Foods that have an undeservedly GOOD reputation...

[AdamWW]

piggybacking on Eli's thread... lets discuss foods that are highly OVER-rated in terms of their alleged health benefits. Not specific to muscle building, but things people often SAY are healthy, but really aren't when you consider the whole picture of the nutrient profile.

Here are some I can think of quickly:

Coconut Oil: Still EXTREMELY high in Saturated Fats... yet still people claim it's a 'healthy fat'

Brown Rice: Barely more nutrition than white rice, and doesn't taste better

Whole Eggs: A great source of vitamins, minerals, etc... but, people often say it's a 'good fat source', when it's 30+% Sat Fat, and not high in n-3 compared to plenty of other options.

Ghee: Similar to coconut oil... it's all name hype... this is just butter basically

Deli Meats/Cold Cuts: Low fat doesn't mean it gets a free pass... highly processed, higher in sodium, etc..

Canned Meat/Fish: Better than deli meat, but people love to say because canned Tuna has n-3 in it, it's somehow an amazing health food. Still canned, processed, etc.

Vegan/Vegetarian Meat/Dairy/Egg replacements: HIGHLY processed in most cases, often with added oils/chemicals to make them taste better.

'Natural' Sweeteners like Cane Sugar, Agave, etc.: They're basically just sugar... let's not pretend.





Now granted, I don't vilify any of these... I eat almost all of them sometimes... but I have a realistic view of their healthfulness and find it hilarious when people praise them for things they don't deserve.

[EiFit91]

Oatmeal

[AdamWW]

Oatmeal

how so?

[EiFit91]

how so?

Didn’t read the full post lol, thought it was a taste thing

But it tastes like ****, looks like a mixture of vomit and semen and one can get fiber from other sources

[AdamWW]

Didn’t read the full post lol, thought it was a taste thing

But it tastes like ****, looks like a mixture of vomit and semen and one can get fiber from other sources

hahaha... to each their own.. I eat it every morning ;o)

[EiFit91]

hahaha... to each their own.. I eat it every morning ;o)

I suspected so! Couldn’t resist the temptation after you fired your shots at eggs ;p

[AdamWW]

I suspected so! Couldn’t resist the temptation after you fired your shots at eggs ;p

Well the thing is, I don't hate eggs... I like whole eggs in certain amounts... so it's not a taste thing for me.

The list was purely using them as a 'health food' undeservedly

[desslok]

Any “superfood”. literally any food can be replaced by something. Every one ingredient can sound amazing on paper, but they really aren’t. Like the Incredibles say, if everyone is incredible, then nobody is.

[AdamWW]

Any “superfood”. literally any food can be replaced by something. Every one ingredient can sound amazing on paper, but they really aren’t. Like the Incredibles say, if everyone is incredible, then nobody is.

Yeah, people say honey is a superfood.

Honey is tasty... but it's not a 'superfood'...

[desslok]

Yeah, people say honey is a superfood.

Honey is tasty... but it's not a 'superfood'...

I think if you go to Whole Foods every week, then every week they will have a new “superfood” from the Amazon rainforests that the natives from thousands of years ago kept secret until now. These superfoods will have vitamins and minerals(just like nearly all other foods). The same natives that lived until the ripe old age of 35.

[Strawng]

“Gluten Free” bread/baked goods- often actually have more calories than the regular version

Smoothies- extremely calorically dense, not satiating, often have added sugar

Organ Meats- very rich in Sat. Fats

“Keto” or “Paleo” desserts- can be more calorically dense if not moreso than the regular version, just has more fat instead of sugar

“Bulletproof Coffee”-That much butter is a major bomb of saturated fat and calories

Pesto- extremely calorically dense and is often an alternative to low calorie red sauces

Granola- can be very dense in calories/high in sugar

Restaurant Salads- even McD’s salads are arguably the least healthy items on the menu

“Burrito Bowls”- it’s not healthier just cuz you skip the bread

Avocado Toast- it’s just carbs & fats w/ almost no protein

[air2fakie]

Whole Eggs: A great source of vitamins, minerals, etc... but, people often say it's a 'good fat source', when it's 30+% Sat Fat, and not high in n-3 compared to plenty of other options.
...

Deli Meats/Cold Cuts: Low fat doesn't mean it gets a free pass... highly processed, higher in sodium, etc..

This forum aside, personally I think eggs and cold cuts have mostly a neutral to bad reputation in terms of health among the general public.

“Gluten Free” bread/baked goods- often actually have more calories than the regular version

I get annoyed if I accidentally buy something that turns out to be gluten free.

