stay clear of shop bought cereal bars because many of them have more sugar than a chocolate bar!

Check the label next time you shop and only buy those that have less than 22g of sugar per 100g. If you’re in the baking mood there are thousands of awesome healthy snack bar recipes online that taste much better than their store bought counterparts. Some of them even taste sweeter, but by making them with fruit the sweetness isn’t harmful to your body.

3. Fruit yogurt

That lovely fruity taste of yogurt  tends to come from large amounts of sugar or sweetener. Again making sure there is less than 22g of sugar per 100g is a good starting point for making a healthier choice.

For an even healthier option go for Greek or natural yogurt because these tend to have minimal amounts of sugar in them. Total Greek Yogurt is my personal favourite because it’s high in protein which also helps keep you feeling full and you can add all sorts of toppings to it like fruit, a drizzle of honey and flaxseed.

4. Granola

Granola is one of those items that naturally sounds healthy because it contain nuts and fruit but sadly many varieties contain heaps of added sugar which contribute to weight gain and that sluggish feeling you get after a sugar rush. Don’t worry though, there are some good varieties out there too so check the labels for mentions of naturally occurring sugars (which means that the sugar comes from the fruit) and phrases like ‘no added sugar’.

5. Low calorie desserts

Most supermarkets these days have their own brand of low calorie dessert options for people watching their weight. They look promising but in fact lowering the calorie content means the desserts are usually filled with artificial sweeteners in order to make them taste nice. Sweeteners are almost as bad as sugar in that they contribute to health problems and spike your insulin levels which can even make you gain weight!

Don’t let ‘healthy’ branding fool you. Unfortunately there is sugar in almost everything we eat but you can make positive changes to your diet by checking labels and going for healthy substitutes. Apps like FoodSwitch can help you by scanning bar codes and showing you healthier options. Remember your daily recommended allowance of sugar is 20-25g which is the equivalent to about 5-6 teaspoons! Cut down on free sugars and you’ll notice a difference in your overall health, wellness and fitness.

Safia Yallaoui

Safia is a lifestyle blogger and coach at the fitness membership company MoveGB. She also has an MA in journalism and has done a variety of freelance work in print, radio and online. After losing 14lbs a few years ago Safia got into health and fitness realising the most important thing about clean eating is nourishing your body. She loves to keep in shape with weight training and going to fitness classes. Whilst training to be a Nutritional Therapist she is learning how to alleviate health problems by including or omitting certain foods and has a keen interest in the affects of sugar on a person's physical and mental health.

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

Keep Fit Kingdom
Logo