5 supposedly ‘healthy’ foods nutritionists want you to stop eating

OK, so we’re no Gwyneth Paltrow but when it comes to eating healthy foods, we’ve pretty much got it sorted.

Eating wholefoods? Check. Cutting back on sugar? Got it. A healthy breakfast and snacks to stop you creeping on your work buddy’s Snickers the second it hits 3pm? For sure.

RELATED: What nutritionists really feed their kids
RELATED: What's inside a nutritionist's fridge?

But what if there were some sneaky so-called healthy foods still making their way into your diet?

We spoke to some nutritionists and naturopaths to see which foods might be catching you unawares…

Instant oat sachets

They’re a lifesaving pouch of oaty goodness on cold mornings when you want a delicious breakfast in 90 seconds flat, but instant oats aren’t doing your body any favours.

“A lot of instant oat sachets are loaded with sugar,” Zoe Bingley Pullin, founder of Falling in Love with Food tells Be.

“To reduce the cooking time, the oats are heavily processed which means they are absorbed into the blood stream at a quicker rate compared to normal oats. Opting for traditional whole rolled oats soaked overnight is a much better option for balanced blood sugar and satiety.”

Dips

Dips: they’re basically like pureed vegetables, right? Not according to Zoe who says supermarket dips are often loaded with “sugar, poor quality oils and thickeners/preservatives.” Guilty of overeating and wolfing them down like we are? That’s bad news for your waistline, especially when combined with crackers.

"Not all dips are bad, look for one made using olive oil and free from additives. Or even one step better, go for home made!” says Zoe.

Coffee

Sorry caffeine lovers, you’ll need to keep a cappuccino count if you want to take care of your health, nutritionist Nik Toth, creator of The Lean Body Formula program tells Be.

“High amounts can throws the digestive system out of balance,” says Nik. “A few consequences of this include bloating, constipation, allergies, food intolerances, fatigue, acne and weight gain.”

Protein balls and snack bars

It might seem like you’re giving your body some love after a workout, but protein balls and snack bars aren’t nourishment according to Nik.

“One of my favourite sayings is ‘is your granny doesn’t recognise it, you shouldn’t eat it! Another is, the longer the shelf life, the shorter your life!

Processed vegetarian food

Trying to eat vego but missing out on burgers and sausages? Well, believe it when these companies say you won’t believe it’s not the real stuff because it’s not, says naturopath and founder of Bodhi Organic Tea Lisa Guy.

“Most of these products contain Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) or Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) which are soy-based food fillers, which are usually made from genetically modified soy beans. They are also a hidden source of MSG, which is used as a flavour enhancer in a wide variety of foods, and is a known neurotoxin.

When purchasing veggie burgers go for ones that are made with vegetables and other legumes such as lentils and chickpeas, or even better make your own.”

Want more celebrity, entertainment and lifestyle news? Follow Be on Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram