10 Trendy Health Foods That Can Threaten Your Waistline
Before your next smoothie bowl or mini meal of nuts, check yourself before you wreck your diet. First off, it's key to know whether the recommended serving size of your beloved healthy ingredients are teaspoons or tablespoons.
Overview
Before your next smoothie bowl or mini meal of nuts, check yourself before you wreck your diet. First off, it's key to know whether the recommended serving size of your beloved healthy ingredients are teaspoons or tablespoons. Sure, loading up your meal with a bunch of healthy fats isn't the worst thing you could do, but the calories do add up for those who are looking to lose or even just maintain weight. So you might want to ask yourself: Are these superfoods making me super fat?
1. Acai
Google "acai berry" and a slew of purported benefits like weight loss and antiaging results will return, but can this trendy health food hailing from Brazil really live up to the hype? While the fiber-rich fruit does tout more antioxidant properties than pomegranates and blueberries, many health claims don't mention that it logs in 247 calories per 100 grams, 26 grams of which are carbohydrates. The kicker: Unless you are using acai at home and controlling your portions, an acai bowl -- the healthy breakfast du jour -- could cost you almost 600 calories per serving.
Related: 6 Easy Smoothie Breakfast Bowls
2. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is typically comprised of at least 35 percent cocoa powder and is full of flavonols -- chemicals loaded with antioxidant benefits that help reduce free radical damage. But before you hit the candy jar too hard, this supposed health food also has a remarkable amount of fat and sugar. Depending on the brands, just one ounce can contain up to 170 calories, 12 grams of fat and 24 grams of sugar (four grams over the amount that the American Heart Associate recommends in an entire day for an adult woman). If you still want to indulge, keep the portions small.
Related: 12 Best Clean Dark Chocolate Bars
3. Chia Seeds
A great source of omega-3 fats, fiber and antioxidants, this superfood is taking the food world by storm. But before you stir this add-on into your meals and smoothies, know that two tablespoons totals 120 calories, 80 of which are from fat. And while it may be considered a source of healthy fat, those calories can add up, especially when added to an already-high-calorie smoothie.
Related: 12 Easy, Savory Oatmeal Recipes
4. Flax Seeds
A nutritional powerhouse, this seed delivers protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids among a host of other vitamins. Two tablespoons of whole seeds will also deliver 100 extra calories to your meal, with 78 of those coming from fat. But when eaten whole, the body doesn't absorb all of the great omega-3s and antioxidants. Instead, grind your flax seeds; otherwise your healthy gesture will be for naught. And two tablespoons of ground flax, on the other hand, contain about 60 calories.
Related: 9 Delicious Recipes Made With Healthy Fats
5. Avocados
In 2015, The Washington Post declared Americans were having a "love affair" with avocados, and there are no sign it's slowing down. With today's trendy avocado toast, everyone seems to have gotten on the bandwagon. It's even been touted as the world's most perfect food, containing all the nutrients one would need to survive. Sounds like a dream, right? Except that one medium avocado weighs in at 232 calories, with 188 of them coming from fat. Instead of piling a mound of mashed avo onto your sprouted grain toast, think of it this way: According to the Hass Avocado Board, one medium avocado provides five one-ounce servings that are 50 calories each.
Related: 8 Cool Things You Can Do With Avocados
6. Almonds
Here's some trivia from the Encylopaedia Britannica: The almond is actually a seed because it's enclosed in a hard fruit! It's also a handy snack and a great source of protein. Whether eaten raw, pressed into a butter or showing up in a carton as milk, almonds are everywhere and (dare we say) more popular than peanuts at the moment. Just remember that a handful of almonds (i.e., an ounce or about 23 seeds) is around 164 calories. And we can all admit that these yummy seeds are so addictive that one handful is never enough.
Related: 16 Snacks That Are OK to Eat at Night
7. Coconut Oil
With all of its nutritional benefits, this latest and greatest food product has usurped olive oil as the healthy set's go-to baking and cooking ingredient. But before you grab that jar and dish it out willy-nilly, there are some indications that unfettered use of this superfood might not be so super for your waistline. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, 92 percent of the fat in coconut oil is saturated. Compare that to olive oil (9 percent saturated fat) and avocado oil (25 percent). While studies have shown it increases the healthy cholesterol (HDL), the same research indicates consuming coconut oil also increases LDL, the "bad" cholesterol.
Related: Does Coconut Oil Live Up to the Hype?
8. Walnuts
Possibly the most underestimated nut around, the walnut is purported to contain powerful antioxidants as well as heart-healthy amino acids. Plus it supports brain health and reduces insulin levels, which is great news for diabetics. Makes you want to eat them by the handful, right? Unfortunately, one cup of shelled walnut halves has about 654 calories and 65 grams of fat. You can still get the aforementioned benefits by limiting your portion to one ounce (about 14 halves), which puts you right around 185 calories.
Related: 7 Scrumptious 3-Ingredient Snacks
9. Greek Yogurt
The marketing minds behind Greek yogurt have turned America's love affair for regular yogurt on its head. Yes, it's higher in protein compared to other yogurt types in the dairy aisle. And, yes, 170 grams (slightly under 6 ounces) contain just 100 calories, but people are rarely eating plain Greek yogurt. Instead, it's usually accompanied by sugary fruit and syrup and topped with crunchy, high-fat granola. Instead, stick to a plain, no-sugar version and add your own fresh berries and sugar-free flavorings like cinnamon, pure vanilla extract or even a touch of honey.
Related: 14 Protein-Packed Breakfasts to Power You Through the Morning
10. Quinoa
This gluten-free superfood is technically a seed, but it acts like a grain. It is also (shockingly) a complete protein, unlike rice and beans that need to be eaten together to gain that benefit. Plus, being a good source of fiber and minerals have caused people to be prepping quinoa for dinner as well as breakfast. It all sounds fabulous -- except if you're trying to lose weight. One cup of cooked quinoa can contain 222 calories, slightly more than one cup of brown rice. With all the marketing surrounding this food's benefits, it's hard to remember that you can't eat as much of the stuff as you may want. Keep your portion around the size of your cupped hand to stay on the safe side of this grain.
Related: 7 Dinner Bowls That Are Healthy AND Simple
What Do YOU Think?
Do any of these facts about super foods surprise you? Which of these health foods do you tend to indulge in? Tell us in the comments below.
Related: Can a New Way of Eating Help You Shed Pounds?