Top 5 “Health Foods” to Avoid

What's in here?

Above the entrance of the leading natural foods store in my town, a sign reads, “You are walking into the healthiest grocery store on the planet”. I had to laugh as I walked in yesterday, when below it was an ad that offered snow cones with “certified organic syrup”.

Although some “healthy”, “organic” and “natural” products are much better than their conventional counterparts, we still need to use common sense. Most adults agree that it’s unwise to eat snow cones everyday. But what about all those other foods that linger closer to the borderline? I call these “tricky treats”: the marketing says they’re good for you, but consumption of these really should be limited. This is where shopping at “health food” stores gets tricky.

Consider these as treats, not staples:

Breakfast Cereal – Our Western culture is programmed to eat carbohydrates for breakfast, and cereal happens to be the easiest and simplest… and the most addictive. To wean yourself off the high-carb breakfast, always include a protein source (vegetarians and omnivores a like) and introduce homemade whole-grain cereals like my Multi-Grain Maple Mush.

Protein/Power Bars - I call these “adult candy bars”. I eat them when I have a significant sweet tooth or when traveling, but avoid them on a daily basis. Always read the label carefully – a good bar should have at least 12 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber to offset the carbohydrate; a low-glycemic or whole food sweetener like agave nectar or dates; and plenty of super-green-foods for nutrient density.

Bottled Smoothies - If you’re drinking these (even the green ones) for the acclaimed vitamin C and anti-oxidants, think again. If it’s bottled, it’s pasteurized. This means it gets a high-heat treatment to kill off bacteria. Anti-oxidants in fruits are delicate and are best consumed raw. If there’s no protein in the shake, you’re basically drinking sugar. Make your smoothies at home using frozen farmers market berries, something green, and a high-quality protein powder. Try these: Shrek Shake, Galaxy Shake, Hemp Milkshake.

Bulk Bin Items - It’s hard to resist these sweet, crunchy tantalizing morsels. But for the most part, try. When choosing bin items, stay with organic raw nuts. If you like toasted nuts, choose “dry-toasted” to avoid over-cooked vegetable oil. Make your own trail mixes instead of buying the ones with sugared fruits and chocolate candies. Choose whole grains, and try some gluten-free options like quinoa and millet.

Non-Fat Yogurt - There are a few reasons to keep an eye out for non-fat yogurt and other processed dairy products. 1) Non-fat or low-fat means the milk has gone through a significant refining process; I believe that the closer a food is to its natural whole form, the better. 2) Many brands come with sweetened fruit on the bottom, adding unnecessary sugar 3) More and more people are showing signs of dairy intolerance without even knowing it. Eating foods we react to can lead to poor digestion, mal-absorption, fatigue and general ill-health.