5 Unhealthy Health Foods

I always find it amazing that even though grocery stores are getting more and more packed with "health" foods, we are becoming increasingly unhealthy each year. With obesity becoming an epidemic in adults and children and more people dying from preventable illness it is amazing we aren't doing anything about it.

The hard part is the education. You hear conflicting information and it is hard to know what to follow. The food industry is making matters worse. By coming up with terms low fat, diet, low sugar.... it sounds like everything we eat now is healthy. Obviously if this was the case I wouldn't be able to find much work. Luckily for me though most people do eat so called healthy food, and it is making them feel worse.

I found a great article in the latest PFP magazine that talked about the 5 unhealthiest health foods that people eat. Below are those 5:

1. Agave Syrup:

Check the labels. Despite health claims agave syrups can be very high in fructose content then commercial sweeteners. Some also may even be watered down with corn syrup. High fructose levels has been linked with insulin resistance and elevated triglycerides. Don't worry you can still have your fruit. Fructose levels won't be nearly high enough to cause problems.

2. Gluten:

While whole grains are an essential to your nutrition plan, some people have a problem with gluten. Gluten is a protein found in grains including wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten may impair proper digestion and trigger other food intolerances. There are some grains that do not contain gluten including rice, millet, quinoa, corn, and buckwheat.

3. Soy:

Many of the soy products found in the US have been genetically altered and processed with chemicals. Soy may also be harmful for proper hormone function. Soy may be responsible for lowering testosterone levels and lower thyroid function. These are two major problems, especially if you are concerned about losing weight.

4. Fruit Smoothies:

Watch out for so called healthy fruit smoothies. Many of these will contain sweetened yogurt, juice, and corn syrup. With all of that sugar it might as well be called a milkshake. Most of the smoothies found on the Jamba Juice menu contain over 50 grams of sugar per serving. If you are going to use a shake for a meal replacement or snack make sure it contains healthy ingredients. Read my previous post How To Make A Smoothie to learn more.

5. Flavored Water:

All these drinks are is sugar added to water. If you are drinking your sugar or eating it your body will crave more sugar. Vitamin water may sounds healthy but unfortunately it is not. In fact Vitamin water is being sued over claims that it is a health food product. Their defense is that a reasonable person would not consider Vitamin Water to be a health food product. Sounds funny but it is true. Vitamin Water have 33 grams of sugar per serving. Stick to water. If you need extra vitamins take a multivitamin.

You Stay Healthy San Diego,

Mike Deibler MS, CSCS
San Diego Personal Trainer
My Workout Creator