Top 5 Most Unhealthy Healthy Foods

Last time I wrote about the 5 biggest lies in fitness. One of those lies in particular, the myth about gatorade being better for you then water, got me going on and on. In fact, I had so much to say about the topic that it inspired me to write this next post. So here ya go. Your second countdown in a row. If you don't like it, then too bad. Nobody pays me to write these things anyways.

5 Most Unhealthy "Healthy" Foods

5) Yoplait Light Yogurt

Let's kick things off with a good one, shall we? Yoplait has been running quite the ad campaign over the past couple of years in order to promote their Light Yogurt. If you watch television chances are you've seen this bad boy being pimped on The Biggest Loser, or even on one of the ten thousand annoying TV commercials. Like this one.

Hey Simmons lay off the speed. Those ladies are talking about yogurt.

In reality this "healthy" snack is loaded with High Fructose Corn Syrup. That means lots and lots of sugar! Too much sugar in the body can cause our blood sugars to go haywire. When blood sugar levels fluctuate it can lead to extreme exhaustion headaches and moods swings. Not only that but if our body has too much sugar in it for our blood to absorb then the excess will be stored as fat.

The reason this yogurt doesn't get any higher on the list is because it is a low calorie snack. And if you can train yourself to just eat one of these things a day, and your eating healthy then you may have a useful snack, although you're probably better off with Greek Yogurt.

4) Subway Sandwiches

That's right Jared, I'm calling you out! For over a decade now Subway has been running an ad campaign with Jared. You all know the story: Jared was fat and decided to eat nothing but Subway Sandwiches to lose weight. He eventually got down to a healthy size and has maintained that weight for years. BLAH!

This is a perfect example of Subway taking advantage of people who don't know how to read nutrition labels. Let's clear up a few inaccuracies first. Yes it's true Jared ate nothing but Subway Sandwiches, but he only ate two 6 inch subs a day! That's like 1000 calories in total. Not only that, but he did exercise as well. It wasn't like only the power of Subway helped him lose fat. Here's the other thing that gets me, the nutrition facts for a 6 inch Italian BMT (my personal favorite), a fairly standard Subway sandwich is 450 calories, 20g of fat, 1730mg of sodium! Now factor in the fact that most people usually get the $5 footlong version of that sandwich, and you're looking at 900 calories, 40g of fat (16 Saturated fat) and a heart stopping 3460mg of sodium which is more than one and half times the salt you should consume per day, in one sandwich! Compare that next to a Big Mac at 540 calories, 29g of fat and 1040 mg of sodium and what's looking like the healthy option now.

If you think Jared lost all the weight by just eating sandwiches, just let him tell you how he really did it.

Admit it deep down, you always knew Mr. Fogel wasn't telling you the whole truth. Subway healthy. My Ass!

3)Diet Soda

OK, so soda is horrible for you, but take out the sugar and add in carcinogenic artificial sweeteners, combined with the artificial flavors and colors that are in all sodas, and you have a recipe for a Tumor in a Can.

Then of course you’ve got the caffeine factor, which is linked to hyperactivity, high blood pressure, and can mess with your blood sugar. Oh and by the way just because diet sodas may have zero calories, they are not an alternative to water. Right Peter?

Never Mind.

2) Protein Bars

The reason protein bars are so high on this list, is because they aren't marketed correctly. These bars should be eaten as meal replacements. If you do not have an opportunity to eat dinner or breakfast, a protein bar can be a huge energy boost as it will provide you the calories you need to continue your day. HOWEVER, they are nothing more than GLORIFIED CANDY BARS. The only redeeming thing you can get out of one of these things is calories and a boost of protein. They are HIGH in sugar, many of them are high in fat, and ALL of them are high in carbohydrates.

What can you get out of a protein bar that you can't get out of a PB&J? NOTHING! You're better off snacking on a hand full of nuts. You will get the calories and protein you need sans all the sugar.

1) Salads at Restaurants

If you're gonna go to a restaurant and you're health conscious, then you probably understand there is not a lot of healthy choices on the menu. One way you think about sparing yourself some calories is by ordering a salad. Then again, you're thinking might be way off.

Oh yeah, there is nothing healthy about salads at restaurants like Chilli's, Friday's, or Applebees. As a matter of fact I'm not too sure you can even call them salads. The terminology I prefer is Gigantic Masses Of Fat And Calories. Don't believe a salad could be that bad for you? Keep reading.

Going South

While Chili's Southwestern Cobb Salad sounds scrumptious, it contains an unappetizing 1080 calories -- and that's before you add the dressing. That's more than half the amount of daily calories recommended for the average person trying to lose -- or even maintain -- weight. While we love a good Cobb salad, for those calories, you could chow down three medium sized slices of cheese pizza.

Et Tu Cesar

Friendly's Chicken Caesar Salad is no healthful mixture of chopped grilled chicken. Doused with three different types of cheese and a fatty Caesar dressing, this order packs a wallop in the form of 1,030 calories and 84 fat grams.

Seafood Salad Slip-Up
A light citrus dressing tops Macaroni Grill's Seared Sea Scallops Salad, but that doesn't make up for the feta cheese, Parmesan crisps, prosciutto and toasted walnut toppings which add up to 1,170 calories and 94 grams of fat

If you're gonna order a salad at a restaurant because you're trying to be healthy, do yourself a favor and order the dressing on the side. Spare yourself the cheese and bacon bits as well because those ain't helping you lose weight.

Look, eating healthy can be hard work, but it doesn't have to be. Do research on what you are putting in to your body. Don't let food companies or food chains fool you. Don't automatically assume you are eating healthy just because they tell you that you are. Be smart, be cautious, and don't get fooled!