The best thing about the coming into a new year is that everything feels like a reset. Even our mindset is on a kickstart for something new, from the bigger things down to the smallest. With that said, even grocery stores have something new, but not everything is good for you. To keep you up-to-date, here are new grocery items that may not be the best for you.
Since the start of the pandemic, many plant-based foods or meat-less food options arose and are now offered in many food establishments and grocery stores. However, it turns out that not all of them are healthy. One of these food items that can be found in grocery stores is Jimmy Dean's Plant-Based Patty, Egg and Cheese Croissant Sandwich. Director of Clinical Dietetics at Vida Health and Registered Dietitian Gretchen Zimmermann explained that most of the time, creative marketing makes this product appear healthier than it is. In fact, according to Forbes, research conducted by expert scientific members of the Queen Mary University of London found that some meat-free products have more salt than seawater.
Another assumption that you need to be careful with is diet-friendly snacks like Kellog's Keto-friendly bars. Since the Keto diet or lifestyle has garnered a reputation for a healthy way of losing weight, labeling items as keto-friendly gives consumers the idea that it's a healthy choice. Instead of opting for a snack bar claiming to be keto-friendly, try looking for an alternative that contains fats like avocado, nuts, and seeds.
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The next item you might want to stay away from is Old Trapper's Jumbo Kippered Beef Jerky. In order to preserve and at the same time have the desired taste, two types of additives are used in beef jerky. One of which is monosodium glutamate or MSG, which can cause headaches if consumed at high levels.
In addition, an ounce of beef jerky contains 33% of the recommended sodium intake per day. High amounts of sodium intake can result in stroke, high blood pressure, stomach cancer, and osteoporosis.
There are many claims that Tahini is an excellent source of protein, fiber, healthy fats, and omega-3s. However, there is also the danger of preservatives and stabilizers to make the food more palatable and functional. Without knowing the specific ingredients that go into food items like the Mighty Sesame Harissa Tahini, there is always the risk of triggering allergic reactions.
We also have the latest addition to Coca-Cola's new line of drinks: the Coca-Cola with Dark Coffee Blend. Since coffee is part of almost everyone's daily routine, Coca-Cola decided to bank on it and created this new product which will be in stores this year.
Although this beverage makes it easier for coffee fans to have their caffeine boost, there are also things you need to look out for. The most critical is the sugar used in most sodas which is sucrose. According to Eat This, sucrose interferes with a person's appetite-regulating hormones, making it difficult to determine if one is full, which can easily result in unnecessary weight gain.
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