Health/Beauty

7 Health Trends That Are a Waste Of Money

I think it’s great that everyone is trying harder to be healthy these days. You look better in your size-too-small jeans, you feel better, and you may even live longer. Unfortunately, these are 7 health trends that are a waste of money, and exist only to keep you from your dream of ever looking like Kate Upton in a bathing suit (or at least just really good in one).

1. Coconut Water: I personally think this stuff tastes disgusting unless its filled with sugary flavor and therefore no longer a healthy option. Plus, did you know that Vita Coco had to settle for $10 million in a class action lawsuit that showed that the drink didn’t contain the electrolytes that their ads implied? Shady.

* Instead: Drink water. Sorry, but I’m not taking home a coconut and cracking it open with a machete. I don’t even own a machete. If anyone owns a machete, I am slightly concerned.

2. “All-Natural” Food: This sounds wonderful, but there are no clear regulations on what is considered “natural” – so any company can use this claim to up the price. The easiest way to know for sure is to check the ingredient list for anything that looks “unnatural”.

* Instead: Actually buy whole, natural foods like fruits and vegetables from the produce section.

3. Shoes that Tone: Not only are they fugly, but those “toning” running shoes will not help you lose weight. Or tone a flabby ass. Reebok already had to pay almost $25 million to consumers for exaggerating the weight-loss power of these duds.

* Instead: Why don’t you try working out. Like running. Sweat a little. It works.this health trend was a waste of money

4. Detox Diets: We’ve all tried at least some sort of diet involving drinking nasty juices that turn you into a raging wench just so you can gain back all of the water weight you lost after a few days. It’s important to remember that the body naturally detoxifies itself – you don’t have to shock it by depriving it of food.

* Instead: Eating a clean diet and exercising will give you the same feeling that you’re looking for, plus you’ll be able to maintain that behavior alot easier than eating air and ice chips.

5. Artificial Sweeteners: People thought this stuff was miracle powder at first, but according to reasearch presented at the American Diabetes Association in 2011, products that contain these sweetners can actually be linked to weight gain. Why? They trick your body into some of the same responses the real thing produces. Don’t get tricked by Splenda’s new “added fiber” version either – this just means more fake ingredients.

* Instead: Ween yourself off of diet drinks. For your coffee and baking try Stevia – it’s all natural and 200 to 400 times sweeter than sugar. Even better, try agave – a naturally sweet plant syrup that has only 20 calories per teaspoon.

6. Most Organic Produce: I wrote an entire blog post on this one: Organic Food: When it’s Worth Spending More.  Ultimately, there are certain foods that are worth spending the extra money on, but there are some that are just a waste (costing up to 150% more?!)

* Instead: Save money and don’t bother buying organic on any food that has a peel you do not eat.

7. Bottled Water: This is by far one of the biggest wastes of money that we are all guilty of. We spend $100 billion per year on bottled water, and sadly nearly 50% of that water comes from the tap.

* Instead: Buy a Brita water filter and one of those cute reusable water bottles that has flowers or butterflies or an inpirational message and call it Smart Water (clever, right?)

 

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