Five foods you thought were healthy but aren’t

In the constant search for a healthy lifestyle, food positions itself as a central issue that goes beyond fashions and trends, being a fundamental pillar of general well-being.

Nutritional information is a key element and health experts have assumed a crucial role in guiding the population towards more informed food choices. From promoting a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains to the importance of lean proteins. However, There are foods that seem healthy but actually aren’t.

Dr. Mijin Brown, better known on TikTok as Dr. Midge, has caused a stir among her 89,000 followers with her latest video in which she highlights Five foods you thought were healthy but aren’t from an insulin point of view.

The first food that Fruits and fruit juices pose a threat. “Did you know that some fruit juices contain as much sugar as a can of soda? Even the unsweetened variety can contain up to 26g of carbs, which is roughly equivalent to six teaspoons of sugar. All this, with very little fiber,” Dr. Midge said in the video, which has racked up more than a million views on TikTok.

He explains that juices and fruits may be less healthy than you think due to their high sugar content. Additionally, juices also lack the fiber that comes with eating a whole fruit.

As if that wasn’t enough, “natural candy” isn’t a safe option, Dr. explains: “Today’s fruits and vegetables are nothing like they were in nature long ago. » said. “Most were small, fibrous and not too sweet, but these days the fruits are crazy.”

“They were designed to be larger, sweeter and less fibrous, all of which affect our blood sugar levels.” But that doesn’t mean you should rule out fruit cold turkey, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 adults should consume about 2 cups of fruit per day.

So it’s important differentiate fruits, such as mangoes, pineapples, bananas and grapes, which should be “treated like dessert” underlines Dr. since these fruits tend to be richer in natural sugars, especially fructose. Although they are natural sugars and come with fiber and other nutrients, their high content may influence considering these fruits as something closer to a dessert.

The following foods are oat milk, oats and rice crackers. These foods have a “huge glycemic impact” after consuming them and although they are generally considered essential in a healthy diet, they can cause a significant increase in blood sugar levels, which could lead to insulin resistance.

This condition is linked to various diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, fatty liver, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypertension, obesity, erectile dysfunction, dementia, migraines, among others.

Oat milk may contain harmful additives (such as preservatives, emulsifiers and thickeners) and added sugars, which are not good for gut health or overall health. “A cup of oat milk contains 15g of carbs, and we’re not talking about the ones with added sugar” he explained.

Regarding oats, Dr. Midge announced that this is a controversial recommendation for diabetics who must limit their carbohydrate intake. Although oats are a low glycemic index food, some brands and varieties contain added sugar, which can cause rapid fluctuations in blood sugar, leading to increased insulin release and subsequent insulin resistance.

This is why the Dr recommends avoiding flavored types of oats and opting for the simplest ones, and it is always advisable to check the nutritional table, the fewer ingredients the better the quality of the oatmeal. ‘food.

Rice crackers are often touted as low-calorie snacks, but they are high in carbs and lacking in fiber, Dr. said. Plus, it’s hard to “stay satisfied” eating only rice crackers, at unless something is added to it.

Dr Brown said: “The reason all of these foods are not so healthy is that they have a huge glycemic impact after eating them. “The greater the glycemic impact, the greater the insulin impact, which is not good because it leads to insulin resistance. »

But everything is not as bad as it seems. The key is to “eat everything in moderation” and suggested substitutes for these foods, such as unsweetened coconut or almond milk, eating whole fruit instead of juice, plain coconut yogurt instead of oatmeal, or substituting rice cakes with celery sticks.