10 Snacks You Thought Were Healthy But Really Aren't

As a performer or a model, you need to have a well-balanced diet and be perceptive of the food that makes or breaks your career. Don’t get caught up in the marketing hype of those snacks that claim they contain the healthy ingredients you think you need to keep you in shape. This is because the truth is they’re not really as healthy as their nutrition facts say they are. To guide you with healthier options, we have spotted the ten snacks they call “healthy” but are actually danger foods.

1. Commercialized Smoothies

A blended drink made of fresh fruit must be good for your body. Unfortunately, they are not as healthy as you thought they would be. Smoothies sold in groceries are targeted for health-conscious consumers for their nutritional benefits. They are rich in protein and fiber as well as refreshing and tasteful. But, recent studies show that smoothies and fruit juices pose potential damages to your health. According to the studies done by the researchers from University of North Carolina, drinking commercially-made smoothies can be very deceiving as they might give you the same amount of sugar as you can get from a large coke.

2. Trail Mix

Trail mix is a snacks incorporating unsweetened dried fruits, unsalted nuts and chocolates for some, in one package. They are packed with energy, but they also have very high calorie content. Before pouring out your trail mix into your plate, check out the portion size. One tablespoon of this mix has around sixty calories, so watch your servings. Recently, nuts and trail mix products from two different companies in the US have been recalled due to possible salmonella contamination.

3. Energy Bars

If you are athletic, you must have some of these supplemental bars in your pocket. They provide energy and they are no doubt convenient for people on the go. But, do you know that they also provide contents that are detrimental to your health? American Dietetic Association spokesperson Dawn Jackson noted that some energy bar snacks have high saturated fat content just like candy bars. They have more than 300 calories, which can lead to extra pounds and some contain additives that may lead to allergies and drug reactions.

4. Veggie Chips

They are crispy and salty just like potato chips, but they are made of real vegetables. But are they really healthy like vegetables should be? Know the figures first. One ounce of veggie chips may contain 130 to 150 calories, more than 6 grams of fat, and a whole lot of sodium. The real vegetables in the chips also undergo certain processes that makes them no better than your typical potato chip snacks.

5. Frozen Yogurt

Yogurt snacks are definitely recommended for slimming, especially low fat ones. But frozen yogurt? Not really. The live and active cultures essential for your health gets lost during the freezing process for the frozen yogurts. It contains more calories and added sugars and has lost its probiotic element as well. A scoop of ice cream is not much worse than a cup of frozen yogurt.

6. Bran Muffins

Bran muffins are actually healthy. They contain fibers, omega starch, minerals, vitamins and proteins. They may also lower your cholesterol level and control diabetes. But, here is the catch, bran muffins actually contain more than three hundred calories in just a single course, not to mention the glazing and the jam on top of it. This is especially true for the commercialized muffins.

7. Dried Fruits

Fruits are healthy and nutritious. But, dried fruits? Not so much. Dried fruits are dehydrated fresh fruit, which means its juices have been removed from the fruit, making the nutrients more concentrated. Dried fruits also contain added sugar and preservatives called nitrites.

8. Peanut Butter

You were told that peanut butter is packed with nutrients and full of monounsaturated fats. It is made of roasted peanuts grounded into butter, so it might be pretty safe. But, that is where the first danger of peanut butter lies. When turning peanuts into butter, certain ingredients are added, which may contain trans fat that increase the bad cholesterol level in the body. As an energy food, peanut butter also contains around one hundred calorie in a single tablespoon alone.

9. Granola Bars

They are certainly high in fiber. They have fruits, nuts and chips and they sound healthy for your diet. However, aside from the healthy ingredients in granola bar snacks that are visible to your eyes, lies the high-fructose corn syrup. Jane Jurley, a senior nutritionist from the Center for Sciences in the Public Interest describes granola bars as cookies masquerading as a healthy snack.

10. Diet Soda

Diet soda should not be on the list of your diet menu at all. According to the researchers from University of Texas, one can of diet soda increases the risk of obesity by forty percent. That’s not all. Diet soda has artificial sweeteners that make you want to take in more calories into your body, and it also increases the risk of heart diseases and stroke. The kinds of healthy food you think are good for your body because they are fat-free, have no added sugar and are made of real fruits and vegetables are not so healthy after all. They are disguised to appear as beneficial as can be, but you have to know that real healthy food don’t need to make any health claims. They just are and they should be part of your diet regimen, so you will stay and last long in the entertainment and modeling industries.