10 Most Overrated Health Foods
 

according to Yahoo...
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"1. Yogurt There is nothing innately wrong with yogurt, the natural product. But the real stuff is not nearly as easy to find as the hyper-sweetened dessert versions filling supermarket shelves. Though yogurt can contain beneficial probiotics, friendly bacteria are also present in other fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso. And if you are worried about acne, dairy is probably not your best choice. Oh, and the overratedness is doubly true of frozen yogurt.
If you'd rather keep yogurt as your breakfast staple (something I often use myself), go for plain yogurt, preferably full fat. Don't fall for the vanilla trap; it is not plain and has even more sugar than most fruit versions.
2. Soy
Soy is another one of those foods that can be perfectly healthy, but can also be processed into oblivion, making it an unhealthy product. Hydrogenated soy oil is among the most common sources of trans fat. Processed products are often touted as healthy just because they contain soy, but soy is not exactly the health panacea it is often made out to be. For a healthier version, stick to fermented soy products like miso, natto, or tempeh.
3. Egg Whites
It baffles me that Americans continue to vilify the most nutritious part of the egg while glorifying the less impressive half. Sure, egg whites are a good source of protein on their own, but you're probably not lacking protein and would likely benefit from the rich nutrients of the entire egg.
4. Margarine
Why we need artificial processed oils when there are so many naturally healthy sources of fat is beyond me-that is, assuming you can even find margarines that do not contain hydrogenated oils (trans fats). If you really want more stanols and sterols in your diet, try eating more nuts, avocados, and vegetables. If you want to add buttery flavor, just use real butter (preferably from grass-fed cows).
5. Bananas
I have a bit of a reputation for picking on bananas, but I really don't think they're all bad, and they definitely taste yummy. My biggest problems with them are that they are produced industrially and are one of the most calorie-dense fruits you can buy. When is the last time you saw a banana at the farmers market anyway? Bad for you? Not really. Overrated? Definitely.
6. Fake Meat
Next time you get a chance, check out the ingredients in your favorite meat substitute. It usually contains a lot of gluten, some processed soy, canola oil, cornstarch, and a few bizarre ingredients like "natural vegetarian flavors" (mmm . . . vegetarians). Call me crazy, but real meat sounds a lot more appealing.
Related: The Dark Side of 5 Fake Foods
7. Protein Bars
Remember back in the day when protein bars tasted like crap? Well, they would all still taste that way if manufacturers didn't fill them with sugar or sugar substitutes. Look at the ingredients. The vast majority of protein bars contain the same processed junk that's in everything else, just with a few more vitamins, some added soy protein, and possibly some added fiber. Adding nutrients to junk food does not a health food make.
8. Whole-Grain Flour
Ah, whole grains, how controversial be thy name. Though I'm not as anti-grain as some folks, I don't pretend that highly processed "whole-wheat flour" is actually good for me. Grains that don't look like grains are not your friends.
9. Low-Fat Salad Dressing
Fat is good for you. Yes, fat contains more calories than protein or carbohydrates, but it also enables you to absorb more vitamins from the foods you eat and makes your meals more satisfying. Fat-free dressings do not make you healthier; they make your salad less nourishing.
10. Fruit Juice
Juicing fruit concentrates the sugar while stripping out the filling fiber. When you remember that one 450-ml (15-ounce) bottle of orange juice is equivalent to six whole oranges, you can start to see the problem. Green juices are fine; just be careful with fruit juices."


I totally agree with yogurt (eating the wrong kind with all that sugar), egg whites, non fat dressings, and fake meat. I do not agree at all with avocados!



What are your thoughts?

Im gonna have to show this to my husband he eats those protein bars and thinks they are good for him. I agree with you especially on the egg Id much rather have the yolk too

This is very interesting!
Thanks for sharing.

We use whole-grain flower and low-fat salad dressing.
I think we'll make some small changes :D

I'll tell my mom about the egg. She doesn't like eating the yolk.

Just curious - why do you disagree with the avocado? I know they are high calorie, but I've always thought of them as a healthy fat. I love them!

It must be too early. I'm totally missing the avocado being mentioned. I'm sure it's right in front of my face :nerd:

Here it is :)

So this yahoo article is trying to disprove what my teacher, who was a registered dietician, said about yolks? Sorry. Ain't buying it.

Haha oops! I read another article that said only eat a tiny bit of avocado bc of the calorie content and must have mixed up that article w this one.

The yolks have vitamin D that the whites don't have. Also the yolks just add a trivial amount of fat and calories, and I've heard many reports now that cholesterol in food doesn't have as much an impact on cholesterol in our blood as previously thought.

Supposedly low fat dressings aren't as satisfying either so often times you use more. They also add in extra sugar, salt, etc too up the taste bc of lack of fat.

