Healthy Foods That Can Actually Damage Your Diet

Healthy Foods That Aren't

Healthy Foods That Aren'tHealthy foods are a vital part of our wellbeing. Attempting to achieve and maintain good health typically requires that we eat the best foods available to us. We’re usually advised to opt for a variety of ingredients and options such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and conventionally raised or organic meats to complete our well-rounded plates.

Taking a Closer Look at Our Choices of Healthy Foods

In an effort to get the most out of what we consume, however, we can sometimes get into a habit of eating the same things over and over again. At the same time, we miss out on any new information regarding those foods, and thus we make the mistake of believing that eating them is a good idea. That said, even worse are the occasions when we specifically make choices for healthy foods on our own behalf, but it turns out that they’re not good for us at all.

It turns out that some of the most popular “healthy foods” can actually damage your diet because they’re not good for you at all.  The impression of their healthfulness stems from either careful marketing strategies or out-of-date nutritional information.

Breads and Pastas

You might be hearing a lot of good things about whole wheat breads and pastas, but you could be wrecking your hard work by eating them too much. You see, breads and pastas are the most basic sources of carbohydrates, which means that they eventually turn into sugar when they are being digested. Because of this, they can ultimately foster weight gain on the body over time if you are not careful. To keep this from happening to you, choose lettuce wraps for your favorite sandwiches or use quinoa in place of pasta for a healthier eating plan.

Fruit Juices

In your search for healthy foods, you have probably come across a lot of information regarding the health and fitness benefits of fruit juice. Sure, squeezing your own juice or preparing it in a juicer or blender is healthier than buying it from a food manufacturer; but at the end of the day, fruit juice could wreck your diet. The amount of sugar that is typically found in a serving of fruit juice may wreak havoc on your fitness endeavors if you are not meticulous about your consumption.

Beef or Red Meat

Having some meat or protein in your diet is a good idea, especially if you are trying to gain lean muscle mass. However, the type and amount of meat you eat plays a huge role in how much weight you lose or gain. There is a lot of controversy over the health benefits of red meat and if it should be consumed at all.  Some say that red meat in particular is not exactly good for your body, even if you are pumping iron. Others say that this type of meat provides a spectrum and combination of nutrients that simply aren’t available in other types of food. There are many different kinds of protein sources, and beef and red meat are only some of them.

While these aren’t necessarily considered to be healthy foods, most doctors still aren’t recommending cutting them out altogether as much as they’re advising people to watch their portion sizes.  The amount of red meat needed in a diet to gain all the potential nutritional benefits is considerably smaller than what most people think. Aim for a portion of about the size of a deck of playing cards and only one or two per week at the most.

Choosing Healthy Foods Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

Overall, making choices for healthy foods doesn’t have to be all that complex. It can seem that way at first, if you’ve been believing the marketing on product labels, or if your nutrition knowledge is a bit out of date.  That said, if you focus mainly on whole foods, avoid highly processed dishes and learn about portion sizes, you’ll already be well on your way in the right direction.

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