5 foods that aren’t as healthy as you thought

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SALT LAKE CITY — During the summer months, many people look for different diets to help them achieve that swimsuit-ready body. Others try eating healthier to lose those last stubborn 15 pounds. However, some of the “health” foods may not be as healthy as you think.

In 2013, KSL.com highlighted five foods that many people often think of as healthy or low fat that actually aren’t doing you any favors in your overall health and fitness. Here are five more foods that aren’t as healthy as you may have thought.

Veggie patties

For anyone trying to cut meat out of their diet, veggie patties can be a good alternative. However, many of the processed, frozen veggie patties use more “fillers” to create a burger-like texture, which makes the patties much more unhealthy than actual vegetables, according to Yahoo! Health.

Anyone wanting to eat veggie burgers should check the ingredient list to make sure vegetables are listed at the beginning of the ingredient list.

"Fat free" foods

Many may flock to the "fat free" food products with the thought of shedding the pounds by eliminating transfats. However, registered dietician Katherine Brooking, MS, RD told cookinglight.com that fat free does not mean calorie free. Many make the mistake of thinking because something is fat free, it won't make them fat.

Calorie intake is still a major factor in maintaining weight and just because a food is fat free does not exempt it from containing a large amount of calories. Always check the nutrition labels when buying packaged foods to be sure you're getting a nutritious product. Calories, sodium, fiber, vitamins and minerals should all be considered in addition to fat when trying to eat healthy.

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"Healthy" grain cereals

Many parents may buy their children breakfast cereals like Honey Nut Cheerios or Raisin Bran to have a healthier alternative than sugar-coated Fruity Pebbles or Fruit Loops. However, according to a study done by the Huffington Post, Honey Nut Cheerios had the same equivalent of sugar in one serving as Fruity Pebbles. And 1.5 cups of Fruity Pebbles contains a whopping 18 grams of sugar.

The Huffington Post report said that while Honey Nut Cheerios had the equivalent amount of sugar as Fruity Pebbles, the other "healthy" breakfast cereals had a significantly higher sugar content. Honey Bunches of Oats had 28 grams of sugar to Fruity Pebble's 18 grams and Raisin Bran had 30 grams of sugar.

Protein/energy bars

While protein bars are designed to increase energy levels and help increase muscle, many of them are also packed with as much sugar and fats as a candy bar.

"A lot of so-called nutrition bars can harbor stealth ingredients like hydrogenated oils, saturated fat, and sugar or sugar alcohols, and some have more calories than a brick of chocolate," clincal nutrition coordinator Samantha Heller, R.D., told Women's Health Magazine.

Consumers should check the nutrition labels before picking out their energy bar to make sure the sugar and saturated fat levels are low.

Bottled green tea

Many boast of the health benefits of green teas from soothing headaches to helping fight the common cold, but when the beverage is sold in a bottle, it is not quite as healthy.

According to ABC News, some of the mass-produced bottles have only a miniscule amount of the powerful catechins that contribute to the health benefits of green tea. Many of the bottled teas are also loaded with sugar. For example, SoBe Energize Green Tea offers more than 50 grams of sugar in a 20-ounce bottle.

Next time you want to eat better or lose weight, be sure to read the nutrition labels on those "health" foods and don't be fooled by misleading marketing.

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Faith Heaton Jolley

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