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Clean eating isn’t always as “clean” as you might think. The truth is that there are many foods you can buy that are really just carbs and sugar, masquerading as something good for you. And the most common culprit of this crime is something you probably have sitting in your pantry right now: granola.
Granola is made of oats that are rich in fiber and iron, so on one hand granola isn’t unhealthy for you, in that it delivers essential nutrients. However, most of the ways we eat granola ends up adding more harmful factors than these benefits.
While granola by itself isn’t terribly bad for you, granola bars, parfaits and cereals typically come with high levels of sugar and high calorie contents that just aren’t necessary for your diet.
You might think that a little bit of sugar is okay here and there, especially when paired with healthier ingredients, but that kind of thinking is what makes diets ineffective. The key to a healthy diet is to minimize your sugar intake everywhere you can.
The best way to eat granola is to be very mindful of how it is made. Read nutrition labels carefully to be sure you aren’t eating any ingredients you don’t want in your diet, and keep your portions small.