Our diet holds the key to whether we’re healthy and fit or sick and overweight, so it’s important to be selective about the food we put into our bodies. But, sadly, it’s easy to get tricked into eating foods that aren’t actually good for us, even when we think they are. For example, some of these foods people think are healthy but are actually making you fat...
Top 10 Foods People Think Are Healthy But Are Making Them Fat
10. Granola. There are a lot of good reasons to love granola, including its high antioxidant content, but it is made with sugar and lots of calories. Granola can be a great breakfast food for people who want some protein and fiber with their cereal, but limit yourself to about a quarter cup as part of your total meal so you don’t end up eating too many calories in one sitting. 9. Protein Powder. Many people think they’re being healthy when they load up on protein powder—which is fine—but they often do so at breakfast time with sugary cereal or pancakes that turn these healthy powders into fat-making food choices.
#10 – Protein Powder
The truth is that protein powders are high in calories and some people can really pack it on when they don’t measure what they’re putting into their shakes. Protein powder isn’t unhealthy, but it doesn’t have any magical weight loss properties, either. On top of that, many low-carb protein powders contain artificial sweeteners like sucralose (Splenda) or aspartame that can actually lead to increased fat storage due to insulin spikes. Opt for a protein powder with natural ingredients instead of ones riddled with chemicals and fillers.
#9 – Granola
Who wouldn’t want to start their day with a bowl of granola? That sweet and crunchy goodness is much more likely to be keeping you on a straight path towards fatness than getting you on your way to skinny. Granola is often packed with sugar, butter, oats and other ingredients that can add up in calories quickly. To avoid granola ending up as a massive dent in your weight loss plan, stick to cereal that's lower in fat and sugar. Or better yet; just make your own homemade granola from scratch. It’s easy—just watch out for added sugars like honey or brown sugar. #8 – Almond Milk: Okay, so almond milk isn't exactly making you fat—but it’s not helping matters either.
#8 – Almond Milk
A lot of people think almond milk is a great substitute for dairy, but you don’t want to fall into that trap. Although almonds are generally healthy, there’s nothing about almond milk that can truly promote weight loss. Also, it’s relatively low in protein and contains few essential nutrients like calcium and potassium. If you choose to drink almond milk, keep in mind that it has an extremely high sugar content (13 grams per cup) and only negligible amounts of vitamins A and E. As long as you maintain portion control when using nut milks, they should be fine in your diet—just make sure they aren’t displacing more nutritious food options like whole grains or fruits and vegetables.
#7 – Gluten-Free Products
Gluten-free products can be convenient and delicious, but they are often higher in fat and calories than their non-gluten counterparts. So while avoiding gluten may help with weight loss, choosing a gluten-free alternative doesn’t mean it will help you lose weight. And in fact, it could even lead to more weight gain if you don’t pay attention to portion size. Opt for whole grains instead of processed versions when possible—they typically have fewer calories, more fiber and nutrients, and provide just as much satisfaction as their gluten-filled counterparts.
#6 – Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are extremely important for a healthy diet. However, people often believe that eating lots of them will help you lose weight—which is not true! Although high-fiber fruits and veggies may help fill you up more quickly, they also contain a lot of calories. So eat as many of these foods as you like, but don’t rely on them to make you slim. (The Top 5) #1 – Yogurt: Yogurt is often marketed as a healthier alternative to ice cream or other desserts, but it’s definitely one of fat-making food products! Most yogurts sold in supermarkets are full of sugar. If you like eating yogurt, be sure to buy plain or vanilla flavors without any added sugar.
#5 – Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a food that people think of as healthy but it can actually be very bad for you. In many cases, oatmeal is eaten with dried fruit, nuts and syrup and all of these are filled with calories. When you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your weight it’s better to avoid eating too much sugar in any shape or form. Oatmeal also contains a good amount of fiber which helps your body run smoothly but fiber also contains calories so if you’re trying to lose weight then these are not particularly helpful either. Although oatmeal may be healthy in moderation it can make things worse when there is added fat and sugars to it so try avoiding if you want to lose weight quickly.
#4 – Margarine, Butter Substitutes, And Other Spreads
Some of these fats are less processed than others, but they’re certainly not good for you. While butter and some margarines contain small amounts of nutrients, they also contain large amounts of saturated fat, which can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. Opt for tubs or sticks with no trans fat instead of those that are trans-fat free. In fact, opt for any type with less than 3 grams of saturated fat per serving (the American Heart Association recommends limiting your intake to 5 grams per day). Remember: Stick to natural foods that have been around since before modern processing—that’s where you’ll find most nutrients intact and in their highest amounts. Your body will thank you. #5 – Granola And Other Nuts Containing Sugars And Sweeteners: We often associate granola with healthy snacks, but some recipes actually call for added sugars or sweeteners. Don’t be fooled! Check nutrition labels and read ingredients carefully to make sure you aren’t being fooled by clever marketing; nuts add crunchy texture and healthy fats to cereal bars, shakes, yogurt, and ice cream without adding tons of sugar like many other recipes do. Just remember: If it contains fruit juice concentrate or brown sugar on its ingredients list, it probably contains more added sugar than a piece of whole fruit would offer.
#3 – Diet Soda
Sure, diet soda is calorie-free—but it can actually sabotage your weight loss efforts. Research suggests that artificial sweeteners in diet drinks can cause us to consume more calories overall by activating parts of our brains that are linked to rewards and addiction. So if you're trying to shed pounds, skip the diet soda and stick with water, seltzer or unsweetened iced tea instead. (See Diet Soda Can Make It Harder to Lose Weight for more info.)
#2 – Low-Carb Diets
Low-carb diets focus on restricting carbs, not calories. A 2014 study by University of California researchers found that after one year, people who followed a low-carb diet lost more weight than those who followed a low-fat diet. Yet another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that low-carb diets are no better for losing weight than low-fat diets. If you restrict carbs to less than 15 percent of your daily calories and get at least seven hours of sleep a night, you should be able to lose 5 to 10 pounds within three months.
#1– Yogurt
Yogurt is a good source of calcium, which helps build strong bones and teeth. It’s also rich in probiotics, or healthy bacteria, which can help keep your gastrointestinal tract running smoothly. The problem with eating too much yogurt? Just like milk and other dairy products, it contains high levels of saturated fat. A six-ounce serving of plain yogurt can have as many as 15 grams of saturated fat (the bad kind)—that’s nearly 80 percent of an adult’s daily recommended value. Limit yourself to one cup per day, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. And beware of light versions—many are still packed with full-fat calories! If you simply must have more, go for Greek yogurt instead; at least you’ll be able to cut back on some of those unnecessary carbohydrates.
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