I’m a doctor. You think these five foods are healthy, but they’re not

health

by Brooke Cato

An apple keeps the doctor away, unless that doctor is Megyn Brown.

The California-based paramedic – who runs a popular TikTok account – shared a viral video detailing the five foods that many mistakenly believe are healthy, and that fruit is on her list.

From an “insulin resistance perspective,” the doctor declared that both fruit and fruit juices pose a “clear” health threat.

“Did you know that some fruit juices contain as much sugar as a can of soda?” Dr. Brown mentioned in the clip, which received more than a million views on TikTok.

Fruit juice also lacks the fiber that comes with eating a whole piece of fruit, but even “nature’s candy” isn’t a safe option, according to Dr. Brown.

She continued: “Fruits today, and even vegetables today, are no longer the same as they were a long time ago in nature.” “Most of them used to be small, full of fiber, and not too sweet, but today the fruit is crazy.”

“They are designed to be larger, sweeter and less fibre, all of which affects our blood sugar levels.”

While previous studies have suggested that agriculture has lost some of its nutritional value, that doesn’t mean you should stop eating cold fruits.

While Dr. Brown said some fruits — like “mangos, pineapple, bananas, and grapes” — should be “treated like dessert,” adults should eat about two cups of fruit per day, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Next on the cutting board: oat milk. Sorry, vegans.

Dr. Brown criticized the high levels of carbohydrates and sugars – not to mention the inclusion of preservatives, emulsifiers and thickeners – found in oat milk.

Take fan-favorite oats, for example: A standard cup of the brand’s original oat milk contains 16 grams of carbs, 7 grams of sugar, and just 2 grams of fiber. Although it is fortified with vitamins and minerals.

In a similar context, the document denounced eating oatmeal, which is a “controversial” recommendation for diabetics, who need to limit their consumption of carbohydrates.

While oatmeal is a low-glycemic food, some varieties — especially with added sugar — aren’t ideal for people watching their blood sugar.

Although it’s a great source of fiber, Dr. Brown recommends avoiding flavored types of oats and opting for steel-cut oats instead.

Finally, I warned against rice cakes. Dr. Brown boldly said that this snack’s low calorie count is tempting, but it lacks fiber and is high in carbohydrates.

It’s hard to feel satisfied eating just rice cakes, unless foodies add some avocado or nut butter on top for protein or fat.

While her recommendations seemed well-intentioned, viewers raised their hands in defeat, unwilling to heed the doc’s advice.

“Is the water safe, guys?” one person scoffed.

“What the hell are we supposed to eat then??” another wrote.

“At this point I will eat anything and then hope for the best,” another person added, along with a palm-face emoji.

Despite criticism online, Dr Brown insisted in his comments that people can “eat everything in moderation” and hopes to raise awareness about the metabolic power of certain foods.

She also offered alternatives, such as sugar-free almond or coconut milk, eating whole fruit instead of juice, plain coconut yogurt instead of oatmeal, or replacing rice cakes with celery sticks.

“I want to inform people about the impact some ‘healthy’ foods have on metabolic health,” she wrote. “You can still eat it but be careful.”