“Healthy” Foods That May Contain Too Much Sugar

“Healthy” Foods That May Contain Too Much Sugar

Determining whether a food is healthy or not can be tricky – and many supposedly “healthy” foods are not as healthy as they may seem.

Be careful when choosing the following foods. They can be healthy options – or they may be loaded with sugar!

Breakfast Cereals. Many breakfast cereals are loaded with sugar – even some of the seemingly healthy ones. Check the label and choose those with the least amount of sugar – a good rule of thumb is less than 10 g per serving.

Yogurt. Some flavoured yogurts are loaded with sugar – even some Greek yogurts. Check the labels and choose those with the least amount of sugar.

Dried Fruit. Fruit naturally contains sugar. When fruit is dried, it becomes a more concentrated source of sugar – and some have sugar added on top of that. Stick to small portions of unsweetened varieties.

Protein Powder. Some protein powders are loaded with sugar to add flavour – check the labels and choose those with the least amount of sugar.

Protein Bars. Some protein bars are loaded with sugar and are more like candy bars than healthy snacks or meal replacements – Read labels carefully.

Soy, Almond, Coconut, Rice or Cashew Beverages. Many of these contain added sugar, especially flavoured varieties. Read the label and choose unsweetened versions.

Flavoured Water. While some flavoured waters contain natural flavours, some are flavoured with sugar. Stick to those that have natural flavours, or buy unflavoured sparkling water and add fruit slices.

Smoothies. A smoothie can be a very nutritious meal or snack – or it can be a high-sugar (and high-calorie) explosion. Make your own smoothies and choose your ingredients wisely. Use the amount you would normally eat in one setting – such as 1 cup of milk, ½ – 1 cup of fruit, 1 – 2 tbsp. ground flax seed and ¼ avocado.