This superfood is known for being super healthy by most, but it is not as healthy as you think…
Nutrition experts say that sometimes foods which are deemed healthy aren’t always as beneficial as we think and can contain high levels of sugars, salts or fats, reports Daily Mail.
Rhiannon Lambert is a Harley Street nutritionist and author of The Science of Nutrition, she says avocados are not as good as people might think when consumed regularly.
A popular ingredient in many brunch restaurant dishes, avocados are a favourite healthy option for many. But too much avocado isn’t necessarily good.
They are filled with fibre and healthy fats that lower bad cholesterol and prevent plaque building up in the arteries but one avocado can contain up to 20g of fat and approximately 250 calories (about the same as a Mars bar) – this can add up if frequently consumed in large portions, Ms Lambert said.
She added: “While these are mostly unsaturated fats and are so important to incorporate into the diet, overconsumption may still lead to excess caloric intake, which can contribute to weight gain.
“Calories aren’t the be-all and end-all as we know that not all calories are made the same.”
Avocados aren’t the only food pretending to be healthy – granola, a breakfast staple, is also not as healthy as people often think as it can be high in added sugars and oils to improve flavour.
A 50g serving of one popular supermarket’s superberry granola for instance contains 8.4g of sugar — the same as one of their own brand cream and strawberry jam doughnuts, reports Daily Mail.
Ms Lambert said: “Choose low-sugar options or better yet, make homemade granola.
“The higher the sugar content of your morning breakfast, the quicker it is to be released into the blood, which often causes a spike, followed by a crash.
“These dramatic fluctuations in blood glucose levels can leave you feeling hungry not long after eating breakfast and may cause mid-morning slumps in energy.
“Therefore, granola that is high in sugar is best eaten in moderation, alongside protein, like yoghurt, and healthy fats such as nuts, seeds or nut butters.”
Other foods which experts say have similar issues include coconut oil, plant milks, veggie crisps, vegan burgers and caesar salads.