If you have ever tried to eat healthy, then you have encountered “fat-free,” “sugar-free” and “zero-calorie” labels at some point in your life. They can be found almost anywhere – on soup cans, cereal boxes, milk cartons and juice bottles. Foods with these labels are often marketed to people who may want healthier alternatives or food choices in their diet. However, most of these foods aren’t exactly what you would call “healthy” – far from it.

Unsurprisingly, many people fall for these claims, and you may be making the same mistake. Here are seven “healthy foods” to avoid the next time you do your groceries.

Diet soda

Diet sodas often seem like the healthier option for people who can’t seem to curb their soda addiction. After all, they’re usually marketed as having low sugar and calorie content. But don’t be fooled – it may be doing you more harm than good. Drinking diet soda on a regular or even semi-regular basis places you at a higher risk of developing obesity and increased blood sugar levels than those who stay away from the beverage.

Low-fat or fat-free foods

Food manufacturers only began to create “low-fat” versions of the usual fatty foods when people started to feel more conscious of the effects of fat on the body. However, food without fat doesn’t taste half as good, which is why manufacturers began to replace the fat content in food with sugar. If left unchecked, excessive sugar consumption can lead to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Diet yogurt

Yogurt is a staple in any balanced diet. It’s highly nutritious and it helps regulate your digestive system. These days, groceries also carry “sugar-free” yogurts. However, like most “low-fat” and “fat-free” foods, these diet yogurts often contain artificial sweeteners to compensate for the lack of flavor.

Supermarket fruit juice

Many people are convinced that store-bought fruit juices are healthy. After all, they’re made with fruits, right? However, many commercially available fruit juices are processed with chemicals that simply mimic the taste of fruits. To avoid grabbing fruit-flavored sugar water the next time you crave fruit juice, check the label for preservatives like phosphoric acid, sodium benzoate and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Phosphoric acid erodes teeth enamel over time, while sodium benzoate and MSG can cause asthma attacks, high blood pressure and other health complications.

Canned meat products

Majority of the canned meat products that you can find at your local supermarket are commercially processed. Often, materials used in commercial canning may contain deadly bacteria and traces of bisphenol-A (BPA). Exposure to BPA, which is a chemical found in food packaging materials, like plastics and cans, has been shown to cause health problems like cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. Additionally, improper processing of canned food can lead to exposure to the deadly bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Eating food contaminated with this bacteria can increase the risk of botulism, which is a rare but fatal illness that can lead to paralysis and death.

Refined breakfast cereals

Cereals are essential breakfast foods because of their fiber content, which helps give your body the energy boost it needs to start the day. However, many commercially available cereals are technically refined breakfast cereals. Cereals like these are loaded with refined carbohydrates, which include sugars and grains that have been completely stripped of bran, fiber and other nutrients. Because of its high sugar content, eating refined breakfast cereal every day can negatively affect your blood sugar levels. If you must have cereal for breakfast, make sure to check the label for its fiber and sugar content.

Processed foods

Processed foods like bacon, ham and commercially available cheese are often packed with sugar and artificial compounds. For instance, preservatives are the chemicals in processed foods that prevent them from rotting. This is why most processed foods can sit in the freezer for extended periods of time and still be okay for people to consume. Colorants, on the other hand, give the food a specific color, while flavorings help enhance the food’s natural flavor. However, many chemicals found in processed foods aren’t even listed on the label. It would be better to avoid processed foods to prevent possible health complications from exposure to these chemicals.

Many of these foods are readily available at your local supermarket. Because most of them are marketed as “healthy,” you can spend forever examining labels and still go home carrying junk foods. The best way to avoid these unhealthy foods is to prepare meals and snacks at home with natural, organic ingredients.

Sources:

Healthline.com 1

Healthline.com 2

ErnestDempsey.com

MedicalNewsToday.com