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If you’re trying to lose weight, there are basic guidelines that we know we have to follow. To start, we have to eliminate any processed foods or anything that is high in calories, fat or sugar. Then, we replace them for foods that are high in protein and fiber and filled with vital nutrients and minerals, like fruits and vegetables.
While these tips seem like a no brainer, there are certain ingredients that we have to be wary of when cooking healthy foods. These secret ingredients appear to be healthy, but in fact, they’re actually making you gain weight. Click through our slideshow to unveil these sneaky offenders.
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Tomato sauce makes a tasty addition to almost any meal, but only if it’s a low-calorie sauce. Many tomato sauce brands contain added sugar and loads of sodium, making them high in calories and bad for you. Make sure you read the label carefully next time you pick some up from the store.
Coconut oil is a popular oil to cook with, but it’s surprisingly very high in calories. Two tablespoons of coconut oil contain about 200 calories and 16 grams of saturated fat. So, if you use it regularly and cook unhealthy foods with it, you’re most likely going to see some extra numbers creep up on the scale.
Honey makes a sweet and healthy addition to several recipes, dressings, and teas, but it’s very easy to add more than the recommended serving size. Once you go over 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey, you’re adding more sugar to your meal or beverage, making it unhealthy.
Dark chocolate has been proven to have some health benefits, when eaten in moderation, but you have to be careful when using dark chocolate chips. Since they’re so good, we often add more than the suggested serving size of them into our treats, making it an unhealthy ingredient. If you need to add dark chocolate chips to a recipe, make sure you’re only adding 1/4 cup per batch. You could also swap it out for unsweetened cocoa powder to make it healthier.
We often add granola to our yogurt to give it a little more flavor, but this tasty topping is actually high in calories and sugar. Stick to the serving size and opt for homemade granola to enjoy a healthier version without the extra calories and sugar.
Coffee is a necessity to most of us, and we often like it with a little half-and-half in it. But, be careful when adding this into your morning cup of joe because it’s very high in calories and fat. If black coffee isn’t your style, try using a low-fat or non-fat milk to your coffee and escape all of half-and-half’s hidden calories.
