The substances checklist on the again of the pack is properly value a glance, however even that isn’t easy. Substances are listed in descending order of weight, so if sugar is close to the highest of the checklist, that tells you sugar is among the most important substances. Meals producers usually use varied types of sugar, generally in smaller quantities to sweeten meals, and these might seem among the many lesser substances decrease on the label. Be careful for the inclusion of high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice focus, agave syrup, coconut blossom nectar, dextrose, carob syrup and molasses – these are all simply sugar by a unique identify.
Diminished calorie, fats or sugar claims may also be deceptive. The prefix ‘decreased’ signifies that legally, the meals in query should include 30 per cent fewer energy or 30 per cent much less fats or sugar than the common product. However that doesn’t essentially imply the product in query is definitely low in energy, fats or sugar. For instance, a ‘gentle’ model of a model of digestive biscuits may have 30 per cent much less sugar than an everyday digestive, but include extra fats and solely three fewer energy!
Claims like ‘low carb’, ‘superfood’ and ‘low GI’ usually are not permitted diet claims, however this doesn’t cease some producers from utilizing them. We regularly check with meals like this as having a ‘well being halo’ – they sound extra healthful and nutritious, when many occasions they aren’t. Discover out extra about diet claims and what they imply.
15 well being meals to keep away from
1. Gluten-free meals
Until you undergo from coeliac illness, have a gluten intolerance or are recognized with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, there is no such thing as a profit to purchasing these merchandise. In reality, there are good the explanation why you shouldn’t. One examine discovered that gluten-free meals have been 159 per cent dearer and most additionally contained extra fats, salt and sugar than their gluten-containing counterparts. One other examine suggests switching to a non-gluten eating regimen whenever you don’t have to, might change the steadiness of your intestine microbes.
2. Plant-based ‘meat’ alternate options
Whereas meat-free burgers and sausages could also be higher for the setting, they aren’t all the time higher in your well being. Many meat alternate options are extremely processed, containing a prolonged checklist of components together with flavour enhancers, monosodium glutamate and excessive ranges of salt to make them style like meat. Extremely-processed meals (UPFs) are believed to be linked with many well being issues and weight problems.
Learn extra about plant-based meat and whether or not it’s wholesome
3. Manuka honey
Manuka honey could be as much as 60 occasions dearer than common honey – so is it value the associated fee? A part of the explanation for the value tag is that it’s solely grown in particular places in New Zealand; one other is the myriad well being claims attributed to manuka. Whereas most forms of honey have antibacterial properties, manuka honey accommodates an ingredient not present in different forms of honey – the distinctive manuka issue (UMF) – which has particular antimicrobial properties. Whereas there are research confirming that it may be helpful when used externally to deal with wounds, lots of the different claims lack adequate proof and lots of well being professionals stay sceptical that its fame as a well being meals is justified.
Learn extra about manuka honey
4. Natural plant-based ‘milk’ substitutes
For a very long time, the one different to dairy was soya milk, however in recent times the non-dairy milk market has exploded. Whereas they might be a more sensible choice for the well being of our planet, making the change from dairy to a plant-based different is probably not the precise selection in your physique. Cow’s milk naturally supplies a number of vital vitamins (reminiscent of protein, calcium, vitamin B12 and iodine). Some non-dairy milks are fortified with calcium, B12 and iodine however by legislation, natural merchandise usually are not permitted to be fortified. Whereas it is doable to seek out these vitamins in different meals, you should still be lacking out – particularly on iodine which isn’t present in a variety of meals.
Learn extra about milk alternate options
5. ‘Superfoods’
Whereas the concept of a superfood sounds interesting, the reality is the time period is solely a advertising and marketing invention. Whether or not designed to spice up gross sales or as a buzz phrase utilized by media to make an attention-grabbing headline, there is no such thing as a authorized or scientific definition for the time period ‘superfood’. Fairly than falling for the hype, be sure your eating regimen consists of quite a lot of fruit and veg, fermented meals, wholesome fat and wholegrain carbs and also you’ll be getting all of the ‘superfoods’ you want with out the excessive price ticket.
6. Coconut blossom sugar
Comprised of coconut palm sap, coconut blossom accommodates a small quantity of minerals, protecting antioxidants and fibre and has a decrease glycaemic index (GI) than common sugar, which is why advocates declare it’s ‘wholesome’. The reality is the vitamins it accommodates could be discovered simply and in bigger quantities in different, extra wholesome meals. Allowing for the value and its results on the physique, coconut blossom isn’t any higher for you than common sugar.
7. Some cereal bars
Regardless of their healthful ‘good-for-you’ picture and advertising and marketing strap traces, cereal bars usually are not all the time what they appear – some include as a lot sugar as a chocolate bar. The cereal bar market is extremely numerous and if ever there was a case for taking a couple of minutes to learn the diet info on the label, that is it.
