7 Foods That Could Be Good or Bad for You

Filed in archive Nutrition on December 4, 2007

Guess what frozen yogurt isn't good for you. Guess what? Rice cakes isn't good for you either. Can you believe? According to an article on MSNBC, these, among others, have been deemed healthy options, but if you don't read the label carefully, they can turn into bad goods.

Here are a few highlights on the list. Read the entire article here.

GRANOLA BARS
The downside: Many granola bars are dipped in sugary syrups or loaded with chocolate chips, highly processed or artificial ingredients and aren't much better than high-calorie candy bars. Even the less sugared-up varieties have only a little protein, a smidgen of fiber and a small amount of vitamins and minerals.

TEA DRINKS
The downside: Tea drinks are not the same as brewed tea leaves. Many bottled varieties contain little brewed tea, but plenty of added sugars - enough to rival soda. A recent Consumer Reports review found that all bottled tea beverages had fewer antioxidants than brewed teas. Some of them were made from "concentrates" or "essences," and likely lack the touted benefits.

PRETZELS
The downside: Pretzels are mostly nutritionally empty. Sure, they're lower in calories and fat compared to chips, but they really are not a healthful snack. One serving provides nearly a quarter of the sodium a person needs each day. Because pretzels are basically bland, seasoned varieties pump up the flavor, but also the calories, sodium and fat content.

MUFFINS
The downside: The sheer size of today's muffins. Years ago, one muffin was 150 to 170 calories, 5 grams of fat and about the size of a racquetball. Today, a muffin averages 500 calories, 20-plus grams of fat, and are closer to the size of a small planet.