You are what you eat. In recent decades, we’ve been exposed to countless studies confirming or debunking the latest fads in healthy eating - what’s healthy one month has been determined to be cancer-causing the next. Despite our best efforts to make health-conscious choices, there are some foods that are part of our regular diets that actually can cause more harm than good.

What is most shocking is that these sickening six may actually be some of the main staples in your diet. 

Bottled Salad Dressing

Everyone knows that eating a salad is a healthy alternative to junk meals, right? Perhaps not. One of the worst things you can do to a medley of fresh, nutritious vegetables is drown them in bottled dressing. Even many brands of fat-free or reduced fat dressings are loaded with sugar or high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors or coloring.

What’s the Alternative?

Skip the bottled dressing and mix your own homemade ranch dressing, or opt for a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil mixed with your favorite fresh or dried herbs to give your salad a healthy punch of flavor that won’t tack on the calories or leave you with unwanted sugar.

Canned Tomato Sauce

When you think about canned tomato sauce, you probably think about the best in savory Italian dishes - from spaghetti and meatballs to pasta alla vodka. What you likely aren’t picturing, however, is the amount of sugar that’s been added to your canned sauce to give it that sweet edge that makes the meal please the palate.

What’s the Alternative?

If you’re buying canned sauce, check your labels. Look for low-sugar, low-sodium sauces or make your own by flash-steaming them and mixing them with a blend of fresh herbs, like oregano and basil, sautéed onions or garlic. Opt to buy pureed tomatoes with no added ingredients to both better manage flavor and avoid hidden ingredients.