“Burrito Bowls”- it’s not healthier just cuz you skip the bread

Or if you ask for the tortilla on the side, which is what I do.

[ManwittaPlan]

Anything grains: not limited to breakfast cereals, bread, tortillas, etc.

Pretty much anything in a box.

Egg whites, they’re for dorks. That’s ok, the world needs them.

Yogurt with added sugar (A dannon fruit on the bottom is a great example).

Yes

[EliKoehn]

Strawng beat me to "salads" which in many cases means a cheddar ranch bacon crumble concrete. Tasty, yeah, just nothing about the title "salad" nullifies any of that.

I want to say something trendy like quinoa, but that one might actually be worthwhile because of the high protein for a grain. I actually don't know. This list is a little harder IMO.

[ManwittaPlan]

Strawng beat me to "salads" which in many cases means a cheddar ranch bacon crumble concrete. Tasty, yeah, just nothing about the title "salad" nullifies any of that.

I want to say something trendy like quinoa, but that one might actually be worthwhile because of the high protein for a grain. I actually don't know. This list is a little harder IMO.

quinoa is a seed not a grain, eat it all you want

[rml27v]

chicken breast
rice
egg whites
and I really think they are overrated af lol

[EliKoehn]

chicken breast
rice
egg whites
and I really think they are overrated af lol

I made a lot of progress with exactly those. I'll have to disagree.

[AdamWW]

chicken breast
rice
egg whites
and I really think they are overrated af lol

I think egg whites and chicken might be over-used/rated or praised in the bodybuilding world specifically... but they are definitely a decent lean source of protein

[Strawng]

Didn’t read the full post lol, thought it was a taste thing

But it tastes like ****, looks like a mixture of vomit and semen and one can get fiber from other sources

Take that chit back!! Proats are the GOAT! Also, I've never thought oatmeal looked like semen. Vomit? Arguably. If any food looks like vomit semen, it's cottage cheese.

Then again, I can't say I've ever tasted semen, so you might know more abut this than me...

Well the thing is, I don't hate eggs... I like whole eggs in certain amounts... so it's not a taste thing for me.

Same. I love having a yolk with my whites to add some extra flavor, but I can't ever eat more than one or 2.

This forum aside, personally I think eggs and cold cuts have mostly a neutral to bad reputation in terms of health among the general public.



I get annoyed if I accidentally buy something that turns out to be gluten free.



Or if you ask for the tortilla on the side, which is what I do.

Agreed. Only bros endors eggs as health foods, and tbh they arguably don't belong on this list because they actually ARE one of the best protein sources for making gains based on a huge number of studies. From a cardiovascular health perspective, it might be a different story depending on genetics. The general public outside bro culture tends to demonize eggs. Idk anyone who thinks "cold cuts" are healthy, but then again I almost mentioned how people think subs>other fast food, when 90% of Subway subs are more processed and higher in calories than anything you could order at McDonald's.

Anything grains: not limited to breakfast cereals, bread, tortillas, etc.

Pretty much anything in a box.

Egg whites, they’re for dorks. That’s ok, the world needs them.

Yogurt with added sugar (A dannon fruit on the bottom is a great example).

Yes

Fully agreed on yogurt and grains. "Real grains" is a meaningless term when it says it on Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Not that I don't love me some CTC

I made a lot of progress with exactly those. I'll have to disagree.

I think egg whites and chicken might be over-used/rated or praised in the bodybuilding world specifically... but they are definitely a decent lean source of protein

Agreed. These are some of the better lean sources of protein there are.

[paulinkansas]

Here we go...


Vince Gironda Hormone Precursor shake.

Whey, Greek yogurt, milk, several raw eggs. 60 grams of protein. Prep time, 60 seconds.

[Strawng]

Or if you ask for the tortilla on the side, which is what I do.

I've worked in restaurants with burrito bowls and this was a relatively common request. I always wondered why exactly people do this. Is it to get more food, to tear up the burrito and cover the bowl as a bready topping (HNNNNG!), or to avoid the bread getting too soggy?

[EliKoehn]

I've worked in restaurants with burrito bowls and this was a relatively common request. I always wondered why exactly people do this. Is it to get more food, to tear up the burrito and cover the bowl as a bready topping (HNNNNG!), or to avoid the bread getting too soggy?

I think it's to get more food. Usually those tortillas are pretty sizeable.

[Strawng]

I think it's to get more food. Usually those tortillas are pretty sizeable.

Damn! I mean you can pack those burritos FULL tho. I'm sure one burrito could easily be 1200 calories.

