5 Hidden Calories That Are Still Making You Fat
You’ve been counting your calories and doing your exercise regularly, yet somehow those last few kilograms are just not shedding off. If you hit a dead end in your weight loss agenda, chances are you might still be consuming more calories than you think you are. This is a common mistake that happens even to the best of us, so worry not. Just keep your eyes peeled on some of the culprits in your diet :
1. Beverage
“It’s just my daily latte, what harm can it bring? “
By itself, coffee is a very low calorie beverage, just about 2 calories for every 240ml or one standard cup. However, if you add in sugar, milk or other ingredients – it’s an entirely different story. Caffeine also may interfere with your sleep pattern which leads to weight gain.
A lot of us unknowingly foster a habit of drinking our calories, from fruit juices to bubble tea or yoghurt drinks. These beverages can hide tons of calories and sugar and before you know it, you’ve gained a bunch of weight. So, pay close attention to what you’re sipping and load up on water.
2. Olive Oil
While olive oil is one of the healthiest options in combating bad cholesterol and a great alternative to other types of cooking oil, it may actually backfire. Each tablespoon of olive oil contains 119 calories, which is almost a quarter of a women’s recommended daily calorie consumption. So go easy when you drizzle olive oil over every salad or add it to any dish!
3. Healthy Snacks
An assortment of nuts and oats sound like a great and healthy option than your regular potato chips for snacks, right? Well, not always. Nuts are packed with protein, fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, but they are also high in calories. A quarter-cup of almonds, for example, contains 132 calories. They may also be added with honey or other sweetener to enhance the taste. It’s all too easy to eat them by the handful, like popcorn.
4. Dried Fruits
Dried fruits go through a process of water content removal and are repackaged as a healthy alternative to its original version. Loaded with micronutrients, fiber and antioxidants, it’s best to eat dried fruits in moderation because they are also high in glucose and fructose. This is because some fruits are coated with sugar or syrup in the drying process, resulting in 38-66% more sugar than the real thing. Our tip? Read the packaging to be sure of its calorie content.
5. Healthy Salad
From choosing the wrong dressing, overestimating the portion, to going overboard with toppings, salad can be a fattening meal dressed in a healthy appearance. If you look closely, your healthy salad may also be filled with things such as avocados ( a high-calorie fruit), extra cheese, too much mayo, breaded and fried chicken, and salt.
This doesn’t mean that salad is a poor choice, but it is best to be aware of what’s in your plate rather than believing fully that you’re consuming a guilt-free meal.
