{"id":13745,"date":"2017-07-17T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-17T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wellable.co\/blog\/the-myth-of-healthy-foods\/"},"modified":"2022-11-13T22:31:52","modified_gmt":"2022-11-14T03:31:52","slug":"the-myth-of-healthy-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wellable.co\/blog\/the-myth-of-healthy-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"The Myth Of Healthy Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever hear of the science teacher that lost weight by only eating McDonalds for six months straight?<\/a> Although many would not recommend a diet like this, the story demonstrates a very strong point. When people think of \u201chealthy\u201d food, they tend to think of low-calorie, low-fat foods that can promote weight loss. The reality is that, for the most part, there is no such thing as \u201cunhealthy\u201d foods. \u201cBut wait, aren\u2019t unsaturated fats good and everything else is bad?\u201d Misconceptions like these have spread like wildfire throughout the general population, mainly because of articles on mainstream websites<\/a> that paint basic nutritional components like saturated fats in an evil light. However, research can tell a different story. This meta-analysis<\/a> covers the various ways in which saturated fats have been demonized, such as promoting negative heart health effects, but quickly debunks them.<\/p>\n

Studies that label foods \u00a0like red meat as \u201cunhealthy\u201d are often given fearmongering headlines like \u201cHam, Sausages Cause Cancer.\u201d<\/a> Attention-grabbing headlines lead to more clicks and therefore more revenue. However, when analyzed by nutrition and healthcare professionals such as Registered Dietitians, studies that classify foods like red meat as \u201cunhealthy\u201d might apply if the rest of your diet is of poor quality as well. \u00a0It makes sense, people who tend to eat diets high in salt, saturated fat, sugar, and [insert stereotypical bad food here] tend to also lead unhealthy lifestyles and lack nutritional balance. Remember, correlation does not equal causation. The ultimate goal should be a truly balanced diet.<\/p>\n

Whether a food is considered \u201chealthy\u201d or not is also relative to many diet and lifestyle factors. Hereditary influences such as a family history of cholesterol issues, food allergies, what foods are consumed throughout the day and week, the climate you live in, how much and what type of exercise you engage in, and many more factors all contribute to whether or not a particular food is considered \u201chealthy\u201d for you at any given period of time.<\/p>\n

Bottom line? As a human, stop thinking of foods in black and white as \u201chealthy\u201d or \u201cunhealthy.\u201d Just like employee wellness, food should be viewed holistically.<\/p>\n

\"Unhealthy<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Takeaways<\/h3>\n

As an employer or wellness professional, this revelation should help you strategize your wellness programs, kitchen supplies, and office parties on the nutrition front. By stocking work kitchens with foods like Greek yogurt, nuts, and fruits, employers ensure that when the pizza parties and ice cream socials do come around, foods like these can be enjoyed as a part of a well-balanced diet. If you\u2019re thinking that you need to remove that candy bowl from the front desk, don\u2019t. Instead, supplement it with a fruit bowl next to the water cooler. Remember, balance is key – if you work hard to make smart, conscious decisions about the foods you eat, just about everything under the sun can be enjoyed as a part of a \u201chealthy\u201d diet.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Tips For Busy Coordinators<\/h3>\n