Svetlana Rimarchik, a gastroenterologist at the Seventh Heaven Medical Center (Minsk), told BeautyHack about products that only seem useful at first glance. Take a note for the holidays!
Muesli bars
When they find these bars in the health food section of supermarkets, many automatically classify them as healthy foods. In fact, this is far from the best snack option. They usually contain a lot of sugar in the form of molasses or honey (most often concentrated), and the nuts and seeds that make up the base of the bar are very oily and put a strain on the liver. In terms of calorie content, muesli bars are not inferior to chocolate.
Industrial seed oil (flax, corn, cotton)
All of these oils contain trans fats, which create free radicals in the body and cause omega-3 imbalances in the body. The best choice would be oils with monounsaturated fats - coconut, olive, avocado, grape.
White rice
It is better to replace white rice with quinoa grits. Unlike quinoa, rice has a high glycemic index, which leads to higher blood sugar levels. In addition, quinoa contains twice as much protein, six times as much calcium and ten times as fiber.
Low fat products
The main problem with low-fat foods is the lack of normal flavor. By depriving them of natural and healthy fats, the manufacturer literally makes the product tasteless, so he needs to add artificial ingredients so that the food regains its flavor. For example, a large number of sweeteners: sugar, fructose, corn syrup, or, in the case of low fat yoghurts, stabilizers.
Liver
Being a really healthy food containing amino acids, iron and proteins, the liver can also be harmful to the body. It must be consumed in limited quantities. For example, chicken liver contains a large amount of cholesterol (5 times more than pork). The liver is also rich in extractives that increase the burden on the liver and kidneys. Pregnant women are allowed no more than 100 grams of liver per week.
Brown sugar
Many people prefer brown sugar rather than traditional refined white sugar. However, the former has almost the same calorie content as white. With its excessive consumption, fats are also deposited, the amount of cholesterol in the blood increases, which can lead to the development of atherosclerosis. In addition, brown sugar contains a lot of simple sugars, which can trigger the development of diabetes.
Olives
Olives also have positive aspects: they regulate metabolism, strengthen immunity, and contain polyunsaturated fats necessary for the body. However, these properties apply primarily to bitter fresh berries. To remove the bitterness, the olives are canned, thereby increasing their calorie content. If one hundred grams of fresh olives have a calorie content of 140, then after conservation this figure rises to 300.
Vegetarian cheese
Many adherents of a healthy diet, not being vegetarians, prefer vegetarian cheese that does not contain animal components (rennet). Thus, they expect to get a product with a lower fat content. However, the presence of other components in the composition does not in any way affect the calorie content of the product.
Artificial sugar substitutes
They are recommended for diabetics, arguing that sweeteners have a low glycemic index. However, studies have shown that it is artificial sweeteners that can cause allergies, weight gain, and headaches.
Organic products
Today, the word "organic product" can not only speak of safety, but also hint at a well thought out marketing strategy. Keep in mind that organic cookies, chocolates, and even chips do not provide unlimited options. In addition, if it is really important for you to use organic products grown without the use of chemicals, find out detailed information about the manufacturer and pay attention to the special labeling.