8. Power drinks
Helpful? Sure, for athletes, and perhaps often to supply a fast power increase for the remainder of us. However wholesome? No means! A mixture of sugar and caffeine, some power drinks additionally include substances like taurine, guarana, ginseng and B nutritional vitamins. A 500ml bottle can include the equal of 13 sugar cubes – though sugar-free choices, which use synthetic sweeteners quite than sugar, are additionally out there.
The opposite problem is the caffeine content material. Many well being professionals are involved in regards to the common use of those drinks, notably by younger folks and adolescents. The British Dietetic Affiliation says: “There’s a rising quantity of proof to show that the consumption of power drinks is detrimental to each the bodily and psychological wellbeing of younger folks.”
Learn extra about power drinks
9. Fruit leather-based
Comprised of dried puréed fruit, these snacks are marketed as wholesome alternate options and an appropriate lunch field snack for youths. Regardless of making claims reminiscent of ‘no added sugar’, ‘100 per cent pure’, or ‘one among your five-a-day’, the Shoppers Affiliation reported that many of those snacks include giant quantities of free sugars, the kind of sugar which we must be consuming much less of. The opposite drawback is that they follow the enamel which will increase the danger of tooth decay. The underside line is that there are a lot more healthy methods to eat fruit.
10. Vegetable crisps
Regardless of their ‘well being halo’, vegetable crisps are not any higher for you than common potato crisps. They usually include extra energy, fats and salt than common crisps, too. Though they do contribute extra fibre than potato crisps, a 30g serving supplies lower than 10 per cent of the beneficial each day quantity, and there are definitely many different wholesome methods to spice up your fibre consumption.
11. Fruit-flavoured yogurt
The yogurt aisle is filled with decisions, however many fruit-flavoured choices are loaded with sugar or synthetic sweeteners in addition to components like emulsifiers and stabilisers, in addition to flavourings. Why not select a plain, unflavoured yogurt as an alternative and add your individual flavourings like recent fruit, nuts or seeds? Verify labels and search for a product with ‘dwell cultures’, no added sugar and a brief checklist of substances.
Examine the advantages of Greek yogurt
12. Breakfast biscuits
Usually marketed because the wholesome possibility for individuals who eat breakfast ‘on the run’, breakfast biscuits are usually made utilizing refined grains, have added nutritional vitamins and minerals and include sugar, honey or molasses. Consequently, most manufacturers are low in protein and fibre.
Surveys of those merchandise means that labels are deceptive, with diet info given for one biscuit on the entrance of pack however a pouch containing two or extra biscuits per serving.
13. Path combine
This standard snack combine is a mix of granola, dried fruit, nuts and generally chocolate chips. Store-bought variations are as a rule excessive in sugar or salt and should include seed oils
Strive making your individual more healthy path combine like our cinnamon & apricot path combine
14. Flavoured water
Flavoured water is wholesome – proper? Nicely, for those who purchase bottled flavoured water, it’s prone to have added sugar or sweeteners, preservatives reminiscent of potassium sorbate, in addition to synthetic ‘fruit’ flavourings quite than juice from the healthful trying fruit pictured on the label.
As an occasional drink to interchange fizzy drinks this can be advantageous, however consumed usually it’s not a wholesome selection. That’s as a result of the added sweeteners do nothing to wean us from our ‘candy’ behavior, and the implications of usually consuming sweeteners are at the moment inconclusive. Moreover, components like preservatives, though typically recognised as secure, might have implications for facets reminiscent of intestine well being.
Why not flavour your individual water? Try our fruit-infused water
15. Protein bars
Whether or not its including protein-enriching powders to our meals or snacking on protein bars, it appears we’re fixated by one factor for the time being – getting extra protein.
There’s one factor most of those protein-rich merchandise have in frequent and it’s not simply protein! They’re ultra-processed and can usually include emulsifiers, sweeteners or sugars, the latter usually within the type of rice syrup, glucose syrup or fructose. What might also come as some shock, given these merchandise have a declaration for being excessive in protein, is that lots of them are additionally excessive in fats.
Learn extra about our obsession with protein
Additional studying
Now you already know which ‘well being’ meals to be cautious about, learn extra about what makes a nutritious diet.
What to eat for good health8 methods to chop down on sugarHow a lot fats ought to I eat a day?Low cost and wholesome household meal recipes
This web page was reviewed on 24 March 2025 by Kerry Torrens
All well being content material on goodfood.com is supplied for common info solely, and shouldn’t be handled as an alternative to the medical recommendation of your individual physician or another well being care skilled. If in case you have any issues about your common well being, it’s best to contact your native well being care supplier. See our web site phrases and circumstances for extra info.
