Beware of “Healthy” Snacks
By
Natalie Moore
Posted April 23, 2016
- Stealthy snack makers are hiding sugar everywhere! Find out how…
- Don’t get fooled! Be sure to check for this unhealthy ingredient.
- Fresh is always best!
Dear Reader,
To follow up on yesterday’s article on the health effects of sugar, today I will show you an example of how sugar often goes by different names — including “not refined.”
Often, processed foods that are marketed as “healthy” have well-hidden sources of sugar. These types of sugar are just as threatening to your health as the clearly marked ones. Don’t be fooled by their cleverly disguised names.
Take these “paleo friendly” dried strawberries I found while on the road, for example:
No refined sugar clearly doesn’t mean low sugar in this case.
As you can clearly see, they contain two ingredients… wait… shouldn’t dried strawberries be just strawberries?
Instead, there is an extra ingredient — sugar. Sugar thinly veiled as apple juice concentrate — and lots of it.
For the same-size serving, fresh strawberries contain around 1 gram of sugar — a tiny fraction in comparison to these fructose-soaked tidbits.
And even though fruits dried without added ingredients do contain a higher level of sugar than fresh fruits (due to dehydration increasing the sugar concentration), the same serving size of dried strawberries would still have less sugar, at around 16 grams.
While this brand can tout “no refined sugars” on their label, they are still selling you nothing more than strawberry candy.
So the lesson here is to look before you eat.
Even if you see an item labeled as a health item, chances are it’s got some type of sugar source. Look at the ingredients. If it contains any type of juice concentrate or fruit sugar — for instance, apple juice concentrate or grape sugar — you should pass.
Instead, opt for the fruit in its fresh state.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Is Your Diet ACTUALLY Healthy? Here’s How to Tell
I’ve probably uttered the phrase “healthy diet” when talking to patients, family, and friends more times than I’ve had cups of coffee—and that’s saying something! But I’ll admit it’s not always entirely clear what a healthy diet looks like. What does healthy eating really mean? Let’s take a look… Good news—healthy eating doesn’t mean you...
7 Natural Ways to Tackle Pain Without Pills
On Tuesday, we explored a promising new frontier in pain relief: terpenes, natural compounds found in cannabis (and other plants) that may ease pain without the risks of opioids. That research is still developing. But what if you’re looking for help right now? Good news: You don’t have to wait for a pharmaceutical breakthrough to...
Mailbag: Pinched to Pain Free with Natural Sciatica Solutions
“I have been suffering from sciatic pain in my hip and groin. I try to do exercises to stretch it. But ever since I slipped on the ice and fell on my left hip it seems to be getting worse. Is there any help for this?” -Painfully Pinched Dear Pinched, I understand how frustrating sciatic...
New Cannabis Discovery Could Ease Pain—Without the High
A few years ago, everywhere you turned, someone was talking about CBD. The cannabis extract had exploded in popularity for everything from anxiety to inflammation to joint pain. And while the CBD conversation continues, another cannabis compound is quietly making headlines. One that could—believe it or not—provide relief from all kinds of pain. Without the...
"Sinful Trio" SLASHES Metabolic Syndrome Risk
Are you tired of hearing your doctor’s endless “don’t eat this, don’t drink that” lectures? Well, this Easter Sunday, I’ve got news that might just have you hopping happily to your pantry. Turns out, some of life’s tastiest pleasures could help protect you from one of today’s most common health threats—metabolic syndrome. Let’s dig into...
Microplastics’ Hidden Link to Chronic Disease EXPOSED
By now, you’ve heard about microplastics. These tiny fragments of plastic have invaded virtually every corner of our planet. We’re just beginning to understand the scope of the threat, but we know microplastics pose a serious risk to our health. If you’re like many folks, you’ve shrugged off those dangers, thinking there’s nothing you can...
Shakespeare’s “Remembrance” Herb Protects Memory
You probably have a jar of rosemary sitting in your spice rack. Perhaps you sprinkle it on potatoes or add it to roast chicken. But what if this humble herb could hold the key to fighting one of the most devastating diseases we can face as we age? It turns out a hidden compound inside...
Is Your Gut “Good”? How to Check
I always get asked, “How do I know if my digestion is working right?” Well, the answer is pretty simple, but it’s also a little gross. A simple test you can do at home reveals whether your digestion is normal or not. Your digestive system processes everything you eat—extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste. The time...
Hidden Sugar Trap Fuels Lung Cancer
We’ve long known that smoking is the main villain behind lung cancer. But what if your dinner plate has quietly joined forces with the enemy? A new study from the University of Florida reveals that the typical Western diet could be laying the groundwork for aggressive lung cancer growth by feeding tumors with stored sugar....
Mailbag: Can A Diabetic Enjoy Desserts? The Surprising Answer
“If you have diabetes, may you eat a very few sweets in a week?” —Sweet Tooth Hi Sweet Tooth, Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body either resists the effects of insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar in your blood) or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels....