- Energy Bars
When they tout how much fibre and protein they’re packed with — or how minimal their “net
carbohydrate” count is — energy bars may seem like super-healthy snacks. But before you
eat one of these plastic-wrapped blocks of “nutrients” in your mouth, consider how heavily
processed most of them are.The more ingredients listed on the label, the more manufactured
energy bars are. Common ingredients in many energy bars are fancy names for different
forms of sugar.They spike blood sugar levels and court a crash later on without providing
lasting satisfaction and energy.
2. Low-Fat or Fat-Free Yogurt
When a food product cuts out or reduces something we’ve learned is “bad” from its contents,
we falsely conclude it’s “better” for us. Not so great if manufacturers compensate for the
tastiness lost in doing so by adding the yogurt full of sugar. Many low-fat and fat-free yogurts
are so high in sugar that they might as well be considered dessert. Look for unsweetened ones
especially Greek yogurts which are healthy.
3. Smoothies/ Flavoured milk
Just because they’re jam-packed with whole fruits doesn’t mean smoothies are great for our
blood sugar levels or for our belt sizes. They are loaded with sugar especially if you’re buying
from the store .They are loaded with artificial colours and flavour and their shelf life is
increased by adding cocktail of preservatives and additives.
4. Granola
The added ingredients (yes, sugars, artificial additives and preservatives once again) ,and
high fat content of most brands makes the stuff less of a healthy choice for most of our diets
so have it in moderation.Prefer steel cut or rolled oats instead .
5. Frozen Meals
Most frozen meals contain artificial additives ,preservatives added. They are made from sub
standard quality of ingredients.
6. Dried Fruit
Dried strawberries and other berries ,kiwi, guava, pineapple all are loaded with sugar and
artificial colour. Raisins, apricots, prunes, dates, and figs are the only dried fruits that don’t
have sugar added to them during the drying process.
7. Packaged Fruit Juices
The fruits used are of substandard quality .Once cold pressed, fruit juice is rapidly pasteurized or
heat treated. This heating treatment has been shown to destroy a lot of the nutritional value of the
ingredients along with the naturally occurring digestive enzyme within the fruit and changes the pH
from alkaline to acid. The primary purpose of this processing is to extend the fruit juice’s shelf life.
The additives and preservatives added to the juice may cause carcinogenic effect on our body.
If you are going to buy prepackaged or processed snacks and foods choose ones that have at
max five ingredients — though ideally three or less. Lastly, be wary of lofty claims — i.e.,
“As much vitamin C as an orange!” “High in fibre!” — especially if these boasts are slapped
onto foods you’d otherwise consider “bad for you.” Always wiser to seek the purest source of
a nutrient when possible.