14 surprising foods you probably thought were healthier than they really are

Most Americans say that they want to eat healthier. It's a beautifuland fairly newthing.The problem is that most of us don't know how.But the next time you take a stroll down your grocery's "health food" aisle, take note: Most of what you're looking at likely doesn't belong there.Here are some of the most popular products you probably thought were far healthier than they actually are:DON'T MISS:Most dietary supplements are useless, but here are the ones you should takeSEE ALSO:17 'healthy habits' you're better off giving upCereal ' high in sugar, low in proteinSomewhere along the line, bowls of sugar-laden empty carbs got swapped for protein-rich components of the "balancedbreakfast." Butmultiple studies suggest that ahigh-sugar, low-protein diet can increasehunger pangs and mood swings and leave you with low energy. Not exactly the best way to start theschool day.The nutritional low-down ina cupof Reese's Puffs cereal:160 calories29 g carbs13 g sugar4 g fat (1 gsaturated) a3 g proteinGround beef ' great source of protein, but high in fat and terrible for the environmentFor decades, beef has been presented to us as a go-to source of protein. But the product, which studies suggest has been contributing to the California drought because of its large impact on land and water resources, isalso high in fat.The nutritional low-down for a 6-oz. serving of 80% lean ground beef:430 calories34 g fat (13 g saturated)120 mg cholesterol29 g proteinRed meat in general is also pretty terrible for the planet.From raising the cows to washing and processing the meat, burgers and steaks require far more water per ounceto produce than other comparable sources of protein, like beans or nuts.A whopping 106 gallons of water go into making a singleounce of beef. That's not a pretty sight in California, which is currently in its fifthyear of a historic drought and also happens to be home tolots of meat and dairy farms.Fruit smoothies ' good source of vitamins, but high in sugar and calories and almost no proteinJustbecause they pack lots of fruit, smoothies and juices aren'tnecessarily healthy. Most, in fact, are incredibly high in sugar and calories.The nutritional snapshotof a15-oz bottle of Mighty Mango-flavored Naked Juice:290 calories68 gramsof carbs57 gramsof sugar (for comparison,a 16-oz. bottle of Coke has 44g)2 grams of proteinSee the rest of the story at Business Insider
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