Nutritionist shares five ‘healthy’ foods you should avoid if you’re trying to lose weight

Over the years, several ‘health foods’ have been developed, and are extremely popular within the diet industry. Take avocado toast, for example, or trendy almond milk, while they seem healthy and nutritious, they can hinder weight loss efforts. Registered nutritionist Amy Shapiro and registered dietitian Maria Bella gave their thoughts on several foods. 

Avocado toast 

Amy explained how avocado toast has lots of heart-healthy fats. 

The NHS recommends men eat no more than 30g of saturated fat a day, and women no more than 20g. 

100g of avocado contains 20g of fat, of which 5g is saturated. 

But it’s important to pay attention to the type of bread the avocado is spread on. 

“If you are using whole wheat bread, make sure it has at least five grams of fibre per serving,” Maria said. 

There is such a thing as eating too much of an ingredient thought. 

Amy said: “People need to avoid adding too much avocado to the toast when they are making it.” 

Restaurants, in particular, tend to add an entire avocado on one slice of bread instead of her recommended quarter amount.  

The experts suggest adding other ingredients to avocado toast, such as eggs, smoked salmon or sunflower seeds to boost the benefits. 

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Almond milk 

Maria said: “The good part is that it is low in calories. The bad is that it is low in protein.” 

Almond milk is a great alternative for those who can’t or prefer not to consume dairy. 

But even though almonds are a good source of protein, almond milk is not. 

It is also low in calcium compared to regular milk. 

If you’re looking for a low-calorie milk alternative, consider almond milk. 

If you’re looking for high calcium or protein, then switch to another type of milk. 

Amy also recommends buying unsweetened almond milk because it gets rid of the added sugars. 

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Protein shakes or drinks 

Protein shakes can provide a quick form of protein for the body. 

Since it is in liquid form, it is digested more quickly by the body making it fast-acting. 

This is good for rebuilding muscles after an intense workout. 

If consumed as a meal, protein shakes can “help slow down the digestion of sugars,” Amy said. 

But, “studies show that chewing solid foods sends signals to our hypothalamus – a brain region responsible for satiety and hunger symptoms – that we are full,” Maria told The Daily Mail.  

“So if given a choice between drinking blended produce or eating real fruits and veggies, I would recommend the latter.” 

Protein shakes can also hinder weight loss. 

source: express.co.uk