[air2fakie]

I've worked in restaurants with burrito bowls and this was a relatively common request. I always wondered why exactly people do this. Is it to get more food, to tear up the burrito and cover the bowl as a bready topping (HNNNNG!), or to avoid the bread getting too soggy?

1. Because as you said, servers subconsciously give you more food when they know they aren't putting it on top of a tortilla that they'll need to roll up after.

2. So you don't have to hold a giant brick and either gnaw chunks off like a rat or eat it with a knife & fork like some people eat a slice of pizza.

3. So you can get diff pieces of food & sauce/guacamole in each bite on a fork rather than a whole bite of whatever specific layer of food is in the specific part of the brick you're biting.

4. Because a warm tortilla tastes f***ing good on its own.

[Strawng]

1. Because as you said, servers subconsciously give you more food when they know they aren't putting it on top of a tortilla that they'll need to roll up after.

2. So you don't have to hold a giant brick and either gnaw chunks off like a rat or eat it with a knife & fork like some people eat a slice of pizza.

3. So you can get diff pieces of food & sauce/guacamole in each bite on a fork rather than a whole bite of whatever specific layer of food is in the specific part of the brick you're biting.

4. Because a warm tortilla tastes f***ing good on its own.

Interdasting...Never tried it but I gotta say I agree with all of your logic. I’m sold!!

[EliKoehn]

And yeah, for me the extra food for free is a nice perk, but the biggest reason I don't order it as a burrito is because as A2F says it's really awkward to eat in that form, even if it's filled up adequately.

[paulinkansas]

1. Because as you said, servers subconsciously give you more food when they know they aren't putting it on top of a tortilla .

I used to go to this restaurant/bar every Saturday after hunting ducks. My dawg would sleep in the driver seat of my Jeep while I was inside. I would put my hunting jacket over the leather seat so the water wouldn't mess it up. One time I got this really huge steak on their Saturday steak night. I went back into the kitchen and tipped the chef $20 in 1996. Every time after that I got a much bigger steak than anyone else in the place.

Tuesday they had hamburger night. Place is packed. I showed up late and met the other people at a table and placed my order. Everyone else was waiting on their food. 2 minutes later the chef came out with my order. Everyone else at the table gave me some sort of look.

[air2fakie]

I used to go to this restaurant/bar every Saturday after hunting ducks. My dawg would sleep in the driver seat of my Jeep while I was inside. I would put my hunting jacket over the leather seat so the water wouldn't mess it up. One time I got this really huge steak on their Saturday steak night. I went back into the kitchen and tipped the chef $20 in 1996. Every time after that I got a much bigger steak than anyone else in the place.

Tuesday they had hamburger night. Place is packed. I showed up late and met the other people at a table and placed my order. Everyone else was waiting on their food. 2 minutes later the chef came out with my order. Everyone else at the table gave me some sort of look.

And you, being a consummate gentleman, waited for everyone else at your table to receive their food before you took the first bite of your burger. The end.

[paulinkansas]

And you, being a consummate gentleman, waited for everyone else at your table to receive their food before you took the first bite of your burger. The end.

Same venue, 10 years later. A friend of mine owns the bar. There is an annual Halloween festival going on where they block off the streets and everything goes. I was doing security. Owner tells me to watch "this guy" because he is trouble. So I go over to "this guy" and follow him around the club for about 10 minutes. He says "Mayne, why you followin me?" I was following him all around this nightclub like a shadow. I told him that I'm just following orders from the bowsz.. I can get away with that.

[desslok]

I used to go to this restaurant/bar every Saturday after hunting ducks. My dawg would sleep in the driver seat of my Jeep while I was inside. I would put my hunting jacket over the leather seat so the water wouldn't mess it up. One time I got this really huge steak on their Saturday steak night. I went back into the kitchen and tipped the chef $20 in 1996. Every time after that I got a much bigger steak than anyone else in the place.

Tuesday they had hamburger night. Place is packed. I showed up late and met the other people at a table and placed my order. Everyone else was waiting on their food. 2 minutes later the chef came out with my order. Everyone else at the table gave me some sort of look.

I used to go to places with my friend. He always tips 50% wherever we go. I always told him that was way too much. One time we went to a place by his house. There was 4 of us. The place was packed, we got our food and drinks still at a reasonable time. We all got food and a couple of drinks. A couple of the waitstaff brought my friend some special drinks to try. The check comes and it was like $40. I’m not super good at math but each of our meals was probably $12 each plus a couple drinks each. I asked him if they messed up, he looked at me and said no, he always tips 50% there.