If there are overrated dishes, then there are also overrated ingredients that are better off without them. In a world of viral food trends, it’s easy to get swept up in the wave, but are they really worth it? From ridiculously hyped garnishes to so-called “healthy” sweeteners, we’ve sifted through different non-essential ingredients. Here are the 8 goods you can cross off your grocery list.
8. Flavored Yogurt
We hate to break it to you, but that fruity, sweet yogurt isn’t a health food. Many flavored yogurts are packed with more sugar than a candy bar. They contain artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and additives that our bodies won’t process. The next time you’re making a yogurt bowl, just opt for the unflavored ones and add your berries.
7. Gluten-Free Products
That gluten-free label isn’t synonymous with healthy. If you have a clinical gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, these products offer little to no health benefits at all. They’re more processed and packed with sugar and fat. Not to mention, more expensive. Instead of falling for the marketing hype, opt for whole, naturally gluten-free ingredients to add to your dish.
6. Rice Malt Syrup
Don’t fall for that “healthy” sweetener rice malt syrup. They’re one of the most overrated foods that are marketed as sugar alternatives. It has a high glycemic index (GI) of 98, which is even higher than that of your usual sugar, at only 65. That’s one rapid and dramatic spike in your blood glucose waiting to happen if you add them to your meals.
5. Agave Nectar
Agave nectar is another healthier alternative to sugar. But despite its clever marketing that focuses on its plant-based origins, it’s still a highly processed sweetener loaded with 90% fructose. It’s higher compared to high fructose corn syrup at 55%. Still, the high fructose content can lead to health problems like insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. If you look at it, it bears the same effect as your actual sugar.
4. Saffron
Saffron is known as the world’s most expensive spice by weight. But is it really worth the hefty price tag? While it adds a golden hue and subtle floral taste, they often get lost in other ingredients since they’re delicate. Also, many home cooks use the spice incorrectly they either adding too few or too many that which overpowers the dish. Just let them stay in the restaurant dishes.
3. Brown Rice
For decades, we’ve been told that brown rice is the superior choice since it’s healthier. Well, it’s just minimal in comparison with white rice. While it’s true that brown rice does have a slightly lower glycemic index, the difference is hardly seen. Additionally, it’s found to have phytic acid that blocks the absorption of minerals like iron and zinc. Even the fiber isn’t enough to justify the unpleasant texture and longer cooking time!
2. Commercial Truffle Oil
That truffle oil in your pantry might make you feel like a gourmet chef, but it’s just a culinary fraud. Most of the commercial truffle oils we see contain a synthetic chemical called 2,4-dithiapentane, which only mimics the smell of truffles, not the actual ones themselves. Also, it easily overwhelms the dish by masking the flavors rather than enhancing the ingredients. Remember, real truffle oil that’s made of actual truffles is rare and expensive.
1. Edible Gold Leaf
When you think about it, edible gold leaf is just for show. They have no flavor to give and no nutritional value at all. They’re just cosmetic ingredients for aesthetics to make the dish look more expensive. While you’re consuming little gold, it just passes through your digestive system, which eventually turns into waste. If we’re speaking about aesthetics, then there are more creative ways to design a meal without having to pay a high price tag.