You Think These Foods Are Healthy, But They Are NOT

Always read the labels.

Fast food restaurants and big food companies want you to think you're eating nutritiously, throwing around words like "salad!" and "whole grain granola!" and "fresh fruit smoothies!"

When really, more accurate words are "heaping sodium," "too many calories" and "tons of sugar."

As BuzzFeed shows in the video below, foods that we might initially think as nutritious are really just as bad for us as more obvious junk foods. A McDonald's Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken is 310 calories, for example -- about the same as their cheeseburger -- but its sodium content is far worse: 1,120 mg (nearly half the daily limit recommended by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines).

And sugar is added into granola and smoothies too -- the latter of which can have up to 50 grams of sugar (!) in a single bottle, twice the daily amount recommended by the World Health Organization.

It always pays to read the labels, check the serving sizes and limit your intake. A little can go a long way. See the other food-wolves in sugary sheep disguises here:

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Before You Go

Foods With Healthy Fats
Avocado(01 of06)
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Half of an avocado contains nearly 15 grams of fat total, and almost 10 of those are monounsaturated (2 grams are polyunsaturated). Try it in place of mayo on your next sandwich. (credit:cyclonebill/Flickr)
Almonds (And Other Nuts)(02 of06)
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Just about any nut can make for a healthy fat-filled snack, but almonds happen to be the lowest in calories. One ounce -- about 23 whole almonds -- contains just over 14 grams of fat, including nearly 9 grams monounsaturated and about 3.5 polyunsaturated. (credit:mynameisharsha/Flickr)
Salmon (And Other Fatty Fish)(03 of06)
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Salmon may be one of the most well-known fatty fish, but tuna, mackerel and sardines also offer a heart-healthy dose of fats.

If you're going to stick with the familiar, look for wild-caught salmon. A three-ounce serving of chinook (often the most expensive option, according to Eating Well), contains nearly 9 grams of fat, including nearly 4 grams monounsaturated and about 2.5 polyunsaturated. The milder coho salmon and the oilier sockeye both contain less, at around 5 total grams of fat, with nearly 2 grams each of mono- and polyunsaturated fat.
(credit:adactio/Flickr)
Olives (And Olive Oil)(04 of06)
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Mixing 10 large olives into your next salad will add about 5 grams of fat, 3.5 of which are monounsaturated and .4 of which are polyunsaturated.

Not an olive fan? The oil is an even more concentrated source of healthy fats -- just don't be too heavy-handed on your pour: A single tablespoon contains over 13 grams of fat, nearly 10 of which are monounsaturated and about 1.5 are polyunsaturated.
(credit:Darwin Bell/Flickr)
Flax (And Other Seeds)(05 of06)
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One tablespoon of whole flaxseed -- which you can toss into salads, soups, smoothies, yogurt and more -- contains just over 4 grams of fat, including nearly 1 gram monounsaturated and almost 3 grams polyunsaturated.

Flax seeds also contain anywhere from 75 to 800 times more lignans, a component of plants that act as antioxidants, than other plant foods, WebMD reported.

A tablespoon of sesame seeds contains about 1.5 grams of monounsaturated fat and 2 grams of polyunsaturated fat. And an ounce of pumpkin seeds pack about 2 grams of monounsaturated fat and 2.5 grams of polyunsaturated fat.
(credit:sean dreilinger/Flickr)
Eggs(06 of06)
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One large, whole egg has almost 5 grams of fat, including roughly 2 grams monounsaturated and about 1 polyunsaturated. (credit:pietroizzo/Flickr)

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