Beyoncé may be able to see halos, but registered dietitians are begging people to question any food or drink that has what they call a “health halo.”
“A health halo occurs when one appealing quality, such as being green, organic, natural or packed with vitamins, leads us to assume the entire product is healthy,” warns Johannah Katz, RD, a registered dietitian.
Registered dietitians are especially concerned with the halos currently surrounding certain beverages, especially on certain corners of social media. Depending on your algorithm, you may be familiar with some of the “aesthetically pleasing” drinks that star in videos and photos on Instagram and TikTok. They’re often green, beet-red or orange in color and full of powders and foods that often require a trip to the specialty store nearest you. To be clear, that doesn’t mean they’re all bad. However, Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com, warns that “health halos” can make us stop questioning what’s in food and drinks.
“When something is marketed as ‘healthy,’ we may assume it automatically supports our health and energy, even if it contains things like added sugar or lacks important nutrients like fiber and protein,” Routhenstein shares.
Indeed, in addition to long-term health concerns like diabetes and heart disease, these types of “healthy” drinks can seriously drain energy. One drink in particular requires a closer look—and the nutrition label and recipes often reveal ingredients that aren’t as aesthetically pleasing as they appear on social media, especially if you’re dragging quickly after your last sip. Below, registered dietitians say that this “healthy” drink can secretly destroy your energy.
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The ‘Healthy’ Drink That’s Secretly Destroying Your Energy
Registered dietitians say green juice is billed as “healthy,” but it may quietly deplete energy and contribute to your afternoon (or mid-morning) slump.
“Green juice may contain valuable nutrients, but consumers should still look at the serving size, total sugar, fiber and whether it provides enough protein and calories to function as a meal,” Katz says.
Julia Zumpano, RD, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic, understands why people love green juice. But she says some of its most appealing “perks” are often over-hyped (at best) and harmful (at worst).
“It tastes sweet and provides some green veggies and fruits that people feel good about consuming since most often they are not consuming them through their diet,” she says. “It gives you a false sense that you are doing something healthy, but instead you are consuming a large amount of added calories and sugar.”
The added sugar in green juice is a big pain point for RDs when they’re trying to help people determine how their diets may play into their energy levels throughout the day.
“Many green juices get their sweetness from fruit juice, fruit concentrates, or added sugars,” Routhenstein says. “Some bottled green juices can contain 25-50 grams of sugar per serving, which can be similar to or even higher than some sodas.”
It’s not that “fruit is bad.” Yes, it’s naturally sweet, and Routhenstein shares that it’s also “incredibly nutritious” in whole form.
“The difference is that juicing removes much of the fiber that naturally slows digestion,” Routhenstein explains. “When you drink a sugary juice without much fiber, the sugar can enter your bloodstream more quickly, leading to a rapid rise in blood sugar.”
Routhenstein adds that your body responds by releasing insulin, which helps move sugar into your cells.
“For some people, that can contribute to a blood sugar drop afterward, which may contribute to afternoon fatigue, brain fog or cravings for quick energy foods,” Routhenstein reports. “Liquid calories also tend to be less filling than food you chew, especially when they lack protein and healthy fats, so they may not provide the lasting energy you are looking for.”
Related: The ‘Healthy’ Drink That’s Secretly Dehydrating You in Summer, Dietitians Say
Other Possible Issues With Green Juice
RDs’ red flags about green juice don’t stop at energy-reducing added sugar. The lower nutrient content may not just leave you dragging, but hangry.
“Most green juices provide little protein or fat and may not keep someone satisfied for long,” Katz says. “If juice replaces a balanced breakfast or lunch, the person may simply be underfueled.”
Unfortunately, sometimes the underfueling is intentional. Routhenstein also warns that green juices are often part of restrictive “cleanse” dieting, including detoxes and low-calorie meal plans.
“These approaches can encourage skipping balanced meals, under-eating and relying on liquids instead of nourishing your body with adequate protein, fiber and calories,” she adds. “When you don’t consistently meet your body’s energy needs, it can lead to a slower metabolic rate, increased fatigue, irritability and intense hunger later as the body adapts to inadequate fuel.”
Yet, Zumpano adds that the excess calories, added sugars and simple carbs in many green juices can lead to unnecessary weight gain, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Related: Strawberries vs. Bananas: Which Fruit Is Better for Blood Sugar? Registered Dietitians Explain
How To Eat and Drink To Support Your Energy
Green juice isn’t all bad.
“Depending on its ingredients, green juice may provide vitamin K and folate from leafy greens, vitamin C from citrus fruits or vegetables, potassium and carotenoid plant pigments,” Katz explains. “Nutrient levels vary significantly among recipes and commercial products.”
However, Katz notes you can get these nutrients in other ways that keep your energy stable. For instance, she says you can add leafy greens to:
Salads Eggs Soups Grain bowlsYou can also snack on whole fruit or make a smoothie that retains whole fruits and veggies, rather than juice from concentrate.
When in doubt, “Think whole foods versus ultra-processed food,” Zumpano emphasizes.
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Sources:
Johannah Katz, RD, a registered dietitian Julia Zumpano, RD, a Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.comHence then, the article about the healthy drink that s secretly destroying your energy according to registered dietitians was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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