one green planet
one green planet

Corylrodriquez on TikTok shares some foods that are marketed as healthy in grocery stores but aren’t that good for you. Let’s take a look at what they are!

First on his list are bottled and processed green juices and smoothies. These products are almost always filled with sugar and hidden calories. Not only do you “lose total control over quality and quantity of the ingredients used” but these store-bought drinks may have “artificial sweeteners, fruit juice, large amounts of fat or sweetened dairy products, contributing to higher amounts of sugar, fat and calories”, according to TIME Magazine.

Second, on his list, he recommends avoiding most wheat bread. They are a lot more similar to white bread than they are marketed as. “In many white and wheat breads, the bran and germ are filtered out”, as opposed to whole grain, which “contains the entire kernel of wheat, as well as other whole grains like oats, brown rice or barley”, says Carrie Madormo, RN.

The next fake healthy food is granola bars. While some have healthy and minimal ingredients, most of the ones you find in the supermarket have little nutritional value and consist of mostly processed grains and sugar.

Another product you should try and avoid is plant-based butter. Many of these products have a bunch of added oils to compensate for the fact that there is no actual butter. However, dairy butter is also “high in calories and fat — including saturated fat, which is linked to heart disease.” Healthier options include avocado and coconut oil.

Low-fat products, which may seem healthy, should be avoided too. They’re often “loaded with added sugar and other unhealthy ingredients, which can lead to excessive hunger, weight gain, and disease.”

Lastly, dried fruit is another fake healthy food. Since the water has been removed from dried fruit, it is calorie-dense and high in sugar. Many dried-fruit products are also candied as well.

All of these foods mentioned are oftentimes marketed as being healthy and nutritious when in reality, there are much healthier options available! Always make sure to check the nutrition labels on the back of food products regardless of how healthy the packaging seems.

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