A little extra padding isn’t the end of the world. But sometimes it’s nice to lose a little weight. Not only will your jeans fit a little better, you’ll also feel happier and be more positive about life.
But sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter how much you exercise or how little you eat. Sometimes, the devil is in the details, as they say. And it turns out, some common so-called “health foods” contain a ton of calories — and they actually have the opposite effect of helping us lose or maintain our weight.
In this list, we’ve collected eight foods that many people probably haven’t thought of, but which can be real diet killers. By replacing these foods with healthier options, you won’t just achieve your weight-loss goals easier, you’ll also feel better.
Scroll through the list below and feel free to share it with your friends. Our health is the most important thing we have and little adjustments to our diet can do wonders!
1. Juice
Take a look at the back of any container of juice and you’ll be surprised. Most fruit juice is full of sugar, which quickly puts a stop to any weight-loss goals. So if you like juice and really want a glass in the morning, take a close look at its sugar content. You might consider drinking water with a slice of lemon or any other fruit instead.
2. Taco seasoning
Who doesn’t love tacos? They’re easy to make, they’re delicious and they can be healthy. But they can also be real calorie bombs. We’re not talking about the shells, but the taco seasoning you buy in a little pouch. Its main ingredients are sugar and salt. Sure, they make it taste addictively good, but do you really want to eat something that’s 50 percent sugar? Skip the spice pack and make your own instead!
3. Dried fruit
Just like juice, dried fruit can contain an unhealthy dose of sugar. In fact, it could be as bad for you as candy — or in some cases even worse — because it contains all the sugar of fresh fruit in a smaller package and in some cases, sweeteners or preservatives are also added to dried fruit. So if you want to enjoy fruit, eat it fresh or go for frozen fruit without additives.
4. Flavored yogurt
The flavored yogurt that you eat for breakfast or mix into a smoothie might be nutritious, but it’s probably also full of calories and sugar. One study, for example, found that flavored yogurt contains about six spoonfuls of sugar per portion. A better way to go is to choose plain unsweetened yogurt and mix in fresh fruit and a little honey yourself. That way you can control how much sugar you consume.
5. White rice
White rice is nutritious, but it also consists of lot of simple carbohydrates that make you feel hungry again in no time. Refined white rice is also high on the glycemic index (GI) and rapidly increases blood sugar. The refining process also washes away many vitamins, minerals and fibers. A better choice is brown rice, which is also a better source of fiber.
6. Dark bread
There’s a common misconception that dark bread is nutritious. Of course, it can be. But it’s not automatically healthy just because it’s not white. It can actually be full of sugar and additives. For example, if bread is dark because it contains brown syrup, it also contains plenty of sugar along with white flour that’s full of simple carbohydrates.
7. Chicken
Do chicken and exercise go hand in hand? They absolutely can. Many people who exercise or want to lose weight choose chicken because it’s low-calorie and protein-rich. But not all chicken is created equal. Chicken with skin contains more than twice as many calories as skinless chicken. And if you buy chicken that’s been marinated, it also contains large amounts of sugar.
8. Nuts
Nuts are touted by many fitness enthusiasts, and of course, they’re a good source of protein and quick energy. On the other hand, it really depends on how many nuts you eat. One hundred grams of cashew nuts contain a whopping 590 calories — 46.5 grams of which are fat!
Whether you’re on a diet or not, this information is good to know. Imagine the difference it will make when you’re trying to eat right!
Please share this list with your friends and loved ones on Facebook. They’ll thank you later!
