I can’t tell you how many people come to see me and think that they eat healthy up until they start to write everything down and we discuss some of their choices. We don’t have to be perfect, but here are a few things to watch out for that are not as healthy as they seem.
Extra Light Olive Oil
Did you know that extra light olive oil isn’t “light” like the light we talk about when we’re cutting back fats? Extra light in this instance refers to how processed the oil is, and extra light olive oil is one of the most refined olive oils you’ll find. You can recognize it from other types of olive oils because it is the lightest in color and has the mildest flavor. Pale and buttery, or green and fruity – olive oil is still oil, and every tablespoon of it contains 120 calories.
Wheat Flour
If a product is made with wheat flour, it might as well be white. Most wheat flour is just enriched white flour. The wheat was stripped and bleached to make white flour and then a few nutrients were added, making it much less nutritious and more likely to spike your blood sugar levels. Unless the products you are buying says “100% Whole Wheat” or “Whole Grain”, steer clear.
Sports Drinks
After a workout, I see a lot of people at the gym reaching for sports drinks. After you’ve burnt some unwanted calories, why add the extra sugar? Powerade contains 125 calories and 34 grams of sugar, which is about 8 teaspoons of sugar. In 20 ounces of Gatorade, there are 130 calories and 35 grams of sugar, which is about 8.3 teaspoons of sugar; you can see why nutritionists recommend water over sports drinks. Sports drinks are designed for replenishing the bodies of athletes; if you’re not engaged in high-intensity activity, you can skip them.
Low Fat
Fat-free, low-fat and reduced fat foods may sound like a good idea. While less fat in your diet can be a good thing, products with these labels usually come at a price. When the fat is removed from a product, its sodium and sugar content often increases, as does the thickener and chemical content, all in the name of trying to mimic full-fat flavor and mouth-feel.
Vegetarian Foods
There is a lot of research to support that a plant-based diet is extremely beneficial for your health. Many people that jump on the vegetarian bandwagon start relying on more processed food like fake veggie meat, tofu and other soy-based products and tend to eat more pasta and cheese. Regardless of whether you eat meat or not, if you eat processed foods, you add unnecessary salt, sugar and fats to your diet, which are not great health choices.
At Bronte Wellness Boutique, our team of Naturopathic Doctors provides Oakville area patients with nutrition and weight loss support, including individualized meal planning, recipes, IV therapy/injections, natural supplements to increase metabolism, detoxification protocols and hormone balancing therapies.
To learn more, please contact our Oakville clinic for details.