From high fiber and gluten-free to all natural and fruit-flavors, many foods at your local grocery are labeled with these types of \u201chealth benefits.\u201d But, in reality, it might not be as healthy as you think.<\/p>\n
To help you decipher the real from the fake in the fight to improve your health and wellness, we asked dietitians and nutritionists to share 20 seemingly healthy foods that are actually bad for you.<\/p>\n
Granola bars<\/strong> Yogurt<\/strong> Acai bowls<\/strong> Gluten-free products<\/strong> Roasted nuts<\/strong> Store-bought smoothies<\/strong> Frozen meals<\/strong> Diet soda<\/strong> Cereal<\/strong> Deli meats<\/strong> Meal replacement or protein bars<\/strong> Dried fruit<\/strong> Fruit juices<\/strong> Agave<\/strong> Pumpkin-flavored foods<\/strong> Veggie chips<\/strong> Kombucha<\/strong> Artificial sweetener<\/strong> Salad dressing<\/strong>
\n\u201cPeople think [granola bars] are a \u2018health food,’ when in reality, it’s full of added sugars and hydrogenated oils that can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels and gut health,” says Christine Sellers<\/a>, nutritional\u00a0therapy practitioner at Soul Strength Training LLC. “Check the ingredients, or skip it altogether. A good substitute: some fruit with nut butter,” Sellers adds.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMany health nuts think a bowl of yogurt with granola is the perfect breakfast, but breaking down the nutrition shows the combo is quite the opposite,” according to Rebecca Cafiero<\/a>, integrative nutritionist. “Yogurt is typically high in sugar and low in protein [and] the claims of probiotic benefits are exaggerated as probiotics are only beneficial in \u2018live form\u2019 and probiotics in most yogurt are killed during the heating process.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAcai bowls usually come packed with sugar — despite being made with acai fruit, the fruit is blended into a liquid, which takes the natural fiber out of the equation, leaving just sugar,\u201d says Rachel Fine<\/a>, registered dietitian and owner of To the Point Nutrition.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cUnless you have a gluten allergy, choosing gluten-free options aren’t always a healthier alternative. Often, these are highly-processed food products made with low-fiber grains such as rice,” says\u00a0Maya Bach<\/a>, registered\u00a0dietitian nutritionist. “These products may also be lower in other beneficial nutrients such as B vitamins and iron. If you’re looking for an alternative to wheat, choose an option made with more nutrient-dense ingredients such as chickpea or oat flour.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhile raw nuts can be a healthy source of fats and protein, where we go wrong is buying roasted nuts,” according to\u00a0Briana Michel<\/a>, holistic\u00a0nutrition coach. “When the oils are roasted, it becomes inflammatory because the heat damages the polyunsaturated fats and it becomes vulnerable to oxidation and going rancid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe often think of these as being healthy choices loaded with fresh fruit, but be sure to evaluate what you’re actually getting,” says\u00a0Elizabeth Huggins<\/a>, registered dietitian nutritionist at Hilton Head Health. “Often, the first ingredient is sugar, cane sugar, or a sugary fruit concentrate, with little fruit or fiber to be found. Ideally, making your own smoothie composed mostly of fresh or frozen fruit is the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhile there are tons of frozen dinners boasting on its label about how healthy it is, many have additional preservatives and [skimp on] protein and vegetable servings. These light meals are so low calorie, they won’t sustain you and may have you scrounging for unhealthy eats later in the day. Rather than relying on frozen meals, cook a double portion of healthy dinner recipes so that you’re covered for more than one meal,\u201d says Brandice Lardner<\/a>, nutritional therapy consultant at Grace Filled Plate.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cDiet sodas disrupt your gut flora,” according to\u00a0Dr. Lauren Deville<\/a> of Nature Cure Family Health. “Second, the artificial sweeteners are associated with all kinds of illnesses, from cancer to neurological diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cPeople think foods like cereals are healthy, when in reality, these are packed with sugar and things that turn to sugar. You’d be much better off eating whole foods, or if you must eat something ready-made, look for the fewest amount of ingredients,\u201d says Allison Herschede, registered nurse and certified diabetes educator.