Health Halo
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Health Halo Foods
Have you ever added foods to your cart based on the healthy claims on the packaging without checking the ingredients? If your answer is yes, then you are guilty of falling for foods with health halos. Let’s dive a little deeper into understanding more about health halo foods.
A ‘health halo’ occurs when a single health buzzword or claim causes a consumer to have positive impressions of the product.The ‘health halo’ affects impression formation and judgement in consumers, changing their perceptions of the overall healthfulness of certain foods.
Health halos in food advertising can occur from short messages on food packaging about the health benefits of grocery items. Healthy-sounding terms like "organic" "low-carb" or "all-natural" don't mean a food has fewer calories than similar foods without labels.
I've rounded up the top 9 health halo food label traps that many food companies often use to push certain products that make you think they’re healthier than they actually are.
When it comes to spending your hard-earned grocery budget on healthy foods, knowledge is power. Determining whether a food has truly earned its health halo by reading the nutritional label carefully can help you decide when something is worth the extra cash for your health — and when it’s not. I’d like to knock the halo off the below listed foods that are often considered healthy.
1. 100% wheat bread or brown bread :
100% wheat bread or bread brown in color are not the same thing as buying a product containing 100% whole grains. All three components (endosperm, germ, and bran) of a whole grain must be present for a whole grain to be classified as such. The term “100% wheat” is often confused with “whole grain” yet wheat can be white and stripped of nutrients. Whole grains are a great source of fiber, can boost our energy and moods. Remember that even though a product is whole grain it’s health value can be offset by high levels of sugar, fat and sodium
2. Agave syrup :
Agave was pitched to consumers as a healthy alternative to white sugar and even honey need to add it before comes from a plant and has a low glycemic index, meaning it doesn't elevate blood sugar right after eating. It does, however, contain a ton of fructose—at least 80-90 percent, way more than white sugar—and can lead to insulin resistance over time.
3. Granola :
Granola gained popularity as an easy snack hikers could take on long treks, similar to trail mix. This association targeted granola as marketable to nature lovers and health enthusiasts alike. But unless you're going on a hike where you'll need lots of calories, don’t be fooled by health claims on granola packages! While it can be a great source of whole grains, it can also contain more fat and sugar than you bargained for. Instead, opt for cereal with whole grains listed as the first ingredient on the shortest list you can find, and use 5g as your marker: you want less than 5g sugar, but at least 5g of fiber, and no more than 5 grams of fat (hopefully derived from nuts.)
4. Baked chips :
Baked chips contain a health halo similar to organic candy. Chips are not the most nutritious option for snack time, but baked versions usually contain less fat than traditional varieties. However, this drop in fat can be offset with increased sodium and sugar. Instead, bake your own veggie chips at home (thinly slice whatever vegetables you’d like, lightly coat in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and bake at 450 degrees, flipping halfway through for about 10-20 minutes, depending on thickness.)
5. Light ice cream :
There are few things in life that are more refreshing on a hot summer day than a bowl of ice cream. Unfortunately, most ice creams are made with heavy creams and gut-busting ingredients that make it high in calories and fat. The answer has to be light ice cream, right? Nope. Light ice cream is loaded with artificial sweeteners and chemicals to give it taste without all the added calories.
6. Diet soda :
We’ve all heard that regular soda is one of the worst things to drink, thanks to its high sugar content. But, what about diet soda? It may be calorie-free, but the high ratio of chemicals and artificial sweeteners are shown to increase the amount of unhealthy bacteria in the gut, making it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight. Further, a study published in Diabetes Pro found that people who drank two or more diet sodas a day experienced waist-size increases six times that of non-diet drinkers.
7. Microwave popcorn :
Popcorn is filled with healthy fiber and grains, but only if you get the air-popped versions. The prepackaged microwave popcorns available in grocery stores are actually one of the worst foods on the planet, thanks to additives and chemicals used in them. Many brands contain heart-harming trans fats and the dangerous butter-flavor additive, diacetyl, an ingredient shown to harm the brain. Even worst, the bags are also lined with perfluorooctanoic acid—the same toxic stuff found on Teflon pans.
8. Trail Mix :
Trail Mix is made with ingredients like peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds and raisins, so how unhealthy can it be? Pretty unhealthy. Many brands pack their trail mixes with tons of sugar and salt coated ingredients loaded with a ton of fat and calories. You can make it on your own if you just have to have it, but make sure you're paying attention to portion sizes.
9. Low Fat Peanut butter :
Peanut butter is a health food full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and muscle-building protein, but too much of the good stuff is eliminated when you opt for the wrong kinds (often the low-fat version). The fats are part of what gives peanut butter its taste, so taking it out will leave you with a bland nut butter you won't want to eat. Manufacturers know this, so they replace the fat with tasty sugars. This isn't good. Instead, go for the "full fat" versions of peanut butter and eat in moderation, or grind your own peanuts for natural butters with nothing added.
So how do you help yourself make healthier choices, and not fall into the health-halo trap created by manufacturers? We as consumers need to get nutrition savvy and not let our guard down when we see items labelled with healthy-sounding terms. We need to know what we are eating by paying close attention to the nutritional information and, just as importantly, the recommended serving size.
If you’ve fallen for the claims on some product packaging or other and are now carrying a layer of fat you didn’t expect to, you can contact us or book a free call below and start preparing to strip it away. We’re all about wellbeing here and can help you get back on the road to a healthier version of yourself. So, how about it?
