Have you ever eaten foods that you thought were healthy, then later found out that it wasn’t good for you at all? You are not alone, I can promise you that. There’s so much advertising about food and these ads can make every food look healthy even if the are a direct danger to our bodies, everyday health and well being.

Below is a list of foods that you might think are good for you, but really they’re not. Please make sure you eliminate these as much as possible.

Protein Bars
Protein bars are pretty much like a Mars Bar (or any other chocolate bar) that they have infused with some chemically made protein and vitamins. They seem like a healthy replacement by the look of the wrapper, but the truth is that most of the brands contain twice as much fat and carbs than a chocolate brownie. If you want to eat clean and have your weight under control then protein bars are a BIG NO, NO.

Dried Fruit
It is soooo easy to think that dried fruit is an easy, healthy snack option. But I have to tell you the truth; it’s like eating pure sugar. During the process of drying the fruit most of the vitamins and minerals are lost. I suggest that you stay away from dried fruit and stick to the fresh stuff or frozen. This will ensure that you keep your sugar levels low and you will also feel fuller for longer.

Yoghurt
I love yoghurt as it is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, but so many brands have as much fat and sugar as a donut. If you eat yoghurt make sure you are only getting the good stuff by choosing natural or plain Greek as it gives you twice as much protein and half the amount of carbs as the traditional low fat options.

Bran Muffins
Just because it says “bran muffin” does not mean they are healthy. To have this every morning with your coffee just makes you eat a lot of sugar, fat and refined flours. If you need a muffin in the morning make an omelette muffin and when you feel like a treat that’s when you have a bran muffin, remember it is a treat and should be avoided most of the time.

Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Did you know that in just two tablespoons of fat-free Italian dressing, you take in up to 500mg of sodium and that’s a third of the total amount you should eat in an entire day? Make your own low-salt dressing by combining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and any spices you like and maybe a bit of mustard.

Sushi
Sushi, I thought is was really healthy? Well, number one you have the white rice that isready to blow up your waistline as the starchy rice grains are packed tightly into a small sushi roll you end up eating more sugar then you think. If you need your sushi hit avoid any roll that includes tempura (which is another word for deep fried), cream cheese, shredded cheese, or spicy mayo sauce.

Take home message: Please do your research on foods that you think are healthy before you buy them. Also read the labels, it is a very good indication on what is actually in the foods. Eat real fresh foods as much as you can. That’s what our bodies want and need.