Ever reached for vegetable crisps thinking that it was a healthier option than your standard potato ones? According to registered nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed, there’s not much difference between the two.
Plant-based milks are a great option if you’re lactose-intolerant or following a vegan diet. However, over 90% of plant-based milks are classed as ultra-processed foods because they contain extra ingredients such as emulsifiers, stabilisers and preservatives.
Protein powders are made from plants like soybeans or peas, eggs or milk. Researchers at the Clean Label Project found that many protein powders contain heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury,
Yoghurt is often touted as a healthy food because it’s a great source of calcium and protein. However, not all yoghurts are created equal. While plain yoghurt has lots of health benefits, flavoured options are often packed with added sugars and artificial sweeteners.
While fruit juices contain more nutrients than soft drinks like squash, they’re still high in sugar. For instance, a 300ml bottle of orange juice contains 26g of sugar, which is 28% of your daily recommended intake.
Eggs are high in fat. They also contain a high amount of cholesterol, which can increase your risk of heart disease and strokes. One egg yolk contains around 185 milligrams of cholesterol.
Lots of us choose the diet version of our favourite sodas because we want to avoid the extra sugar and fat.
Granola is made by mixing oats with oil and sweeteners like honey or brown sugar, which means that it has a much higher level of fat and sugar compared to other breakfast options like muesli or porridge.
Instant sachets of porridge seem like a good idea if you want to get the health benefits of oats but don’t have too much time to prepare breakfast.
Cereal bars are good when you're in a rush, but they're not as healthy as their packaging might suggest. A study of 30 cereal bars found that all but one were high in sugar.