8 Healthy Habits That Are Actually Harming You

I found this article on Mind Body Green and I thought it had some really great points. Everyone I know does at least one of these things, it's not a big problem but what is, is when they think that they are being healthy while doing it. Everyone is on a different diet or eating plan and people stick to what works - there is no universal diet that is good for everyone! However, at the end of the day I'm sure that we can all agree that eating "clean" (whole, unprocessed foods) is the healthiest option for your body.


With all of the information that comes at us every day, it is hard to know what exactly is and is not a healthy habit. We read one thing, and the next article contradicts what we just read. We grew up being told what was good and not good. It can get confusing!

Below are eight of the most common “healthy” habits I see most often that are actually wreaking havoc on people’s body and in their mind.

1. Skipping meals

Not eating is NOT a healthy habit to get into. The metabolism runs on nutrients. It needs to be fed real, nutrient dense foods on a regular basis so that I can keep firing. Skipping meals can send the body into starvation mode, causing it to hold on to fat and calories instead of using them.

Rather than skipping a meal, try eating something light, such as a salad with a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, and perhaps top it with a bit of quinoa or sprouted mung bean.

2. Counting calories

The body digests and uses different kinds of food differently. Counting calories and creating limits is not going to create long-term success. Focus on the quality of the food you eat, rather than the number of calories. Eat real, organic food as it can be found in nature and as fresh as possible.

3. Juicing

Juicing is awesome, when it's done consciously. However, most of us are ordering or making juices and smoothies loaded with natural sugar, incorporating large amounts of beet, carrot, and apple. These three ingredients in excess will spike blood sugar levels and cause energy crashes. It's best to eliminate them altogether and tame the sugar addiction. Focus on fresh greens and herbs such as ginger and cilantro.

4. Meal replacement bars

The meal replacement bar is maybe one of the worst things that came to America. Skip the premade snacks and get back to eating whole, real food. Retrain your brain and schedule time for real meals. Your body and your heart will thank you.

5. Protein powder

Many protein powders are loaded with genetically modified ingredients, artificial sugars, and heavy metals. They use whey and soy derivatives, and these can cause hormone imbalance, inflammation, and the list goes on. Eating real food will give you the protein you need, you just need to eat it!

6. Soy

Ninety percent of the soy grown in America is genetically modified. It also has phytoestrogens, which may cause hormonal issues. My suggestion is to avoid it altogether and instead again, eat real food and use alternatives such as hemp or coconut milk. If you do eat soy, try to consume fermented versions, like miso or tempeh.

7. Gluten-free packaged goods

Gluten-free does not mean healthy. Most of these packaged goods are loaded with over-processed, fake ingredients and sugar. They offer little nutritional value, and these kinds of snacks typically .

8. Avoiding fat

Fat is awesome, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Twenty years ago consumer marketing convinced us that fat in foods is what makes us fat, but this isn't true. Your body needs fat -- it just has to be the right kind of fat. Use healthy, organic, raw coconut oil, eat avocados, and snack on macadamia nuts, pecans, and almonds.

There you have it. Eight ways that you may be doing more harm than good. One thing is certain, the closer we can eat food as we find it from the earth, the happier and healthier we will be!

I find that the most common mistakes people make are juicing, gluten-free goods and avoiding fat.

In terms of juicing, people think that because fruit is natural it is therefore fine to eat as much of it as you want - WRONG. Yes fruit is natural and healthy and should be included in your diet, however, most fruit is packed with natural sugar. Next time you eat that apple, remember that it has the same amount of carbs as a slice of bread! So, 2 apples and whatever else you use to make your juice is going to be far higher in carbs and calories than a white bread sandwich!

Gluten-free, fat-free, sugar-free, anything 'free' has a whole lot of other fake stuff to make sure it tastes as good as the real thing. Of course this is not always the case and you do get gluten free products that use natural alternatives that are very healthy. The point is, ALWAYS READ LABELS, don't let marketing get the better of you by low calorie promises on the packaging. Flip it over and take note of the ingredients and nutritional values!

I have always been against low fat products, I use full cream milk, REAL BUTTER (none of the million 'spreads' and margarines you get) and olive oil. There are so many misconceptions about fats and I feel as though if we simply changed their name from 'FATS' to something like 'omegas' then people may actually start to believe that they're good for you! Bad processed fake fats are of course NOT good for you and those are the kind of fats that will give you a heart attack. That said, you can't go and eat a whole slab of cheese because, like fruit, although it is good for you, it's only good for your waist line in moderation!

Happy {Clean} Eating everyone!