Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #14: CAESAR SALAD
WHY WE THINK IT’S HEALTHY: A common entrée in restaurants, Caesar Salad seem to be enjoyed by those who usually hate salads. It’s creamy, crunchy and Parmesan-y, but it’s still salad. There is, after all, lettuce in there. WHY IT’S NOT: Let’s start with the croutons. These are traditionally made with cubed pieces of…
Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #13: GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS
WHY WE THINK IT’S HEALTHY: Gluten has become the new enemy as evidence continues to emerge linking grain-based diets with a range of chronic health conditions. Not surprisingly, the market for gluten-free foods and beverages has skyrocketed. The primary reason is that consumers are convinced that gluten-free products are…
Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #12: RICE CAKES
WHY WE THINK IT’S HEALTHY: These bland cardboard cut-outs were a dieter’s dream during the 1990s low-fat/low-calorie diet craze. As a snack food, they’ve helped us stay away from more unhealthy snacks like chips and fries. WHY IT’S NOT: Rice cakes are nothing more than refined puffed rice and have very little…
Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #11: FLAVOURED NUTS
WHY WE THINK IT’S HEALTHY: Nuts are a convenient snack that provide us with healthy monounsaturated fats, protein, vitamin E, fiber and some omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts have been shown to reduce our risk of developing blood clots and to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Glaze them in soy sauce or coat them in maple candy, and…
Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #10: FRUIT JUICE
WHY WE THINK IT’S HEALTHY: Many look forward to beginning their morning with a fresh glass of OJ. Drinking your fruit is way more convenient than having to go through the arduous process of peeling, slicing, biting, chewing, and swallowing. And, hey, the government says it’s the same thing as having a fruit. According to…
Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #9: LOW-FAT PEANUT BUTTER
WHY WE THINK IT’S HEALTHY: Full of healthy monounsaturated fats and protein, peanut butter has been a comfort food for pregnant women and bodybuilders. It’s pretty high in calories, though, which makes the reduced-fat version more attractive and healthy option. WHY IT’S NOT: Peanut butter is actually a very decent…
Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #8: BREAKFAST CEREAL
WHY WE THINK IT’S HEALTHY: The health benefits of breakfast cereals are largely the result of a hugely successful marketing campaign that began as early as the 1900s. Kids are especially targeted, and many can’t imagine breakfast without a bowl of cereal. “Part of a balanced breakfast” is a term coined by the cereal…
Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #7: FRUIT COCKTAIL
WHY WE THINK IT’S HEALTHY: It’s fruit, so it’s good for you. WHY IT’S NOT: The syrup ruins everything. Fruit canned in syrup holds its shape, colour and flavour, but it also adds extra calories and boosts its glycemic index. The most common syrup used in commercial fruit cocktails is corn syrup, made from the starch…
Can skipping breakfast cause heart attacks?
Can skipping breakfast cause heart attacks? A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that U.S. adults who regularly skip breakfast are at an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. With the increased popularity of intermittent fasting and supporting research…
Foods you think are healthy BUT AREN'T! #6: GRANOLA
WHY WE THINK IT'S HEALTHY: It’s considered the “healthy person’s cereal,” made with rolled oats, nuts and dried fruits. The term granola has become so synonymous with health that it’s used to describe hippie-esque people who are socially and environmental aware, left-wing, usually vegetarian, and who buy only fair-trade…