4 Popular Health Foods I Never Eat

I’m not here to tell you what to eat.

That’s not my style or my business.

But I do think everyone has a right to know if what they’re eating really is the best for their health.

And, unfortunately, I think these four popular health foods are terrible for your health and most people don’t realize just how bad they are.

Especially since they’ve been promoted for years as being the healthier option, which is anything but true.

Because of that, I’m sharing:

The Top 4 Popular Health Foods I Won’t Eat

Here’s why these foods made my list, my experience with them, and why I won’t ever reach for them again:

1. Acai Bowls

Yes they contain fruit (which has fiber).

Yes they’re loaded with antioxidants thanks to the acai and berries added on top.

And yes, they’re delicious.

But you know what? Acai bowls are also a massive sugar dump on your system, even with the coconut sprinkles on top.

A typical acai bowl clocks in at: 

• 86g of carbs (69g of net carbs technically)
• 50g of sugar
• 24g of fat
• 8g of protein

The fat is a fraction of the carb amount and the protein isn’t even noticeable or enough to combat all the carbs and sugar in there.

Because of that, it sets you up for a huge blood sugar spike that will eventually come crashing down hard, which can leave you feeling tired, shaky, and wanting more carbs to boost your energy back up.

If you’re not convinced to ditch acai bowls (again, you do you!), pay attention to how you feel an hour after eating one, then two hours, then three hours. Your body will instantly tell you whether or not it works for you. 

2. Smoothies

Ugh, smoothies.

I was making them for years.

I bought books on them. I looked up recipes galore. I even wrote an article about them.

But after I started paying attention to how I felt after drinking them (the same point I just mentioned a moment ago), I had to admit that they didn’t work for me.

I even tried low-sugar and no-sugar recipes that were loaded with protein, healthy fats, all green plants, and no fruit.

Despite this, drinking smoothies always left me hungry within two hours or less and, sadly, wanting junk foods instead of healthy options.

I was often left soo hungry and ravenous that I finally realized I had to ditch smoothies.

They may work for some people but, for me, they don’t.

I’m not a fan of drinking your calories instead of eating them and this just falls perfectly under that category.

I understand being on-the-go and needing to take portable options but there’s better food choices out there (nuts, hard-boiled eggs, meat sticks that are nitrate-free, etc.).

I prefer to eat real food and I think that’s where you’ll see the real health benefits.

Sending pulverized smoothies down the hatchet within a matter of minutes doesn’t make sense in my opinion for blood sugar and feeling satiated.

The next food has those same qualities:

3. Oatmeal

Another popular health food I used to consume often was oatmeal.

Read any health article on foods to choose and oatmeal often ranks high.

But this is sadly a huge mistake for most of the population (upwards of 90% of people have metabolic issues, many undiagnosed).

Starting your day with a bowl full of carbs is a recipe for energy spikes and crashes, cravings, and low energy by lunchtime.

Good luck making it to then without being ravenous.

And, I know what you’re thinking.

I added nut butters, chia seeds, coconut shreds, you name it.

I tried protein powder mixed in and always made sure to use healthy fats (like the ones I just mentioned).

But it still never worked.

I’m not alone in this thinking either.

Best-selling author and registered dietician Lily Nichols tested oatmeal on herself (she’s metabolically fit) and her husband (who is also metabolically fit) and she reports back the same results — it’s not good for blood sugar.

So unless you’re an athlete or someone who has a physically demanding job where you’ll use up the carbs for energy, oatmeal might have to be a hard pass.

4. Avocado Toast

And, finally, we have the ever so popular avocado toast.

Get it out at a restaurant and you’ll likely pay double digits for seasoned avocado on toast, but is it worth it?

Flavor-wise — absolutely!

It’s creamy and somehow light.

It makes toast so much better.

But, there’s a big BUT here.

Where’s the protein?!?

If you think 4g of protein is enough to last you more than an hour, you’ll quickly see it’s not the case.

Sure, 11g of fat can help boost that a bit but with 20g of carbs competing for your blood sugar, good luck feeling energized and not lethargic.

I hate to be so harsh here but it’s true.

Sure, you can add an egg on top and most often do, but the macros are still skewed in the wrong way.

There’s more carbs and fat than there is protein.

One egg only gets you 7g of protein or so (we really should be shooting for 20-40g per meal depending on age, sex, etc.) and it’s even less if you don’t add the egg on top (see image above).

This lackluster macro combo is another one, similar to the other’s on this list that will leave you feeling hungry shortly afterwards and wanting more carbs and sugary foods.

That’s what happens when you spike your blood sugar.

Better breakfast options include:

1. Eggs
2. Greek yogurt with berries
3. Full-fat cottage cheese
4. Leftovers from dinner
5. Meat and veggies

Meals backed by protein, fat, and fiber are going to set you up for a much better day that’s packed with steady energy levels, less cravings, and better mental clarity.

Who wouldn’t want those perks?

Reconsider Eating These Popular Health Foods Today

If you’re still eating these popular health foods and you’re wondering why your energy levels are terrible and your cravings are just as bad, it may be time to ease out of these options and into ones that better support blood sugar (like the ones listed a moment ago).

Doing so can lead to an instant difference and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

It could be that you’ve been fed misinformation up until now, I know that was the case for me.

And, if you’ve made it this far saying, these foods don’t bother me, then keep truckin’ away! You don’t have to quit these foods just because I said so.

But, for everyone else, if you’re not feeling your best and you’re eating these foods, they’re a great place to start and an easy option to get rid of.

Do that for a week or so and you’ll notice a difference right away!

To ditching these popular health foods for good,

Devan