6 Foods That Pretend to Be Healthy but Are Actually Sugar Bombs
Not everything that looks healthy on a supermarket shelf is good for you. Many so-called “wholesome” foods are loaded with hidden sugars that can spike your blood sugar levels and sabotage your diet. Here are six surprising culprits.
1. Flavoured Yogurt – Dessert in DisguiseThat fruity yogurt you love may contain 15–20g of added sugar per serving. Often, the fruit flavour comes from syrup or concentrate rather than real fruit.
Better Option: Choose plain Greek yogurt and add fresh fruit for natural sweetness.
2. protein Bars – Candy Bars in Fitness ClothingDespite being marketed as fitness fuel, many protein bars contain up to 25g of sugar, more than some doughnuts.
Better Option: Look for bars with under 5g of sugar or make your own at home with oats, nut butter, and seeds.
3. Granola & Muesli – Breakfast with a sugar RushA bowl of store-bought granola can carry 20–30g of sugar, especially “low-fat” versions where sugar is added for flavour.
Better Option: Prepare homemade granola with oats, nuts, and minimal honey or jaggery.
4. Packaged fruit Juices – Liquid SugarProcessing strips fruits of fibre, leaving behind concentrated sugar. Some juices also include high-fructose corn syrup—equal to six teaspoons of sugar per glass.
Better Option: Eat whole fruits or make fresh smoothies with pulp.
5. Dried fruits – Sweet but SneakyWhile they seem nutrient-rich, many dried fruits are coated with sugar. A cup of sweetened cranberries can pack over 70g of sugar.
Better Option: Opt for unsweetened varieties and watch your portion data-sizes.
6. Salad Dressings & Sauces – Sugar-Laced SidesStore-bought dressings, ketchup, and sweet chilli sauces often have hidden sugars. Two tablespoons of ketchup can equal two teaspoons of sugar.
Better Option: Whip up a homemade dressing with olive oil, lemon, and herbs.
1. Flavoured Yogurt – Dessert in DisguiseThat fruity yogurt you love may contain 15–20g of added sugar per serving. Often, the fruit flavour comes from syrup or concentrate rather than real fruit.
Better Option: Choose plain Greek yogurt and add fresh fruit for natural sweetness.
2. protein Bars – Candy Bars in Fitness ClothingDespite being marketed as fitness fuel, many protein bars contain up to 25g of sugar, more than some doughnuts.
Better Option: Look for bars with under 5g of sugar or make your own at home with oats, nut butter, and seeds.
3. Granola & Muesli – Breakfast with a sugar RushA bowl of store-bought granola can carry 20–30g of sugar, especially “low-fat” versions where sugar is added for flavour.
Better Option: Prepare homemade granola with oats, nuts, and minimal honey or jaggery.
4. Packaged fruit Juices – Liquid SugarProcessing strips fruits of fibre, leaving behind concentrated sugar. Some juices also include high-fructose corn syrup—equal to six teaspoons of sugar per glass.
Better Option: Eat whole fruits or make fresh smoothies with pulp.
5. Dried fruits – Sweet but SneakyWhile they seem nutrient-rich, many dried fruits are coated with sugar. A cup of sweetened cranberries can pack over 70g of sugar.
Better Option: Opt for unsweetened varieties and watch your portion data-sizes.
6. Salad Dressings & Sauces – Sugar-Laced SidesStore-bought dressings, ketchup, and sweet chilli sauces often have hidden sugars. Two tablespoons of ketchup can equal two teaspoons of sugar.
Better Option: Whip up a homemade dressing with olive oil, lemon, and herbs.