6 Nutrition Mistakes Even Healthy People Make

Our bodies benefit from eating healthy food. That’s why making the right food choices is crucial for the overall function of the body. But did you know that many people are not aware that they are eating the wrong kinds of foods to stay healthy? Even healthy people make nutrition mistakes. So if you are trying to be healthy by eating healthy, then below are six common nutrition mistakes even healthy people make.

Mistake #1: Using Whole Flaxseed

Flaxseed is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acid, fiber, and antioxidants. Most healthy people consume whole flaxseed instead of ground ones. This is a nutrition mistake because whole flaxseed cannot be adequately digested by the stomach so consuming it means that you are missing out on the incredible benefits found inside the seed. So instead of eating whole flaxseed, use ground up flax flours.

Mistake #2: Drinking “Healthy” Smoothies

Drinking smoothies are healthy for the body, but many health buffs believe that it is a low-calorie drink. What they don’t know is that smoothies are calorie bombs especially if you use superfood ingredients that are dense in calories. To decrease calories in your smoothies, use more vegetables than fruits or serve smaller portions.

Mistake #3: Taking Supplements With Coffee

Caffeine from coffee reduces the ability of the body to absorb essential vitamins and minerals like iron, vitamin B, D, and A. But coffee is not the only drink that you need to wary of as tea and cola also contain caffeine. You need to take in your supplements an hour before you drink your morning coffee.

Mistake #4: Using Canned Beans all the Time

While canned beans are readily available, they contain a lot of sodium. In fact, canned beans contain two-thirds of the sodium that is needed daily by the body. So when you are out shopping for beans, look for cans that are labeled low-sodium and no-salt-added. You also need to rinse your beans to remove 40% of the sodium.

Mistake #5: Cutting out on Fruit to Cut Back on Sugar

Fruits are sweet, but they are not the primary source of sugar. In a standard American diet, sweetened beverages are the largest source of sugar. In fact, you can benefit from eating more fruits as they contain not only vitamins and minerals but also the fiber that can help cleanse your colon. So if you have to cut back on sugar, make sure that you look at your current diet and see the hidden source of added sugars that you are consuming.

Mistake #6: Believing That Low-Fat and Sugar-Free Labels are Good

Many people believe that foods with labels “low-fat” and “sugar-free” are good for the body. What they do not know is that they contain more preservatives and other refined ingredients to make them low-fat or sugar-free.  Instead, eat foods that are close to their natural state as possible.

Inspired by www.washingtonpost.com