Don't Be Fooled By These Health Food Impostors
By Sara Butler
Healthy is a term that gets thrown around a lot – and you see many claims of health being made on food packaging at the store, too. It can be difficult to ascertain what is truly healthy and what isn’t. Living a healthy lifestyle and making healthy choices is important, but before that can be done, you have to know what those healthy choices are! Here are some of the worst health food imposters that you need to steer clear of when you’re trying to shop healthy.
Juices and Smoothies from the Store
When you think of fruit juices and smoothies, that fancy juice bar at your grocery store probably pops in your head. It just seems so healthy because, well, fruit! But you need to understand that imbibing a smoothie or fresh fruit juice isn’t equal to eating a piece of fresh fruit. In fact, it’s not even close. Many smoothies have additional ingredients that damage their nutritional profile such as whole milk, ice cream, and peanut butter – and all of those add unneeded and unwanted calories and sugar. If you really want a smoothie, your best bet is to make it at home so you know everything that’s going into it. And fruit juice should probably just be a special treat because without the skin, fruit is just a sugar bomb!
Canned Soup
Soup can be very low in calories, which is great! But it sneaks in one ingredient that definitely is not at the top of any health food list: sodium. Even canned soup with reduced sodium can contain up to 1,000 milligrams per can, which is about half of your daily recommended intake. Canned soup should be eaten in moderation or avoided altogether. If you really want soup, make a big batch at home so that you can control the sodium content and enjoy all week long!
Trail Mix
Trail mix seems like a good idea because nuts are pretty healthy for you. What isn’t healthy for you in trail mix is the candy and even some of the dried fruit. Those banana chips in most trail mixes are actually fried, which makes them no better than a potato chip! You can make your own trail mix with only the good stuff in it such as raisins, nuts, and dark chocolate. It’ll help to curb your cravings and keep you satisfied.
Staying healthy can be a challenge but if you know what to avoid, then you’re off to a good start!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sandy, Utah.