Eating healthy isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. Some foods that appear harmless or even nutritious can actually be making you sick. Whether it’s hidden additives, excessive sodium, or harmful preservatives, these everyday items could be secretly sabotaging your health. Here are some of those foods that might be more harmful than you think.

A woman in a blue tank top sits in a kitchen, looking displeased while holding a fork with broccoli. A plate of diverse fruits and a glass of water are on the kitchen counter.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Deli Meats

A white plate with a sandwich and chips.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Those tasty deli meats in your sandwich are often packed with preservatives like nitrates and nitrites, linked to an increased cancer risk. Plus, they’re sodium bombs that can lead to hypertension and other heart issues.

Canned Soup

An opened can of mixed vegetables and red kidney beans in tomato sauce on a dark countertop.
Photo credit: Shutterstock.

Convenient but risky, canned soups often hide high levels of sodium and BPA in the can lining. BPA can mess with your hormones and potentially up your risk of heart disease, while all that sodium isn’t doing your blood pressure any favors.

Artificial Sweeteners

A clear plastic organizer containing multiple colored and white file folders on a blue wooden surface.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Zero-calorie sweeteners might seem like a diet win, but they can wreak havoc on your gut. Aspartame and sucralose can cause digestive issues and may disrupt the balance of your gut bacteria, leading to other health problems.

Processed Cheese

Nachos with cheese in a skillet on a cutting board.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

That ooey-gooey processed cheese is far from wholesome. Filled with artificial ingredients, unhealthy fats, and excessive sodium, it can contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure over time.

Microwave Popcorn

Close-up of a bowl of freshly popped popcorn with visible salt and herbs, suggesting a flavored variety.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

The convenience of microwave popcorn comes with a health cost. The bag lining contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), linked to cancer. Plus, the artificial butter flavor can cause lung issues when inhaled in large amounts.

Energy Drinks

A woman holding a bottle of water in a gym.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Energy drinks are caffeine and sugar powerhouses that spike your blood sugar and cause heart palpitations. Long-term, they can lead to dehydration, sleep disturbances, and even more serious health issues.

Non-Dairy Creamers

Close-up image of a single-serve Coffee-mate coffee creamer with Nestlé logo, showing "The Original" flavor. The packaging indicates it is cholesterol-free, lactose-free, and contains no trans fat.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Your coffee’s best friend might be your health’s enemy. Non-dairy creamers are often loaded with trans fats, artificial flavors, and sweeteners, raising cholesterol levels and increasing the risk of heart disease.

Fast Food Burgers

Young guy eating fast food
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Fast food burgers can be a minefield of unhealthy fats, high sodium, and preservatives. The questionable meat quality and cooking methods add to the mix, contributing to a range of health issues.

Instant Noodles

A bowl of noodles with chopsticks on a bamboo mat.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Quick and easy, instant noodles are a nutritional nightmare. High in sodium, MSG, and unhealthy fats, they’re also void of essential nutrients, making them a poor choice for regular meals.

Bottled Salad Dressings

Four bottles of salad dressings arranged in a row, each with a different type of dressing, including creamy, oil-based, and vinaigrette varieties.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

That seemingly healthy salad can turn into a calorie fest with bottled dressings. They’re often loaded with sugar, artificial flavors, and preservatives, undermining your healthy eating efforts.

Frozen Dinners

A grocery store with a lot of food in it.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

While convenient, frozen dinners often pack a punch of sodium, unhealthy fats, and preservatives. They also tend to lack essential nutrients, making them a less-than-ideal choice for your diet.

Soda

A row of coca cola bottles lined up on a shelf.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Soda is more than just sugary fizz. It’s a cocktail of sugar and artificial additives that can lead to obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and dental issues with regular consumption.

Margarine

A butter knife with a wooden handle rests on a margarine container, with some margarine on the knife blade.
Photo credit: Shutterstock.

Once hailed as a healthy alternative, margarine is now known to contain trans fats. These fats raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions.

10 Secretly Dangerous Cooking Methods You Need to Stop Using

A hand lowering a vacuum-sealed bag of raw meat with herbs into a pot with an immersion circulator for sous vide cooking.
Photo credit: Shutterstock.

Cooking at home is supposed to be a healthy choice, but some techniques can be surprisingly harmful. Whether it’s how you heat your food or the tools you use, hidden dangers could be lurking in your kitchen. Here are a few cooking methods you might want to reconsider to keep your meals safe and healthy.

Read it Here: 10 Secretly Dangerous Cooking Methods You Need to Stop Using

11 ‘Healthy’ Cooking Oils That Are Terrible for You

A plastic bottle of cooking oil lying on its side with its yellow cap removed and placed next to the bottle on a wooden surface.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

We all try to make healthier choices, and cooking oils are no exception. But not all oils are as good for you as they seem. Some popular “healthy” options can actually do more harm than good. Here’s a rundown of some cooking oils that might not be as beneficial as you think. Try swapping some of these out for healthier alternatives like olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil instead.

Read it Here: 11 ‘Healthy’ Cooking Oils That Are Terrible for You

*Select images provided by Depositphotos.

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

You May Also Like:

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *