Are 'Healthy' Foods Secretly Dangerous?

Many supermarket products entice us with clever labels featuring the word “healthy,” yet experts are now warning against these seemingly 'wholesome' choices. What is marketed as healthy may not always be so.

An Australian scientific study uncovered a range of foods sold under health-promising labels that are, in fact, considered “silent killers” due to the potentially hazardous and carcinogenic substances they contain.

The researchers examined products such as whole-grain bread, low-fat yogurt, and protein bars. Despite being perceived as healthier alternatives to items made with white flour, these foods may increase the risk of serious conditions such as heart attacks and high blood pressure. The study followed 10,000 women aged 46 to 55 over a 15-year period.

Anushria Phant, a researcher from the University of Sydney, explained at a European Cardiology Congress in Amsterdam: “Processed foods tend to be low in fiber and high in salt and sugar, with added substances designed to extend shelf life. Many foods marketed as ‘healthy,’ particularly those promoted as low-calorie, often contain excessive levels of salt.” She added that previous studies have linked highly processed foods to obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer.

Phant also urged women to be especially cautious, noting that diet quality in some populations, particularly in Britain, may be poorer compared to that of women in other cultures.