OverRated – Health Foods

Interesting article by iVillage about the seven most over-rated health foods.

It would seem that the inability to get hold of fresh acai berries means that they are often lower in antioxidants than their humble alternatives – blueberries, pomegranates and red wine.
Goji berries are another trending health food but research claims that blackcurrants could actually be just as effective, if not better.
Yoghurt – rich in probiotics but full of dairy and all the different hormones that a cow may have been fed.
Smoothies – Avoid the pre-packaged ones which contain refined sugar but remember that even the home made variety will be full of the sugar that fruit contains so not necessarily low in calories
Wholewheat bread and pasta – If the wheat used to make these has been refined and processed, it will have had most of the natural goodness sucked out of it. There are also a variety of studies which say that the strain of wheat used today is responsible for a lot of our ailments and should be avoided at all costs in all its forms. Even if you substitute oats, barley and millet, you are still looking at issues with gluten.
Granola or Muesli – Again, you should avoid the pre packaged commercial versions which will contain sugar and other refined additives and make your own with oats, seeds and nuts.
Vitamin fortified drinks – The pre packaged versions will mostly use synthetic vitamins and will be full of refined sugar too. Not such a healthy option as they may be advertised.