More often than we think, foods that are branded “healthy” or “low-fat” and “low-sugar” can be incredibly bad for those of us trying to lose weight. We know it sounds quite contradictory –  how is this even possible? Well, take a look at this list and you’ll find out soon enough.

VEGETABLE JUICE BLENDS

Vegetable juices may seem like an easy option for filling in on our daily amount of veggies required. But, as always, check the label: you could be drinking your total daily salt requirement in one serving. The fruit juice varieties can also have added sugar to mask the flavor of the vegetables. Look for 100% juice varieties and drink them in moderation.

DIET SODA

This sounds counter-intuitive, but sugar-free products might actually cause you to gain weight! In place of sugar, diet beverages contain artificial sweeteners – chemicals that are repeatedly linked in recent research with increased hunger and cause greater weight gain than regular sugar(!). Also, many of these drinks contain caffeine, which may curb appetite temporarily, leading to overeating later in the day.

SOY & TOFU

Yes, you are reading correctly! This supposedly “health food” has been proven to cause an epidemic of hypothyroidism in the Western world, with one of the symptoms being overweight. Soy in Asia, as it has been consumed for thousands of years, is always fermented for long periods of time before it can be safely consumed. As for tofu, in many cases the way it is cooked (fried, for example) makes it an unhealthy choice with unnecessary calories.

GRAPES

Grapes are certainly healthy, but they also contain high amounts of sugar that may trigger cravings for other sweet products. Don’t avoid them altogether; combine them with proteins or add them to salads.

SKIM MILK

Drinking skim milk makes us fatter! This apparent paradox occurs when you drink skim milk since you will be missing out on the blood-sugar and insulin steadying effects of saturated fat, so your body will automatically give you sugar and carb (grains) cravings to make up for it. Ironically, it is the grains and sugars that truly make you fat, not saturated fat…

AGAVE NECTAR

A perfect example of a new food that was marketed using the “health food” label. This approach to selling is obviously working, as these products are sold in most health food stores, despite the fact that this product has a more deadly concentration of fructose than the high fructose corn syrup in soda!

MICROWAVE POPCORN

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the chemicals found in bags of microwave popcorn are known to increase the chances of developing infertility and thyroid problems, which include symptoms such as overweight. Popcorn is a great low-calorie snack, just not when it comes out of a bag filled with additives.

SALADS

Ordering the salad might seem like the smart choice of action when you’re trying to lose weight, but you actually might be eating more calories than you even imagine. Salad dressings are packed with unexpected calories, and salad toppings can also include some hidden calories, with dried fruit and nuts being common (not to mention croutons, fried chicken, bacon, and cheese).

TROPICAL FRUIT

Fruit is a great choice for snacks when trying to lose weight, but they can have hidden calories. Tropical fruit in particular, such as mango and ripe pineapple, is high in sugar. Apples, for example,  are a great alternative because they are lower in calories and full of fiber.

GRANOLA

Granola is usually made from oatmeal, so we may think it’s a healthy product. Unfortunately it is also made with plenty of sugar and butter, which makes it surprisingly high in calories.

PROTEIN BARS

Protein bars may seem like the perfect healthy snack, but in fact some are just as unhealthy as candy bars. You need to check out the calorie and protein content, and make sure it’s low on calories and high in protein. Otherwise you might as well be eating a candy!