Sprayed-on Vitamins
Too Much Sugar
Sugar—sweet, sweet sugar—can be one of the biggest threats to good cardiovascular health. We used to think fats were the worst thing we could put in our bodies, but increasingly, evidence is pointing toward carbohydrates, especially those in the form of refined grains and sugars. Overconsumption of sugar puts us at a higher risk for metabolic diseases, such as fatty liver disease and diabetes.
Fewer Nutrients
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is still a great way to get the vitamins and minerals you need. But recently, cultivated crops have declined in their nutritional value, perhaps due somewhat to soil depletion but mostly due to the varieties that have been cultivated and are most available. Experts suggest eating more fruits, vegetables and nutritious grains to make up for the difference.
Superfoods as Superheroes
Sure, go for foods high in nutrition, such as antioxidants and other vitamins. But relying only on so-called superfoods, like blueberries, coconut and kale, keep you from eating widely. Thinking they're miracle cures may also convince you to overspend on them, and also to overeat them. A little goes a long way.
Don't Trust Fresh
"Freshly made." "Fresh ingredients." The thing is, seeing "fresh" on labels doesn't always mean the food you're buying is actually fresh. Consumer Reports looked into prepared food from three different grocery chains. Food bars and behind-counter salads are a popular way to have seemingly healthful meals at home. What they found was that the food wasn't necessarily recently made. And that even when it was, it often contained ingredients that weren't fresh. The also tended to have higher amounts of sodium in the foods. And the labels? They weren't always accurate.
'Local' May Not Mean Local
Eating mostly local foods both from the grocery store or in restaurants is not as easy as you may think. "Local" isn't a regulated term in the food industry and can mean almost anything. The Tampa Bay Times published a report a few years ago about restaurants falsely claiming the source of the food on their menus. Instead of buying or ordering anything with "local" on the label, ask questions, shop at farmers markets and get to know your local producers.
Cook Too Little
If you dine out frequently, you probably need to cook more. It's healthier, cheaper and you'll know more about what you're eating. Americans spend huge portions of their paychecks on dining out, sometimes three times a day—plus coffee breaks! Restaurant meal portions tend to be enormous, which likely means you're overeating frequently, too.
