Anti-obesity Day: Foods that may add to your weight

Weight issues! The rising obesity cases across the world has also given a push to anti-obesity diets and foods in the market. While they promote healthy eating on one hand, relying too much on them blindlessly can do more harm than good.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Nutrition experts have asserted the importance of fighting obesity with the right natural foods, adequate physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. But the pull from fancy smoothies, granola bars and gluten-free products is too strong for a lot of people to ignore.

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These are some foods you need if you want to lose kilos. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

What may be wise to remember in your anti-obesity journey is that
anything too much is not good, and that includes healthy foods too, says Pranay Jham, Founder and ACSM certified Nutrition Consultant at ACTIVeat.

So, Jham points out the top 5 healthy foods that you might be consuming more than required to fight obesity.

1. Juices and Smoothies

Although juices and smoothies are packed with nutrients, they are packed with calories too! One medium sized apple/orange would make you feel fuller than drinking a glass of apple/orange juice which would be made up of 4-5 oranges. So, you’re better
off eating the fruit than drinking it.

2. Gluten-Free Products

Gluten has a bad rep for being unhealthy. Infact, gluten is just a protein present in wheat, barley and rye and some people do have a sensitivity towards gluten but not all of us. Bakery products which are gluten free are not necessarily healthy and contain a lot of sugar and pack in a lot of calories.

3. Granola Bars/Protein Bars

Most commercially available granola bars on the market would usually highlight the protein content which is good, but they also choose not to highlight the sugar content present in these bars. They should be consumed in moderation since 1 bar is usually upwards of 250 kcals.

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Choose the right protein bar! Image Courtesy :Shutterstock

4. Baked Products

This trend has picked up a lot in recent years, especially in the snacking category. Snacks that are baked aren’t necessarily low on calories. They still have a lot of preservatives, high sodium content and sugars in different forms too.

5. Nut mixes

Nuts are healthy, but are also packed with calories. Because nuts are small in size, people tend to have more than what may be required and end up consuming unwanted calories. A handful of nuts a day is the way to go!

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Bring up your energy levels with nuts and dried fruits. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

But, but, but… Let us remind you All the above categories of foods are not unhealthy and can be consumed in moderation.

Be smart about making the right choices. And most importantly, stay active, and eat healthy!