5 Foods That Are Surprisingly Unhealthy

If it’s tuna, it must be good for your health. Well, surprise! NOT all the time…

We’ve been told how tuna is good for your heart and health — some even make it their super food for weight loss, but guess what? It’s not — well, at least not all.

Australian nutritionist Susie Burrell revealed to the Daily Mail the five foods that we thought were healthy but are not. She explained that the magnitude of sodium and sugar contained in these foods are so massive, it’s unbelievable.

So before you grab that food you thought were healthy, check the label first.

1. Tinned Tuna

Those on diet most likely eat tuna for its high protein and low fat content, which Ms Burrell said is a ‘golden combination’. However, it lacks the high amount of omega-3 fats that are found in salmon or sardines. “The other issue with tinned tuna is that it is a source of mercury, an element that is unable to be excreted from the body,” she explains on her blog.

She adds that although tinned tuna has less mercury than fresh tuna, it is recommended that people eat tinned tuna twice or thrice a week only, or just eat salmon or sardines instead.

2. Rice Crackers

While rice is rich in carbohydrates, which your body needs, rice crackers is just junk food.

Ms Burrell said that rice crackers are packed with MSG and are low in protein and other nutrients.

Around 10 rice crackers have 24 grams of carbohydrates which is the same as eating two small slices of bread. “They simply offer “empty calories” along with a rapid rise in blood glucose levels rather than long lasting energy,” Ms Burrell said.

She adds that if you want to eat desserts, it’s better to eat cakes and crackers that are corn and rye-based, and always make sure that MSG is not in the list of ingredients.

3. Rice Malt Syrup

Another rice product that is considered unhealthy is rice malt syrup, which is commonly a table sugar replacement.

Ms Burrell said that the syrup, which is made with fermented cooked rice, is actually just refined sugar mixed with different complex carbohydrates, glucose, and maltose. “While it may be fructose free, it does not mean concentrated calorie free – especially when used in large quantities in “sugar free” baking,” she added.

4. Soy Sauce

We’ve heard about the benefits of soybeans for our health, but consumers are now warned against one of its products — soy sauce — for its high sodium content.

Ms Burrell explains that a single serving of soy sauce can have as much as 1,000mg of sodium which is over half of our daily limit. Too much sodium can cause fluid retention, thirst and high blood pressure.

She suggests using salt-reduced varities of soy sauce instead.

5. Processed Vegetable Oil Sprays

While vegetable oil in processed sprays are considered a low-fat alternative, since it reduces the amount of oil when cooking, it comes with its disadvantages in terms of the quality of vitamins and antioxidants found in the oil.

“The processing involved in making spray varieties of oil means that any of the potential health benefits associated with using olive oil are negated, as the antioxidants and vitamin quality will be affected,” Ms Burrell said.

She recommends using extra virgin olive oil in its natural state.

Do you know other foods that are surprisingly unhealthy?