Seven “Healthy” Foods That Are Making You Fat

I don’t know if you realize this or not, but most food companies have mastered the art of making things SEEM healthy even if they aren't. For example, packages of gummy bears usually say they contain "real fruit juice." And even though they do have SOME, they're mostly made of corn syrup. The people at Prevention Magazine looked into seven ‘healthy” foods and they say those foods might be making you fat.

#1.) Baked Potato Chips. They have less fat than regular potato chips, but they're still high in calories, low in nutrients, and low in fiber. A better alternative is popcorn, which has more fiber but 65% fewer calories.

#2.) Light Ice Cream. First of all, it doesn't taste as good and it can also have just as many calories. For example, the average full-fat ice cream has about 140 calories per serving. Dairy-free ice cream made with soy and coconut milk is better for you and some people like it just as much as the regular stuff.

#3.) Zero-Calorie, Spray-On Margarine. Even though the bottle says zero calories, companies are allowed to SAY zero as long as it has less than five calories per serving. That means a bottle that says "zero" can actually have up to 900 calories. A better choice is spray-on olive oil, which has a little fat, but it's still healthier. The monounsaturated fatty acids in it are good for your heart and lower your cancer risk.

#4.) Fat-Free Salad Dressing. To make it taste good, food companies add sugar, which means a lot of calories. And you actually NEED a little bit of fat to help you absorb the vitamins in your salad. So you should use regular, oil-based salad dressings, which have healthy fats instead of the saturated fat used in creamy dressings.

#5.) 100-Calorie Snack Packs. A recent study showed that people might actually eat MORE if the portions are presented in smaller packages. So, those 100-calorie packs are okay as long as you only eat one. If you eat three, it defeats the purpose. Prevention suggests eating almonds instead which is a lamer option, but it's also much healthier.

#6.) Pretzels. Fat-free pretzels seem healthier than chips. But they're made with refined white flour, and they're stripped of all their vitamins and antioxidants. Plus, they're loaded with carbs. Think of it this way: One 15-ounce bag of pretzels has the same number of carbs as 24 slices of white bread. A better snack is a whole grain cracker that's high in fiber and protein.

#7.) Vitamin Water. It does have vitamins, but one bottle can also have up to 200 calories. And if you add 200 calories a day to your diet without exercising, it can make you gain as much as 20 pounds a year. Instead, look for a flavored water with zero calories or just stick to regular water.

Source: Prevention Magazine