Did You Fall For Any of These?
A lot of products, habits, and behaviors that are marketed as healthy actually aren’t. Plenty of people make these misconceptions, and that’s exactly what certain companies count on to sell their stuff. How many of the items on this list did you already know about, and did we miss any other harmful things?
1. Vitamin Water
The name suggests that this drink is healthy for you; after all, the design seems so light and natural-looking. Your body needs vitamins, and this drink claims to be full of them, but in reality, it’s loaded with sugar. In fact, one woman even once sued the company for false advertising.
2. Eliminating Salt
Sodium has some downsides, which is why a lot of people try to reduce their salt intake. Still, it’s recommended that adults have 1500 to 2300 milligrams of salt per day. In fact, your body needs salt, and without enough sodium, you’ll have severe cramps.
3. Douching
Douching is advertised as an effective way to clean your most intimate body parts. However, these parts usually don’t require such invasive cleaning, and simply washing with water is enough. When you use douching, you end up removing all the helpful bacteria that help maintain your system’s pH value, leading to infections.
4. Immediately Brushing Your Teeth
It may make sense to brush your teeth immediately after eating; after all, you just got them dirty and so you should now clean them. However, it’s recommended to wait at least half an hour before brushing. This is because sugars and acids in your food will soften the surface of your teeth, making them more susceptible to brushing straight away.
5. Brushing Yellow Teeth
Here’s another interesting fact about teeth. That yellow color is a naturally occurring layer called dentin that is under your enamel. When you brush too roughly, you remove that layer of white enamel, revealing the yellow underneath. So, it turns out that more brushing might not be the way to get rid of yellow teeth.
National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
6. Quick CrossFit
This is nothing against CrossFit, as it’s a very helpful exercise for many. But something beginners might not know to look out for is their form. CrossFit usually involves doing things as fast as possible in a fixed time. Because of that, some people may not take into account how technical and complicated the exercises can be. Without the right form, if you do these exercises quickly, you may injure yourself.
7. Soda Alternatives
A lot of people think removing soda from their diet will make them healthier, and while that’s true, replacing the soda with another sugary drink isn’t the answer. For example, many people may turn to fruit juices or Arizona tea as their new soda substitute. However, these drinks can also be loaded with unhealthy amounts of sugar, so just be sure to check that label first.
8. Too Much Fatty Fish
Fatty fishes like salmon, tuna, and mackerel are loaded with super healthy omega-3 fatty acids. These acids help with everything from reducing inflammation to managing weight to reducing blood pressure. However, too much of a good thing can lead to bad results. For instance, too much consumption of tuna is linked with a higher likelihood of mercury poisoning.
jirayu koontholjinda on Unsplash
9. Slingshot Diets
Diets are meant to help the body and aid in achieving weight loss. But plenty of these diets only offer short-term solutions that are unsustainable. Slingshot dieting means following whatever’s trendy, whether that’s belly teas or extreme calorie deficits. Even if it works for a month or so, it isn’t a long-term solution. Slower, intentional lifestyle changes are usually more effective and permanent.
10. Avoiding Gluten
Of course, if you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, you should definitely avoid this compound. However, if you’re just doing it to be trendy or because you think it’s healthier, you might want to rethink this. Just because a food is gluten-free doesn’t mean it’s low sugar or low-calorie. In fact, many gluten products overcompensate with sugar and calories for flavor.
11. Yogurt
Yogurt is great for healthy digestion, as it’s full of probiotics. However, not all yogurts are made equally. Some novelty yogurt brands have as much sugar as a candy bar. So be sure to check that label to make sure you’re getting natural and plain yogurt.
12. Agave Instead Of Sugar
Agave nectar is often marketed as a healthy alternative to sugar, but that isn’t really the case. It’s very high in fructose but has a lower glycemic index, which leads to a slower rise in blood sugar levels. Both sugar and agave should be consumed in moderation; however, maple syrup may be a healthier alternative to both.
13. Coffee Questions
It seems like every other day, the ideas about coffee are changing. Some studies say drinking too much is bad, while others say you need to drink more to be healthy. The reality is moderation. Most things, including coffee, are fine as long as they’re in moderation.
14. Avoiding Fat
Usually, when you see foods with high fat content, it may make sense to avoid them, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. However, fat is an integral part of one’s diet and can help you feel full and transmit flavor without relying on sugar. Of course, you want to consider where the fat is coming from. For example, avocados are loaded with healthy fats and help manage appetite.
15. Margarine
Some people believe margarine is healthier than butter, but that’s not always the case. It really depends on the brands and the nutritional labels, because some butter brands have margarine brands beat. The low saturated fat content in margarine is often better for heart health, but some margarine contain trans fats and are less natural than butter products.
16. Orange Juice
When you buy orange juice, be sure to get the 100% pure kind. Otherwise, you’ll be getting a lot of sugar and calories with that daily dose of vitamin C. Additionally, eating raw oranges might be an easier way to get these vitamins than depending on juices, as the C content reduces after being extracted and exposed to air.
17. Canned Soup
Imagine you’re walking through the store and see a can of vegetable soup or perhaps chicken noodle. These canned soups make for easy meals and often contain veggies, grains, and meats for protein. However, they also come with preservatives and very high salt content, way more than you’d want in one meal.
18. Some Smoothies
By now you already know that many juices and yogurts can be unhealthy, especially if they’re your average sugar-loaded variant. Many smoothie bars use these very products in their drinks, bringing down the health value of their blended fruits. So be sure to look into the exact ingredients your smoothie bar is using or consider making them at home yourself.
19. Veggie Chips
It’s easy to think veggie chips are healthier than potato chips, but after all, the potato is a vegetable, too. If either of the chips is deep-fried and oversalted, then you’re going to run into the usual issues. You’re better off finding baked or kettle-cooked chips.
20. Detox Cleanses
A lot of teas, drinks, and diets claim to detoxify your body. You can even get pills to supposedly remove the toxins. But the reality is that your body will naturally detoxify if you just stop eating junk food or do a brief fast. All the products do is send you to the bathroom and make you lose water weight.
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