Trying to be healthy can be overwhelming, if not outright maddening.
How does this happen, when whole fruit is healthy on its own?
This leads to insulin spikes, which can eventually lead to pop in 2 diabetes.
signal to your brain.
This leads to overeating, which can contribute to weight gain.
So, how can you drink juice and stay healthy?
According toWebMD, it’s important to emphasize vegetables in your juice blends.
This helps limit the calories and sugar in the juice.
“Intuitively, people choose non-caloric artificial sweeteners over sugar to lose or maintain weight,” notes theYJBM.
“Soy products are very high in phytic acid, which can interfere with mineral absorption…. However,according toWebMD, “not all bars are created equal.”
So use them in moderation.”
And, asWebMDalso notes, “some are nothing more than glorified candy bars.”
As it turns out, the nutrition mantra of the ’90s was totally wrong.
So why are reduced and non-fat products on the outs?
That can add calories."
Offit notes that this means supplements can make claims about health benefits that they may not have.
So what’s the best course of action?
The American Heart Associationrecommendations are straightforward: eat healthy foods.
While supplements can help, “the key to vitamin and mineral success is eating a balanced diet.”
However, clean eating becomes a problem comes when it morphs into an obsession.
Arsenic justsoundsbad, but to recap,it can cause cancer or deathwhen exposure is too high.
“Having the name ‘yogurt’ in the mix is supposed to make it all okay.
It does not.”
And it’s not just the fake yogurt that makes this snack a bad choice.
Pretzels themselves are no angels either.
While pretzels are pretty low in calories, they have usually beenstripped of any nutrients.
They can also be high in sodium.
Can’t get enough of this sneakily unhealthy treat?
Try whipping up a batch yourself to add real yogurt and ditch the sugary imposter.
That’s what Cleveland Clinic dietician Jennifer Willoughby does.
The healthiest option will always be wild-caught, and there are some farms out there making great improvements.
With a little research, you may find a sustainable, healthier option.
Until then, how do you feel about sardines?
Canned soups
Soup isn’t just for cold days.
It’s a staple for many diets and often used to lose weight or maintain a healthy diet.
So how can it be bad?
If you’re at a restaurant, ask your server what they use.
Bran muffins
Imagine this.
It’s about 10 a.m. at work, and you are fading fast.
Unfortunately, you could have just enjoyed the cookie since the muffin wasn’t much better.
Registered dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick advocates for always checking nutritional labels, even when you think the food is healthy.
Never assume that any packaged food is healthy.
Your best bet is to make your own or check nutrition labels first.
Soy veggie burgers
At first, this one doesn’t make sense.
Doesn’t soy veggie justsoundhealthy?
Basically, there’s nothing about hexane that can be considered redeeming.
Red meat skeeviness aside, at least ground cow doesn’t contain any literally explosive ingredients.
Well, it turns out I’m not quite as healthy as I’d like to think.
Sushi
Sushi used to be a hard sell for people.
No, thank you.
Fast-forward to a nice California roll or a spicy tuna roll, and all is forgiven.
Sushi can be satisfying, fresh, and very healthy … seemingly.
Another issue with the rice is that it’s almost never organic.
Like many grains, it carries unwanted chemicals, including our old buddyarsenic.
Making your own smoothies can help you fit in those necessary daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
However, not all smoothies are created equal.
Registered dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick agrees.
As with any bang out of food, it’s easy to overdo it when it comes to smoothies.
Rice milk
Alternative milks usually sound healthier than traditional cow’s milk.
These alternative milks are also trendy.
The issue is that these milks aren’t necessarily healthier than cow’s milk particularly rice milk.
At least skim milk contains loads of essential nutrients like calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and magnesium.
Just a small amount can fill you up and keep you going for hours.
Registered dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick also loves adding nuts to her diet.
“They’ve been shown to help boost heart health and keep weight down,” she shared.
The nuts are not the problem when it comes to nut butters.
It’s the added sugar, artificial sweeteners, and trans fats.
“Once you go beyond that, your health food has just become unhealthy.”
Enjoy flavors like orange creamsicle and red velvet cake without the guilt!
But doesn’t it seem weird that companies can achieve those sweet flavors with no sugar or fat?
What’s going on there?
Personal trainer Jennifer Cohen isn’t buying it.
“Say it with me: fat-free foods are NOT health foods!
I always say fat doesn’t make you fat, sugar makes you fat,” she explained toForbes.
“I never buy no-sugar-added or light ice creams.
Store-bought salad dressing
you could’t get much healthier than a nice light salad for lunch.
Moderation over perfection
Living and eating well in the modern world can seem overwhelming.
But the reality is, moderation is key.
If you don’t always hit your five servings per day of fruits and veggies, that’s okay.
Healthy eating isn’t an all-or-nothing scenario.
