In recent years, more and more people have been embracing the mentality of “you are what you eat.” According to Forbes, global sales of food products marketed as healthy are expected to reach a trillion dollars this year. Unfortunately, many so-called health foods lining supermarket shelves today aren’t beneficial for everyone. For instance, the following foods people think are healthy for you may actually be harmful.
Peanuts
As peanuts are actually not nuts, the name is deceptive. This ballpark favorite is part of the legume family. Peanuts are one of the most common food allergens. According to a study funded by Food Allergy Research & Education, the number of kids in America who are allergic to peanuts more than tripled from 1997 and 2008.
Peanuts also consist of naturally occurring molds that can initiate an inflammation causing an immune response even in people who don’t have a peanut allergy. This popular snack food contains the fungi known as aflatoxins. According to the National Cancer Institute, exposure to aflatoxins can result in an elevated risk of liver cancer.
Protein Bars
Protein bars are one of the biggest frauds located in the health foods section of the supermarket. They’re typically nothing more than candy bars posing as convenient, healthy snacks. While they may have added protein, these decadent bars are often filled with mind-boggling amounts of sugar, saturated fat, and trans fat.
Seitan
To satisfy their protein needs, many vegans and vegetarians consume seiten. Seiten is a highly processed wheat-based product. Because processed foods are man-made, you weren’t born with the ability to break them down properly. Since seitan is a wheat protein, you should also avoid it if you suffer from a wheat or gluten sensitivity.
Yogurt
Yogurt has long been a staple for those desiring a healthier alternative to ice cream. However, this heavily touted health food might not be as good for you as you think. Many people suffer from dairy intolerance. If you have a dairy allergy or sensitivity, adding yogurt to your diet can cause inflammation.
The milk utilized in nonorganic yogurt often consists of health derailing hormones. One particular hormone, uBGH, can cause infections in cows exposed to it. When cows fall ill, they’re treated with antibiotics, which infiltrates into the milk supply.
Many varieties of store-bought yogurts also contain alarming amounts of sugar. This is especially the case for those brands being marketed as low-calorie or fat-free. To compensate for a lack of fat, food manufacturers pile on the sugar to make the yogurt palatable.
Cereal
Like millions of other Americans, you might start every day with a bowl of cold cereal. Unfortunately, many of the carefully designed boxes of cereal on the market today are loaded with inflammation instigating grains and sugar. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) a whopping 92 percent of cold cereals in the United States contain added sugars. In addition to inflammation, research studies have linked excessive sugar consumption to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.
Trail Mix
Revered for its portability, trail mix seems like the perfect, healthy snack to eat whether you’re hiking or typing away at the office. Unfortunately, most store-bought varieties of this filling snack are packed with candy-coated pieces, deep-fried banana chips, yogurt-covered raisons, and sesame sticks. A caloric disaster, they’re loaded with simple sugars, refined carbohydrates, and trans fats. Instead of buying lethal trail mix from the store, consider making your own. Simply mix together some unsalted nuts, dark chocolate, and dried fruit such as apricots.
Barley
Barley is a grain consisting of a high concentration of gluten. Gluten has been associated with intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut. Gliadin, a protein in gluten, resembles your thyroid. When you eat foods containing gluten, your immune system will attempt to attack gliadin. However, these antibodies might also simultaneously threaten your thyroid. Therefore, people living with autoimmune thyroid disease may especially need to steer clear of barley and other grains containing gluten.
Incorporating delicious, fresh, and healthy foods into your diet can be an effective way to boost both your physical and mental health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, every food marketed to consumers as healthy doesn’t live up to its label. When stocking your refrigerator and pantry, consider avoiding the aforementioned items.
~ Health Scams Exposed
