5 "Healthy" Foods to Avoid

Phrases and words such as “low fat,” “high fiber,” “multigrain” and “natural” can fool even the most sophisticated customers into believing what they’re buying is healthful. My advice... Make a habit of reading the ingredients list, not just the Nutrition Facts panel.

1-Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter 
The oil is the healthiest part of a nut, containing most of the nutrients. The most healthy types of "nut" butter are almond butter and pistachio butter.   Eat one tablespoon of nut butter or

one or two ounces of nuts daily.  This regiment is associated with reductions in heart disease and cancer risk. A Harvard study showed that eating nuts is associated with lower body weights.
2-Enhanced Water
Drinks such as vitaminwaters can be sugary drinks with a vitamin pill.  Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health believes that vitamins dissolved in water may not have any benefit depending on your biological makeup and whether you already get enough vitamins and minerals in your everyday diet.
Drink water.  It’s the best drink for hydrating your body, is naturally calorie-free and can contain fluoride to prevent tooth decay. No supplement matches the nutrients in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains.
3-Energy Bars/Meal Replacement Bars 
These type bars can be calorie bombs: candy bars with vitamins, protein or fiber added. For most of them, sugar is either the first  or second ingredient. Snack on fruit, veggies, protein for weight loss and muscle gain.

4-Multigrain Foods
Make sure your multigrain breads, crackers and cereals are whole grain foods.  Eating whole grains can lower the incidence of diabetes, heart disease and cancers, and weight gain. Note that when “enriched wheat flour” is listed in the ingredients, that’s refined flour.  Whole grain examples are whole wheat, whole oats or brown rice, and should be the first and preferably the only grain in the ingredient list.
5-Non-Fried Chips & Crackers
It’s easy to believe these foods are healthful because of labels such as “baked,” “low fat” or “gluten free.” Most are made with refined grain or starch, which provide a lot of calories and few nutrients. Research shows that too many refined grains and starches in your diet increase the risk for heart disease, cancers, diabetes and weight gain. Try to eat chips made of whole grains rather than potatoes.  These chips can legitimately be considered a health food.