10 Foods You Think Are Healthy — But Aren’t!

We have so many food options that confusion about what’s healthy and what isn't is the norm – from cookies with vitamins to drinks that will help you lose fat. Cross these 10 foods off your “healthy” list.

10 Foods You Think Are Healthy — But Aren’t!

By Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD

We are a nation of dieters. We try new fads and new products. We listen to promises of fast and easy weight loss. We also have so many food options that confusion about what’s healthy and what isn't is the norm – from cookies with vitamins to drinks that will help you lose fat. Here are 10 foods you should cross off your “healthy” list.

Souped-Up Drinks

Souped-Up Drinks

There are hundreds of “health” drink options on the market today. You can find drinks filled with vitamins, probiotics and even fiber. But how do they truly stack up when it comes to meaningful weight loss?

If they’ve got more than 1 to 2 ingredients, my advice is to skip it. That’s because any drink with various ingredients is likely to either have added calories in the form of simple sugars, and if it’s sweet but has no calories, it’s got artificial sweeteners, which aren't great for your waistline, either. Recent studies are linking artificial sweeteners with vascular events and even increases in metabolic syndrome. When it comes to drinks, think simple – water, coffee, tea – and cheap!

Overeating for Pleasure or Just Can't Get Full? This Hormone Could Be to Blame

Here's how to get things back on track.

Q: I end up overeating because it makes me feel better and I never really get full. I'd like to lose weight but this makes it hard. Any suggestions?

A: Being persistently hungry can cause big trouble. So can overeating for comfort/pleasure. These two behaviors, say researchers from Baylor University's Children's Nutrition Research Center, are controlled deep within your brain by serotonin-producing neurons, but operate separately from each other — one in the hypothalamus, the other in the midbrain. They both can, however, end up fueling poor nutritional choices and obesity.

Eating for Hunger

When hunger is your motive for eating, the question is: "Does your body know when you've had enough?" Well, if you are overweight, obese or have diabetes you may develop leptin resistance and your "I am full" hormone, leptin, can't do its job. The hormone's signal to your hypothalamus is dampened, and you keep eating.

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