Nutritionists Share 12 Products They Would Never Eat

Scientists have learned how to make diamonds from peanut butter and ketchup was initially not a sauce but a patented medicine for diarrhea. There are so many things we may not know about the food we eat, but what we may want to know for sure is whether we can consume the products safely or whether should try to keep some of them from appearing in our fridges.

Here at Bright Side, we tried to find out which products that nutritionists wouldn’t eat at any cost, and the things we discovered made us take another look at our grocery shopping lists. We’d love for you to learn new things about some of your favorite foods together with us.

1. Cereal bars

Cereal bars have been closely associated with a healthy lifestyle and sold as a good snack for those who want to lose weight. But nutritionists consider them serial offenders, standing in the way of a healthy diet. All because they contain a high amount of sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Turns out, there’s no difference if you eat a candy bar or a cereal bar, both of them might be equally harmful.

2. Big-brand whole wheat bread

Whole wheat bread is made of finely milled grains which gives it the attractive brown color. It’s considered to be one of the healthiest types of bread, as it’s rich in fiber and makes us feel full for longer. But dietitians claim that store-bought whole wheat bread is rich in preservatives and added salt and sugars. Homemade bread is considered to be a good and healthy alternative, and the way to keep it fresher longer, without harmful ingredients, is by just adding Vitamin C to the dough.

3. Products that are labeled “low-fat” or “sugar-free”

While the words “Low-fat” or “Sugar-free” may become a trigger to buy for those who stick to a diet, the dietitians themselves find these products far from diet-friendly. Fat and sugar-free products also become taste-free, so manufacturers add a lot of artificial taste-enhancers and chemicals, which may actually ruin both your diet and your health.

4. Processed meat

Processed meat contains harmful additives that make it look more attractive and help make the product’s shelf life longer. It includes bacon, sausage, hot dogs, corned beef, and canned meat. But, surprisingly, minced meat can also be considered a processed food, since it may contain preservatives too. So, homemade minced meat is a healthier alternative to store-bought meatballs and burgers, as you are sure about the ingredients and can also control the amount of fat in your meat.

5. Rice cakes

Puffed rice cakes are very tempting because they’re full of nothing. No fat, no sugar, no fiber, no minerals, and no calories. But dietitians would never eat them, because they are turned into sugar almost immediately after they arrive in your digestive system. Their glycemic index can raise up to 82, while pure sugar is 100, and a bowl of ice cream is 66. They may increase your risk for diabetes and cannot be considered a healthy snack because of this.

6. Food coloring, even the least harmless ones

Food dyes are not only used in candy and donuts, they’re even added to certain brands of pickles, smoked salmon, and salad dressing. Kids are the biggest consumers of artificially colored foods, and research connects this factor to increased ADHD in children. Among the other harmful effects may be depression and mood swings, as well as difficulty sleeping. Nutritionists advise staying away from brightly colored foods.

7. Store-bought green vegetable juice

A celebrity-inspired green juice detox trend has been conquering the minds of many people. But nutritionists are skeptical about juicing and detox, and about the popular green vegetable juice in particular. First, the juices may interact with the medications that you are taking and produce harmful effects. Second, the green vegetable juice sold in stores may actually contain some fruit juice, which makes the whole idea rather pointless, as it contains a lot of sugar.

8. Soy milk

An actress Blake Lively credited her post-baby bikini body to cutting gluten and soy, and in this instance, her nutritionists may have given her a piece of good advice. Scientists explain that soybeans contain isoflavones, which act like the female hormone estrogen. If men have excessive estrogen in their body, they may develop breast growth. For women, the excessive level of estrogen may lead to weight gain. Nutritionists comment that they’d rather not drink soy milk because of potential hormonal issues.

9. Cold cereal and granola

While cold cereal is considered to be an easy and quick food, dietitians would not take a bite of it. This is because this type of food is highly processed and loaded with sugar and refined carbs. Starting a day with this meal may make the blood sugar go extremely high, and then fall, making you crave another portion and leading to overeating. As a healthier alternative, nutritionists would rather eat whole grain oatmeal.

10. Fruit canned in syrup

Many tinned fruit brands tend to use syrup as a preservative, and this is the evil that nutritionists warn us against. The syrup may contain an excessive amount of sugar and the nutritional value of the fruit significantly decreases because of this. The main recommendation is to choose fruit that has been canned in its own juice rather than in syrup, to keep the sugar content down.

11. Refined pasta

Most people prefer refined pasta, thinking that the wheat kernel has been processed in such a way that it saves all the nutrients it contains. But dietitians would never eat this type of pasta, as it is higher in calories and contains less fiber. This may leave you hungry after you eat it and provoke overeating. Instead, it is advised to eat high-fiber, whole-grain pasta.

12. Peanut butter

While original peanut butter contains many useful ingredients, the one that is sold in the majority of stores may be rather harmful, according to nutritionists. This is because this type of nut butter contains additional ingredients like trans fats, vegetable oil, and plenty of sugar. Dietitians opt for choosing the peanut butter from well-known health food stores rather than buying it from a regular supermarket.

What is the food that you believed to be healthy, but that turned out to be just a smart marketing trick? Which product would you personally not recommend for other people to eat?