by Mr. Bad Food
Face it
friends… we’re suckers for flashy food labels and cleverly
worded marketing claims that lead us into temptation by making
us think a food or drink is good for us.
Acai berries
anyone? You’ve probably seen the deluge of ads for this
“amazing… as seen on Oprah… fat fighter… grown in the
Amazon rainforest”… blah, blah, blah….
Trouble is,
according to the food watchdogs at the Center for Science in the
Public Interest, "there's no evidence whatsoever to suggest
that acai pills will help shed pounds, flatten tummies, cleanse
the colon, enhance sexual desire, or perform any of the other
commonly advertised functions."
A food doesn’t
have to claim an exotic heritage to fool us into parting with
our money.
Our cupboards
and fridge doors are crammed with foods touting the healthy
buzzwords multigrain, fat-free, and all-natural. Sadly, many of
these are the foods that are sabotaging our diets and expanding
our waistlines.
My pal Dr. C.W.
Randolph, Jr., co-author of From Belly Fat to Belly Flat
and co-founder of The Natural Hormone Institute of America, says
there are 10 everyday foods and drinks that we think are doing
us good, but aren’t.
“These
terrible 10 sound like great choices for someone watching his or
her weight, but they’re loaded with fats, preservatives and
hidden calories which are all big saboteurs of a slimmer belly,
thighs or rear,” Dr. Randolph warns.
The 10 Healthy Foods That
Ain’t All That Healthy
- Diet
soda
Soda is never good for you, but diet sodas create more
insulin in your body, which means more sugar. Diet soda also
inhibits the hormone leptin, which regulates your metabolism
and appetite. Try a glass of water with your meal instead
- Pretzels
You may think pretzels are better than potato chips, but
most varieties are made with enriched white flour and loaded
with carbohydrates – a big diet no-no.
- Fruit
juices
Many fruit juices contain high amounts of sugar – natural
and added. Depending on the brand, some may have as little
as 5 percent natural fruit juice. For more fiber and less
calories, eat your fruits rather than drink them.
- Salad
kits
Salad dressings plus the buttery croutons, nuts and cheeses
that accompany many “toss at home” salads can add
hundreds of calories and more fat than a dieter – or
anyone for that matter – needs to consume in a single day,
let alone a single meal. Go light on dressings and extras.
- Reduced-fat
peanut butter
On the surface, a reduced-fat version of anything seems like
a great idea. Unfortunately, the removed fat is often
replaced with sweet fillers that keep the calorie level the
same. Using a bit less of your favorite full-fat peanut
butter is your best choice.
- Chicken
or turkey hot dogs
No matter how you slice it, the majority of hot dogs include
skin and fat – yes, even those healthier-sounding hot dogs
made from chicken or turkey. Try a low-fat or fat-free dog
as a lower-calorie alternative for your cookouts.
- Cereal
bars
There are plenty of cereal bars that are low in fat and
calories. But be sure to read labels closely! Many of these
“meal replacement” or “energy” bars are packed with
sugar and saturated fat.
- Frozen
yogurt
Frozen yogurt often contains added sugar to make up for the
fat found in traditional ice cream. And that translates into
extra calories. Look for a low-fat variety and indulge
sparingly. Better yet, give frozen yogurt the cold shoulder
altogether!
- Rice
cakes
These crispy treats can cause your blood sugar to spike,
which in turn causes your body to store unwanted fat by
slowing down its ability to burn it off. And beware of
flavored rice cakes. They're usually loaded with sodium.
- Granola
Combining healthy grains and nuts makes for a meal that’s
good for you, right? Wrong. Many granola varieties contain
about 350 calories and 12 grams of fat per 3/4 cup. And
don’t forget the added sugar. Low-fat or low-sugar
granolas make for a better snack.
Other foods that
are often wrongly assumed healthy include: seeds and nuts, fruit
smoothies, dried fruit, muffins, muesli, sports drinks, cereal,
vegetarian meals and low-fat ice cream.
OK,
Diet-to-Go fans… it’s time for you to confess which
unhealthy “healthy foods” you’ve fallen victim to at the
supermarket. List them at the new Diet-to-Go Community Forum.
John
McGran has been a writer/editor for about as long as he's been
battling his weight. During his 25 year-career, John has written
for several newspapers, tabloids and Web sites. You may
recognize his name and style from the seven years he spent
writing a Worst of the Worst Foods column as Mr. Bad Food. If
you have any topics you'd like John to tackle, feel free to
write him at nargcm@aol.com
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