Good Fats: The 'Healthy' Foods That Could Be Making You Put On Weight

Your juice probably isn't as virtuous as you think...

For years, we've been told that a low fat diet is the key to losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle. But, now high fat foods are having a moment as nutritionists reveal the virtues of adding avocado to your plate to keep you full, or swapping low fat spread for real butter as it's additive-free.

There's a whole host of good fats out there that you should add to your diet. These fats, like monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and omega-3 fats, can help you concentrate, stay energised, manage your weight, feel happier and be healthier. Get rid of the bad and add more of the good fats into your diet and you'll quickly start looking - and feeling - better.

So it's no wonder that we've been reaching for our juicers and stuffing the jug full of good fats, such as almond milk, avocado and coconut oil. The problem is that good fat doesn't equal calorie-free, and many of us are now filling up on gallons of so called 'healthy juices' that actually boast more than 700 calories in one glass. Our skin might be glowing but buttoning up those jeans is becoming a struggle!

There's no need to pack away the juicer though and forgo that morning vitamin pick-me-up. We've created a handy calorie comparison guide using well-known snacks, so you can see exactly how many calories those good fat foods contain...

Half an avocado and a Mars Bar

While the nutritional content may well be very different, half an avocado contains the same amount of calories as a Mars Bar. Slimline your smoothie by adding just 1tbsp of avocado to your blender.

Almond butter and two glasses of coke

People often overload on nut butters when they're building a 'healthy smoothie' as they distract from the taste of those green veggies and give a creamy texture! If only they knew that just 1tbsp of nut butter contains the same amount of calories as two glasses of full-sugar coke. Our advice? If using, don't be tempted to add avocado, seeds or other nuts too.

Dessicated coconut, brazil nuts and crisps

You might not think that dessicated coconut, brazil nuts and crisps have much in common, but the calorie content says otherwise. Just one ounce (28g) of dessicated coconut or brazil nuts contains the same amount of calories as a 35g bag of Walkers cheese and onion crisps.

Coconut oil and a Curly Wurly

Coconut oil has become the must-have ingredient for any healthy kitchen. A little goes a long way though. One tablespoon (13g) will cost you two calories more than a standard Cadbury's Curly Wurly chocolate bar. Slim down that smoothie by adding 1tsp instead.

Banana and chia seeds

Bananas get a bad press. They're often considered the most calorific of fruits, but - if you're counting calories - they could well be a better option than 'virtuous' chia seeds. A large banana (approx 130g) contains around 121kcals, while sprinkling just 28g of seeds in to your shake will set you back 136kcals.

And sugary superfood juices

In an effort to make superfood vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard palatable, dieters tend to blend all manner of tasty but discreetly sugary fruits into their juices. Today the average green juice contains six teaspoons of sugar - almost as much as a can of full-fat soda! Don't undo all your handwork by loading up on sugary fruit. Instead swap your usual grapes or mango for low sugar strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Rich in anti-aging antioxidants they could leave you looking younger too. Bonus!