When it comes to nutrition or exercise there is a lot of information out there on the interwebs. To sift the truly life changing advice from the ones that don’t do much or are even harmful is difficult. This article hopes to throw some light on popular foods that are supposedly good for health but really aren’t.
8 Healthy Foods That May Be Bad For You
These days word gets around faster than ever – so fast that sometimes there is no room for validation. There are a lot of super foods around and while these help your body, you should understand that too much of it can be harmful to your system. Let’s look at a few foods that are popular with a lot of people for their benefits.
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Coffee
This is one of the most widely drunk beverages in the world and for good reason. It has antioxidants as well as compounds that are really helpful to the body. Plus nothing can really pick you up on a Monday morning quite like a cup of hot coffee!
The good
From promoting wakefulness to preventing heart disease, coffee is definitely great for you but in small amounts. Popular studies show that drinking coffee can fight coronary calcification, strengthen DNA strands, and reduce heart failure. 5 cups of coffee on average, which comes to around 400mg, should be ideal for most people.
The bad
For a lot of people, upwards of 600mg of coffee can result in nervousness, palpitations, diarrhea, and irritability. It does vary from person to person but excessive coffee can most assuredly cause these symptoms.
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Vegetables
More specifically vegetables of the cruciferous variety have several benefits and are also linked to be critical at helping you lose weight. A lot of people drink smoothies these days which are made up of a lot of cruciferous vegetables.
The good
Cruciferous veggies make up a chunk of the general populace’s intake of vegetables because they are easy to prepare, good for the body and aids weight loss. These types of vegetables are even shown to reduce cancer risks in people because of their high glucosinolate content.
The bad
While crucifers are generally healthy, people who are sensitive to thyroid issues should avoid taking them in large quantities. This is because they contain compounds called thiocyanates which inhibits absorption of iodine in the body leading to hypothyroidism.
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Energy bars
Through marketing hype and general acceptance, energy bars have now become one of the things fall back on in the event of a missed meal. They are purported to be a healthy alternative to munching on junk food.
The good
Energy bars or snack bars were created to prevent hypoglycemia and reduce hyperglycemia. They are ideally much better than missing a meal or when you’re on the go because they help maintain blood sugar levels.
The bad
There are a lot of varieties of energy bars and not all of them are good for you. As a rule of thumb, only opt for snack bars that have less than 200 calories, with no Trans-fat, no sugar, 15 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.
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Omega-3 and Fish Oils
Omega-3 is a type of fatty acid that is most commonly produced from fish. You can derive the benefits when you eat fish as well as take Omega-3 supplements which are available in most stores. It is important to supplement your Omega-3 because most diets are low in them.
The good
Omega-3 can help fight against various types of inflammations in the body, combat heart disease and accelerate brain development.
The bad
The ideal dosage for Omega-3 is 1 – 6 grams in a day. Exceeding this can have adverse effects on your body like blood thinning specifically when the individual is healthy. A high intake of omega-3 can also result in the intake of vitamin A, which causes toxicity in the system. This is especially relevant for children and pregnant women.
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Tuna
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Regardless of who you ask, chances are if they consume fish Tuna is right up there at the top of the list because of their numerous health benefits.
The good
Tuna is considered to be very healthy, laden with protein and has good fats beneficial to the body. They are a great source of omega-3 and antioxidants which help your body in a variety of ways. It produces melatonin which is the sleep regulating hormone present in the body.
The bad
For all its goodness, you shouldn’t eat tuna excessively because it contains high levels of mercury and this is especially true of the bigger sized fish as they contain even more of the harmful substance. The safety limits of methylmercury in humans is 0.1 micrograms/kg of bodyweight. The alternative would be to consume other types of fish that contain less mercury like trout, mackerel, salmon, and sardines.
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Cinnamon
A spice that is widely acclaimed for its exotic taste and medicinal properties, we have been using cinnamon since time immemorial. In ancient Egypt it was considered a gift fit for royalty because it was rare and valuable.
The good
Cinnamon has several benefits which have made it one of the most popular spices available now. It has polyphenols which are found to have stronger anti-oxidative properties than the most popular superfoods available now. It is also considered as an anti-inflammatory as well as prevents heart disease.
The bad
Cinnamon is found to contain high traces of coumarin, a compound that is dangerous in larger doses. Taken excessively, it can cause liver toxicity and in some cases, even cancer. There are 2 types of cinnamon available, cassia and Ceylon. Cassia contains a high amount of coumarin and Ceylon relatively less. The ideal amount of cinnamon you should consume is about 2 grams of Cassia or 5 grams of Ceylon.
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Coconut water
Coconut water is the juice that is at the center of a coconut which is used by the plant to nourish itself. Despite the name coconut, it is actually a fruit.
The good
Coconut water is tasty and refreshing while being chockfull of nutrients, minerals and electrolytes that you don’t get with a lot of food while having close to zero fat. In a study with rats, coconut water has been shown to reduce inflammation along with blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
The bad
While it is a bit better than other types of fruit juices, but it still contains sugars which means a lot of it is not good for your body. Coconut water also contains a high amount of potassium which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and even losing consciousness.
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Trail mix
Who doesn’t love trail mix? Invented by Hadley Food Orchards to be consumed during strenuous activity like treks, it is easy to carry around and is energy dense.
The good
A handful of assorted nuts can boost energy levels and is the preferred energy booster of a lot of people hitting the trail. It has a lot of sugar and salt to make up for the loss when you’re hiking. It tastes great and makes a good accompaniment for drinks plus it is made up of nuts and dried fruits so it’s healthy as well. Right?
The bad
Wrong. While a trail mix works great for people who get hungry on long hikes, it definitely doesn’t for people who are behind a desk. The objective of a trail mix is to provide as much energy as it can per volume which make this a high calorie snack. Unless you’re putting in work to burn off those calories, what you’re doing is just adding more unhealthy fat to your body.
Conclusion
We hope to have dispelled some myths behind popular foods that people think are healthy. What you need to remember is portion control is very important when it comes to nutrition. Most of the healthy food in our lineup is only bad if taken in excess. The best method to protect yourself against ill effects is to read up on it and make sure that you aren’t allergic to it. For other fitness and nutrition related advice, head over to the Shredded Fit website.
