The Health Halo: Just Because It Sounds Healthy Doesn’t Mean It Is
The Health Halo: Just Because It Sounds Healthy Doesn’t Mean It Is
Some of you may have seen recent headlines about soda companies switching to cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Or the announcement that certain artificial dyes will be removed from processed foods. And of course, the plant-based “meat” trend is still going strong. These changes are often celebrated as steps toward better health. But are they?
No, not necessarily. This is known as the health halo effect.
The health halo occurs when a product appears healthier due to the use of a buzzword, label, or trend that implies health benefits. Think of it as nutrition marketing sleight of hand: the focus gets placed on one feel-good feature while ignoring the rest of the product.
Let’s get real about the candy aisle
Years ago, I poked fun at a popular candy brand for releasing an “organic” version of its peanut butter cups. And I stand by that. I like peanut butter cups as much as the next person but labeling them as organic doesn’t necessarily make them a better choice. It’s still candy. It’s still sugar, chocolate, and peanut butter. You’re not getting any health benefits because the ingredients are organic.
If someone wants to pay more because they like the taste or the company values, that’s their choice. But let’s not pretend it’s now a health food.
Organic ≠ Healthier
I’ve said this many times before, and I’ll keep saying it: organic is about how food is grown or raised, not what’s in the food nutritionally. You can choose organic for environmental or ethical reasons, but don’t confuse it with a nutrition upgrade. Organic wine is still wine. Organic cookies are still cookies. And organic potato chips? Still chips.
Plant-based everything
Another big one is plant-based meat. I get the appeal. It sounds like you’re skipping the cholesterol, saturated fat, or whatever people are avoiding. But when you look at the ingredients and nutrition panel, you’ll often find ultra-processed items with added sodium, stabilizers, and preservatives. Sometimes these products have the same amount of calories, fat, or even more salt than their animal-based counterparts.
If someone wants to adopt a plant-based diet for personal or ethical reasons, I support their informed decision. But let’s not pretend it’s a guaranteed health upgrade. That’s the halo talking.
Cane sugar, dyes, and trendy changes
So back to this soda situation. A popular brand is switching from high fructose corn syrup to “real” cane sugar. This may sound better, but nutritionally it’s the same. Sugar is sugar. Whether it’s organic, from a coconut, or squeezed out of a fancy piece of fruit, your body processes it the same way.
And yes, food companies removing artificial dyes can be a good move in response to public pressure and marketing, but that doesn’t make neon-colored candy suddenly good for you. Same candy, fewer dyes. That’s it.
Coconut oil and other misunderstood foods
Coconut oil is another food that’s had a long, undeserved health halo. People tell me they use it because it’s “good for you.” But nutritionally, coconut oil is one of the least heart-healthy oils. The research that people reference usually involves MCT oil, not coconut oil. These are not the same thing. I’ve seen the labs, I’ve seen the numbers, and it’s not doing people the favors they think it is.
In my house, coconut oil is a skin moisturizer. It doesn’t go in the pan. It can be added to the pan, but the amount should be minimal.
Don’t fall for the gluten-free label either
And don’t even get me started on “gluten-free” labeling everything. If you’re medically required to avoid gluten, that’s valid. However, peanut butter, rice, and even bottled water have been labeled as gluten-free solely for marketing purposes. A gluten-free brownie isn’t automatically healthier. In fact, sometimes it has more sugar and fat to make up for what’s missing in texture or flavor.
What to ask instead
Before you buy something just because the label makes it sound good, ask a simple question:
Is this food actually better for me, or do I just think it is because of how it’s marketed?
If it’s just a treat, enjoy it as such. If you’re aiming for health benefits, look beyond the front of the package. Check the ingredient list and nutrition facts. Know what you’re actually getting.
Health halos can be sneaky. And they’re not going anywhere. But with a bit of awareness, we can spot them and make choices based on facts, not hype.
Let me know if you’ve fallen for a food trend or health halo that didn’t live up to the hype—I might use it in a future blog or podcast episode.
Real World Nutrition Refreshed: I am revitalizing and updating my blog archive and re-publishing it. Stay tuned as I review, update, refresh, and re-share these posts to provide you with even more valuable information on nutrition, health, and overall wellness—and keep things timely. A portion of this blog was initially posted on July 12, 2022, and is updated here.
