6 Trendy ‘Health Foods’ That Aren’t Worth The Hype

When it comes to healthy foods, it seems that there is always some trendy new option that everyone raves about. Yogurt bars pop up everywhere, people become obsessed with juicing, but then before you know it, they have already moved on to the next hot food.

It can be tempting to jump on the bandwagon when you hear so much about what these supposed superfoods can do for you.

But before you spend a pretty penny on some obscure supplement you’ve never heard of, you might want to consider which foods are actually going to be worth your while. Despite what you may have heard, these six trendy health foods aren’t actually worth the hype.

1. Acai

You’ve probably seen acai bowls sold in juice shops and healthy restaurants, and with their high price, you would think they could deliver a miracle. However, although acai is filled with antioxidants, it’s no different than consuming blueberries, pomegranates, and other nutritious fruits.

It won’t help you with weight-loss, and with its lofty cost, you’re better off just going for other real, fresh fruit, especially since some bowls or juices contain added sugar.

acai photo
Photo by Raios de Luz – Gláucia Góes

2. Bone Broth

People have been sipping bone broth like a hot cup of tea, but is the savory drink really worth it? The claims say that bone broth can help restore collagen, improve joint functions, and even help wounds heal faster, but there are no scientific studies to back up these claims.

If you’re going to drink broth, at least opt for chicken, which can help boost your immune system. 

bone broth photo
Photo by The Meat Case

3. Coconut Water

Although coconut water is one way to keep you hydrated, its benefits don’t extend much beyond that. It’s a better choice than sports drinks, as it’s not loaded with process sugar, but as far as fighting diseases goes, there’s not much evidence to back this up.

If you like the taste of the drink, keep on chugging, but don’t expect it to cure you of any ailments.

coconut water photo
Photo by JeepersMedia

4. Agave

Agave was all the rage when it comes to sugar substitutes, but it turns out that this replacement is not much better than the real deal.

Agave is mainly composed of fructose, and a high intake of fructose can lead to insulin resistance, which which results in an increased risk of diabetes, weight gain and even heart disease.

agave nectar photo
Photo by moria

5. Wheatgrass

When you think of the epitome of health, someone taking a shot of wheatgrass definitely fits that description — or so one would think.

Wheatgrass does contain a number of important vitamins and minerals, but as far as the claims go that tout the drink as a natural detoxifier or disease-curer, there is no scientific evidence to back that up.

wheatgrass photo
Photo by stevendepolo

6. Fruit Juice

Juicing is quite popular at the moment. Although there’s nothing wrong with enjoying some fresh produce, juices contain such a concentrated amount of fruit that they’re insanely high in sugar. When you make juice, you also remove one of the most important nutrients of fruit: the fiber. You’re better off eating a fruit whole or eating a smoothie mixed with more vegetables.

fruit juice photo
Photo by bertholf

Photo by Phú Thịnh Co

Food, Health
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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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