The best advice I have ever gotten was from my OB GYN doctor (Dr. Hockett) in Mitchel, SD. back in 1974, when he said to eat anything and everything I want, but in moderation. I think if we just add to that with "all natural" foods without dyes or anything more than three things added, we should do just fine. ;)

One thing my teacher taught me is there is no absolutes, there are, however, choices. Sure the yolks have vitamins and what not, but they do have cholesterol and it does add up with the cholesterol found in other foods we eat. And this article goes on into the assumption that we eat enough protein, which frankly, some of us don't eat enough of. (Like me, I LOVE carbs more than anything) for me, egg yolks pros don't outweigh the cons. My opinion anyway.

And since I'm sitting on my high horse, I proclaim today Taco Wednesday!! Cause you know, I love tacos!!!!

Whoops. Double post. The ghosts here are messing with the internet again.

I try to eat 1/2 an avocado a day. I also don't shy away from egg yolks.

I am guilty of low fat dressings but I think low fat is perfectly fine. Is fat free that is bad.

Aaaw man! :(
We ate already :(

I try not to eat anything with soy of any form it it. I just think it is bad for you. Unfortunately they put it in many of our processed foods.

I agree with this advice. Low fat processed diet foods are garbage and a waste of time.

Real food is more satisfying, which means you eat less, and only real food boosts metabolism by promoting your body's overall health.

Soy worries me. I've read many articles that say the soy health craze started when Asian health and longevity were linked to it. However, Asians don't eat anywhere near as much as what Americans eat, especially now that it is a major ingredient in processed foods.

Asian diets that have soy are whole soy, like edamame, tofu, bean curd, natto, etc. Not as fillers to something else. Not only that, but Asian foods for the most part are mostly fish and veggies, not much as processed foods.

The only thing that gets me is soy milk, bc of what my dad told me, but I don't know if it's true. He said so many Asians of the old generation only drank soy milk and not cow milk. There's no calcium in soy milk, and that's why Asians are short. Nowadays, of course cow milk is readily available in Asia. When I went to mainland China I was surprised at how tall everyone was. Most girls were about 5'6-5'8" towered over me (I'm 5'2"). But Asian girls in the US are still pretty short. Isn't that weird!

:thumbup::thumbup:

That is weird and interesting. I wonder what the explanation is.

Yup, I totally agree with you that some of these foods are definitely overrated. To me, Super foods are the ones that have maximum nutrition per calorie. Nutrition is a general term, including vitamins, minerals, protein, fibre, and, yes, antioxidants.
Speaking of antioxidants, while many use this term as a marketing tool, the theory is real and it's proof has been collected in numerous studies, including epidemiological. For example, you could read Dr. Russell Blaylock's website and books. He is a neurosurgeon who spent all his life operating on people brains and collecting medical information that led him to believe in connection between nutrition and health - antioxidant explanation included. He recommends antioxidants to the patients before surgery due to huge release of free radicals during and after it. He has data. And so do many other researchers.
Anyway, whether you believe in it or not, eat your greens for the multitude of health benefits.

Speaking of Super foods to boost immunity, you want to stick to the whole unprocessed foods; top source of vitamins and minerals would be sprouts and greens, vegetables and grains.

:thumbup:

(I know this is older but since it has been commented on recently...)

I have hashimotos thyroiditis which is a form of hypothyroidism. Not only do I not make enough hormone but my body attacks what is made. Soy is absolutely off the list of things to have so I can't eat it OR drink it which is so sad cuz, gross or not, I used to love me some bacon bits!!!!!

Whole grain is still the best option, she's just saying that manufacturers have tricked us and are processing whole grains so much that aren't as good for you as whole grains where you can see the graininess. I've noticed it in breads, some so called whole grain breads are not really whole grain, look for something that says 100% whole grain it isn't just brown flour.


I feel like the schools should do more in teaching about foods. Most of the pop education we are given gives us one popular side of a food, and most people see that as the fact.

That's interesting, I've wondered about that and have met several Koreans that swore that the population as a whole was lactose intolerant. She said no one drinks milk beyond mother's milk. This was more than 20 years ago. I'm not sure if more milk would make us taller than average, Italians eat so much cheese, you think they'd all be basketball players.

What might be OK for some is not always OK for others. The USDA recommends no more than 300mg of cholesteral per day. One egg yolk contains about 180mg so 1 whole egg is not bad for most people. But I am on a low cholesteral diet so that one yolk is more than I am allowed. So for me egg whites are healthier. I make my omelletes with egg whites only.

Eggs are one of those things that the experts argue about. There is some research that shows the yoke contains cholesterol, but it also contains things that get rid of bad cholesterol. I do agree with you, I think there are many individual differences and for some people eating two egg whites with one yoke is a good solution. I think the blanket statement that we are getting enough protein, is always the case, I use eggs as a protein source, not in addition to another protein at the meal.

A lot of Asians are lactose intolerant. So much so that there are many tea houses in Asian neighborhoods that don't use cow milk. Instead they use soy or almond milk only. I know if I have too much lactose I don't feel good. But yeah, there are a lot of short Italians! LOL

But like I said, all the girls in China were SO much taller than me! Everyone that was young was at least 5'6". Over here it's rare that an Asian girl is that tall.

that's very curious! thanks! I totally agree with juices, seems to me just useless sugar