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMany folks turn to deli meats as a protein in a\u00a0sandwich, a snack wrapped in lettuce, or with a side of veggies. While it sounds like a great pairing, the challenge is that deli meats tend to be loaded with added salts, saturated fats, preservatives, and fillers, says Maya Feller<\/a>, registered\u00a0dietitian nutritionist. “I tell my patients they are better off grilling a piece of meat and slicing it themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThese bars are often loaded with sugar. If you read through the ingredient list and you cannot pronounce the ingredients, then put it down,” advises Dr. Keith Kantor, nutritionist and CEO of Nutritional Addiction Mitigation Eating and Drinking. “There are some packaged bars that are made from dried fruits, nuts, and spices, but most of these bars are glorified candy bars.”<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFruit is always healthy, right? Not so fast when it comes to dried fruit,” says Dr. Candice Seti<\/a>, certified nutrition coach. “Often times, dried fruit has added sugar. Even if dried fruits don\u2019t have added sugars, it’s still a concentrated of source sugar. Go for fresh fruit that hydrates and fills as you eat it to keep portions naturally under control.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cSome fruit juices contain extra added sugar. Others contain little real fruit juice at all. Thus, these partial fruit juices contain few, if any, of the vitamins and minerals present in the fruits it represents,” according to Brian Bender<\/a>, certified nutritionist and co-founder of Intake.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAh, the naturally sweet, supposedly healthy agave. Here are the facts: Ounce for ounce, agave is much worse than sugar. Sugar contains substantial amounts of fructose, which, when consumed in excess, causes extensive metabolic problems. Sugar is roughly 50 percent fructose and 55 percent high fructose corn syrup. Agave is composed of even more, up to 70 to 80 percent. Natural isn\u2019t always healthiest,” explains\u00a0Dr. Luiza Petre<\/a>, weight loss and management specialist and clinical cardiologist.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMany of the pumpkin spice-flavored products that come out at this time of year have little to no actual pumpkin in it,” says\u00a0Summer Yule, registered dietitian or\u00a0Summer Yule Nutrition<\/a>. “People may think that they’re getting a product with the nutritional benefits of pumpkin, such as fiber and vitamin A, but all they may really be getting is a cinnamon-flavored dose of added sugars.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMaking veggie chips at home is a great way to add more plant food to your diet. However, many of the veggie snacks found in the chip aisle are more like its potato chip cousins than the produce pictured on the bag,” says\u00a0Kristen Koskinen<\/a>, registered\u00a0dietitian and nutritionist at Eat Well Pros. “If the chip you’re eating doesn\u2019t list the vegetable you think you’re eating as the first ingredient, then it\u2019s not necessarily any better for you than a regular potato chip.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt has a ton sugar. Probiotics are great, but there are many other ways to get it than sugary tea,\u201d explains Erin Wathen<\/a>, holistic weight health, loss, and life coach at Wellness Solutions LLC.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIf you want to lose weight and gain health, then you should stay away from sweeteners like stevia, xylitol,\u00a0and erythritol,” says\u00a0Angela Bicos Mavridis<\/a>, holistic nutritionist and founder of TRIBAL\u00cd Foods. “Even though it doesn’t have calories or raise your blood sugar, it irritates your gut lining, which is counterproductive to greater health and can often sabotage your weight loss goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCommercially bought salad dressings are chock-full of unhealthy oils, preservatives, and sugars, which quickly turn your greens into a far from healthy meal. Instead, opt for a simple dressing made from extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, and dijon mustard,\u201d says Evie Fatz<\/a>, certified strength and\u00a0conditioning coach and certified nutrition coach.<\/p>\n