12 Foods We Think Are Healthy but Aren’t

Thanks to commercials, we have in our heads a list of certain foods associated with a healthy lifestyle and good food. But some of them are not healthy at all, and, under certain circumstances, they can even be harmful.

We at CHEERY decided to find out which foods are not as healthy as we thought.

1. Green juice

Green juice is a super trendy drink made from different green vegetables, such as celery, cabbage, spinach, wheatgrass, mint, and parsley. Sometimes, fruit is added too. This juice is full of antioxidants and nutrients and is easily digested by the body.

But, according to experts, juice alone isn’t nutritionally considered a balanced meal. It lacks protein, healthy fat, and fiber. Besides, green juices will make you feel full for a short time because they are high in water content, but low in calories. And the juices from stores may contain sugar. Also, drinking it too often may be bad for your kidneys.

2. Bran muffins

Bran muffins seem very healthy, but, in fact, they may contain from 400 to 500 calories and more than 40 g of sugar. This makes them even worse than many other sweets from the store. “Depending on the size, a bran muffin can have more calories and sugar than a doughnut,” says Joan Salge Blake, RD, LDN, author of Nutrition & You.

3. Rice milk

All types of non-cow milk are promoted as healthy. You can find rice milk in many grocery stores. But it’s not milk at all.

Bethany Thayer, RD, director of the Center for Health Promotion, says that “rice milk is simply fluid from rice that’s naturally high in carbohydrates and low in protein and calcium.” She explained that if you tolerate dairy well, it’s healthier to opt for organic skim milk than rice milk.

4. Fruit chips

Fruit chips are obviously better than many other snacks, but you should remember a few important points. First, the drying process deprives them of some healthy nutrients, such as vitamin C. Second, the dehydration of fruit leads to a higher concentration of natural sugars, making it more caloric.

And because there is no water in these snacks, which usually gives us a feeling of satiety, you have to eat more even if you are just a little hungry. It’s better to eat a fresh apple or a banana instead.

5. Coconut water

Coconut water is becoming more and more popular among people that try to be healthy. And often, some people try to replace regular water with coconut water. But the latter contains natural sugars. Besides, 1 cup of coconut water contains 50 calories, while regular water has no calories at all. In addition to natural sugars, most of the coconut water you can buy at a store is flavored and contains sweeteners.

6. Soy burgers

It might seem that soy protein burgers are a perfect alternative for vegetarians. But they are made with genetically modified soy with heme iron added to it. Some companies put them into hexane, which is a toxic oil-based solvent, and a by-product of petrol production.

7. Muesli bars

Many people believe that muesli bars are good, healthy snacks. Yes, some of them may actually be good sources of protein and fiber. But most of them contain just as much sugar, carbs, and calories as ordinary chocolate bars. Some muesli bars have 15 g of sugar, which is around 3-4 teaspoons.

8. Protein supplements

Many people think that the more protein a meal has, the healthier it is. This is true for fish, meat, eggs, and beans. But if you have a balanced diet, you don’t need protein supplements.

You should eat them only if there’s not enough protein in your normal diet. Besides, many supplements contain sugar and other bad ingredients, such as artificial sweeteners, thickening agents, and colorants.

9. Multigrain bread

It’s been known for a long time that white bread is bad for health, so those that take good care of their health prefer other types of bread. And multigrain bread is especially popular since it’s believed that different grains are good for us.

But experts say that it may contain peeled grains that don’t contain any fiber or nutrients. They don’t make you feel full, and you might feel hungry very soon after eating them.

10. Diet soda

People who can’t stop drinking soda but want to be healthy, choose diet soda. But recent studies have proved that artificial sweeteners can lead to obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular events.

The thing is that aspartame, sucralose, and stevioside don’t satisfy our brain, and we don’t feel any rewards for the food. It leads to us craving sugar even more.

11. Gluten-free foods

If the pack says that a product is gluten-free, it doesn’t mean it’s definitely better than the one that contains gluten. In fact, some of them contain just as many calories and sugar as regular products.

Besides, studies show that such foods usually contain less protein and fiber than those that have gluten in them, and they are way more expensive.

12. Coconut oil

It turns out that coconut oil is not the healthiest oil as it’s usually described. It has a high concentration of saturated fats, so it may increase cholesterol levels. Because of this, the American Heart Association recently published a paper that states, “We advise against the use of coconut oil.” While it’s totally fine to use it in moderation, it shouldn’t be an everyday oil. Instead, opt for vegetable or olive oil.

What foods did you think were healthy and turned out they weren’t?