'Healthy' foods that aren't actually healthy at all

There's good reason why organic strawberries are often better for you than non-organic, and it's one word: pesticide. Did you know that most strawberries found at your local grocery store are sprayed with up to 13 pesticides? Studies made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2009 and 2014 found that strawberries contained an average of 5.75 different pesticides per sample. But, it's also key to note that much of what we may think are organic strawberries are too sprayed with pesticides because strawberries are prone to pests, bottom line. Also, before the strawberries are even planted, methyl bromide is sprayed on the soil to help sterilize it.

The battle between butter and margarine is nothing new, but there's still reason to note what you're actually signing up to with each. The myth surrounding margarine argues that is healthier because it is lower in saturated fats. Thing is: most margarines contain trans fat, and although there's been a change and trans fat has been removed from store margarines, there are still concerns over the type of "highly processed fats" that are found in margarine. One option is to use coconut oil as a substitute. If you're a butter person though, try opting for light butter.

Unless you have celiac disease and really have to abstain from wheat-based products, there's really no reason to shop the gluten-free aisle. Much of the alternative flours that are used in gluten-free options contain just as much or even more carbohydrates than wheat products do. And, you're not guaranteed to get more fibre or vitamins either, so what's the draw? Finally, you and I both know that there's a definite taste difference between wheat and gluten-free options, so unless you have to for health reasons, opt for your classic 100 percent whole-wheat flour. Or you can try out chickpea or quinoa flour, too.

We've all been there (or been bombarded with Weight Watchers' commercials about them). Diet frozen dinners are readily available and while many boast just over 200 calories per tray, when you actually see what's in that tray it’s more about portion control. In blunt terms: you'll probably still be hungry. Hyper-processed frozen meals might reduce your calorie intake, but at what cost? Instead of opting for the frozen section, pick up fresh produce that you can make yourself.

After you've sweated it out at the gym you may be keen to grab an energy bar to tide you over until your next meal, right? But many of the bars you may be buying are actually hurting you more than you think. Many are made up of saturated fats and have high levels of sugar, refined oils, artificial colour or other preservatives. When reading the packaging look for bars that have a short list of ingredients (names you actually can pronounce too) and opt for all-natural choices, because you'll be getting more of the actual ingredients rather than modified versions of such. Also look for naturally high-fibre ingredients (nuts for example) in the ingredient list.

Unfermented soy products are not as healthy for you as you may have thought. The key word to note here is "unfermented" as fermented soy is better for digestion, can help lower cholesterol, improve bone strength and take on inflammation. It's also better nutritional wise because of vitamins and minerals like biotin, calcium, nicotinic acid and zinc since the fermentation process breaks each down into a more water soluble state. Since a lot of the soy grown in the U.S. is managed with glyphosate (found in weedkiller), it is important to stick with the natural process of fermentation rather than opting for, well, ingesting glyphosate. According to Dr. Josh Axe, "long term use of soy dietary supplements…is unsafe because it has been linked to asthma, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis” and more.

While fish is often a great go-to for omega 3s and other fatty acids, swordfish in particular has high levels of mercury, a toxic that can affect the nervous system. It can also negatively impact pregnant mothers because it can affect the strength of the baby's brain. The debate on how bad mercury is (and at what levels) will probably go on until well after I'm dead, so another reason to stray from swordfish? Unsustainable fishing practices.