Eating healthy is just a matter of conscience. Unfortunately, the food industry sometimes makes it harder to really know what is healthy and what is not by placing misleading advertisements and labels on what really is junk food. We investigate which foods are bad for your health despite claims that they are healthy.
Fruit Juices
This includes orange juice! For decades, the food industry has sold fruit juices and vitamins as a healthy alternative to regular fruit. Not only does it contain the same amount of sugar as soda, but it is also lacking in vitamins and contains empty calories that don’t give you energy.
Instead: eat regular fruits. If you really like juice, you can make it at home, but remember that it still contains much more sugar than you normally eat fruit.
Milk
Contrary to what we have been led to believe, milk and dairy products are far from essential to our diet. Although milk contains absorbable calcium and vitamin D, if you drink a lot, you are probably exceeding your calories for a day.
And if you are an adult, you can be at risk if you also eat meat and eggs regularly.
Instead: Think about your current diet and decide how much milk to consume accordingly. There are other sources of vitamin D, protein, and calcium that can help you enrich your diet without getting the calories from milk.
Low-sugar Calorie-free Soda
Currently, soft drinks are not considered healthy and most of the attention has focused on sugar intake. So the industry responded to that and offered sugar-free and low-calorie options.
But very little is said about how the phosphate content in these sodas can alter the mineral balance in bones when dosages are high. It can even create a vicious cycle where you feel tired from mineral bleach and drink more cola to wake up.
Instead: Drink water! A cup of unsweetened coffee or tea is also an alternative. Consider eating fruit if you feel like eating something sweet.
Farmed Salmon
Salmon is a great source of healthy fats and omega-3s. Unfortunately, farmed salmon also contains many pesticides that are harmful to human health. While several countries have adopted new pesticide and feed controls for fish farms, increasing demand has led to increased concentrations of farmed fish, which in turn creates a perfect environment for sea lice. In their efforts to combat lice, fish farmers have increased the use of chemicals.
Instead: if you don’t want to stop eating salmon, check its origin. Wild salmon is also not necessarily healthy. An online search for sustainable fish farms.
Tuna
The Spanish authorities recently recommended not to consume tuna in any form to children under 10 years of age and pregnant women. This is due to the high levels of mercury found in tuna, a toxic metal that can cause nervous, digestive, or immune disorders.
Instead: limit your intake and look for fish from local lakes and properly regulated waters. Check the notices in your country regularly.
Do you know of any other foods that have been labeled healthy but are actually dangerous? How has food awareness changed your habits? Let us know in the comments and share helpful tips with other readers!
Preview photo credit depositphotos.com
