8 Healthy Foods That May Be Ruining Your Diet
Yes, even healthy foods can also wreak havoc on your diet. The foods on this list are primarily healthy but they are high in calories, making them almost as bad as junk food on account of the number of calories they pack into your body when you don’t eat them in moderation. The main reason why these foods can ruin your diet is portion control.
The "healthy" label on some foods is not a license to eat them without control. From fruits, fats, oils, and everything in between, moderation is essential if you are to get the right results from your healthy diet. Here are eight healthy foods that may be pushing your diet off the track.
Nuts
Nuts are healthy, but they are notoriously high in fat. A cup of nuts contains up to 825 calories, which makes moderate consumption of these crunchy delights imperative. It’s advisable to stick to a portion equivalent to 1/4 of a measuring cup to keep your calorie intake under control. Remember that in addition to the fat and calories, nuts are usually seasoned with salt, which may increase water retention and skew your weight on the scales. No matter how much you like these yummy snacks, keep your portion under control.
Bananas
A medium-sized banana contains 105 calories and 27 grams of carbohydrates. It is packed with sugar, fibre, vitamins and minerals and could considerably increase your calorie intake when consumed at the wrong time in large amounts. If you are going to eat bananas, its best to eat them before working out or during your active period so you can burn off the excess calories. You can also eat it after exercising to shore up your blood sugar levels. But taking bananas randomly without portion control could be a secret way of packing more calories into your body, and that could contribute to fat gain.
Avocado
Avocados are fruits, but they contain a great deal of fat, making them one of the few fruits with this ability. They are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats which can help lower the risk of stroke and heart disease.
However, the high-fat content is the reason why it has to be consumed with moderation. A medium-sized avocado has up to 15 grams of fat. So, it’s best to eat one avocado per day. You could divide it into two and take the first half at lunch and the rest for dinner.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil has many health benefits and is known to provide some weight loss benefits due to its high medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) content. However, it is also heavy on calories. There are 862 calories in 100 grams of coconut oil, which means you would be consuming calories excessively if you don’t limit your use of coconut oil. In 10 grams of coconut oil, you would be consuming 86 calories. It’s advisable not to use more than 20 grams of coconut oil per day to avoid a significant increase in your calorie intake.
Fruit Juice
Fruit juices are rich in vitamins and minerals found in whole fruits. However, they are also rich in sugar, and most people can’t control their portion as they think it is healthy to drink as much as they want. But this is an indirect way of packing your body with more calories than it needs for energy which may end up as fat in your thighs or hips.
It’s better to eat whole fruits as they are richer in fibre, and are more filling. If you must take juice, It’s advisable to go for 100 percent natural, no-sugar-added version or low sugar varieties. And be sure to drink moderately.
Cereals
Cereals are high in carbs and calories, and you tend to add sugar and milk, significantly increasing the calories in the meal. Also, most people require a large bowl of cereal to get filled, increasing the chances of overeating. All these are recipes for a failed diet. It’s advisable to opt for healthy whole grain cereals such as unsweetened popcorn or tortillas in moderation.
Granola bars
Granola bars are a favourite snack when you want something to give you an energy boost quickly. However, many granola bars are high in sugar, processed carbs and unhealthy fats. Some 50-gram bars contain over 250 calories, and you may take one or two of those as a healthy snack. Is it healthy?
Before buying any granola bar, don’t get carried away by the name and make sure to check the ingredient list and calorie content.
Muesli
Muesli is a combination of dried fruits and nuts. Depending on how the muesli is made, it can contain as much as 289 calories per cup with 79 percent being carbohydrates and 11 percent fat. You need to limit the consumption of this snack to avoid overloading your body with calories.
