Foods that you think are good for you that are actually bad for you:
1. Tea Drinks
Tea drinks do not contain the same nutrients as tea. They contain a large amount of added sugars and have fewer antioxidants than brewed teas. Some of these tea drinks are even made from concentrates or essences and lack the known benefits of tea.
2. Blue Food (Blue Dye)
Any food that is dyed artificially blue is not good for you. The colouring was originally produced from coal tar. More recently, it has been produced from oil base. Sometimes even textile dye (same thing that is used to colour jeans) is used to colour foods.
3. Granola Bars
Granola bars are often marketed to be “healthy”, but the truth is they are not. They are full of sugars, syrups, chocolate chips, and highly processed and artificial ingredients. They contain little protein and only a small amount of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They really aren’t much better than chocolate bars.
4. Pretzels
Although lower in calories and fat than potato chips, they are still not healthy. Pretzels contain a quarter of daily sodium intake. Seasoned varieties also add calories, sodium, and fat content
5. Rice Cakes
Flavoured varieties of rice cakes add fat and are high in sodium as well as full of sugar. “Whole Grain” varieties are not much better as they remove the germ (healthy part of the kernel).
Foods that you think are bad for you that are good for you:
1. Coffee
Coffee stimulates the brain and nervous system. It contains chlorogenic acid, which is part of the antioxidant family. Coffee is believed to improve metabolism and lowers the risk of type two diabetes. This is before you add your cream and sugar of course!
2. Popcorn
Popcorn contains zinc, magnesium, potassium, manganese, phosphorus as well as small amounts of folate, niacin, and choline — all good things. Popcorn is naturally low in sodium but sodium levels are raised with toppings (such as salt). Air popped popcorn is good for you, however, microwave popped corn on the other hand is popped with oils containing trans fats, butters, and salts.
3. Chocolate
Chocolate contains flavonoids which protect blood vessels from rupture & leakage, prevent inflammation, and enhance the power of Vitamin C, among other things. Studies have shown that cocoa (the main ingredient in chocolate) improves blood vessel flow, improves blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, reduces blood pressure, and reduces LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels. It also contains antioxidants.
4. Eggs
Many people think that eggs are high in cholesterol and therefore stay away from them. The truth is eggs are full of nutrients, low in fat, high in protein, and contain vitamins and minerals. Studies show that the high cholesterol is actually HDL (or “good” cholesterol).
5. Potatoes
Potatoes contain potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, copper, manganese, dietary fiber, phytonutrients (antioxidant), carotenoids, flavonoids, and caffenic acid. It is only the fixings we put on top (butter, sour cream, bacon bits) that make potatoes unhealthy.
Of course even though we’ve listed good things, please use moderation. And though we’ve also listed unhealthy things, it’s perfectly okay to indulge in once in a while.
