Are Honey Nut Cheerios Bad For You?
Short answer
While Honey Nut Cheerios contain some important nutrients, the sugar content and possible GMOs used to produce the cereal outweigh many of the benefits. We recommend avoiding Honey Nut Cheerios, as there are much better alternatives.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Honey Nut Cheerios seem pretty healthy when you’re reading the box, but there are certainly better foods, even cereals that you could choose. Not to mention there’s a handful of ingredients you should watch out for in this cereal that include sugar, canola oil, vitamin E and the possible GMOs.
You should be aware that Cheerios do not guarantee that their ingredients do not contain GMOs. Modified corn starch, honey, brown sugar syrup, canola oil, natural almond flavor and vitamin E are commonly produced from genetically modified plants. The problem with GMOs is that they can leave substances behind in your body and can disrupt your DNA leaving toxins behind that can be passed from mom to fetus. Since the toxins from GMOs stay in your body, there has been a great increase in chronic illnesses in those who regularly consume these products. These illnesses can include autism, fertility issues, reproductive system diseases, and various digestive disorders. Many people also exhibit allergies to GMOs.
Cheerios contain vitamin E as an additive that works as a preservative. When vitamin E is manufactured for use as an additive, soy, corn and cottonseed are the most common plant sources used. Cheerios does not state what food source is used for this product, but soy, corn, and cottonseed are mostly GMO crops in the US.
Aside from the possible GMOs in canola oil, the process in which canola oil is made can also cause health issues. Canola oil, like many other oils, is created by hexane extraction. Hexane has a very low toxicity level, and while only trace amounts typically remain in these oils, the average American diet is high in processed foods that contain these oils! And you can be sure they build up in your system.
While there is some honey in this cereal, most of that sweetness is actually just sugar, regular and brown sugar syrup. In total, there are 9.7 grams of sugar in a 1 cup serving of these Cheerios (who ever has just 1 cup?). That’s equal to a little over 2 teaspoons, and a lot of sugar for just 1 cup of food. Sugar aside, the carbohydrates of this cereal make up 18% of your daily value in that 1 cup, which your body breaks down into…sugar. If you suffer from gut dysbiosis or other gut bacteria imbalance issues, you should avoid sugary foods like this.
It’s not all bad, though, you will get a good dose of vitamins A, C, B, and D along with calcium, zinc, and iron since this is a fortified food.
Possible short-term side effects
Possible long-term side effects
- diabetes
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heart disease
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weight gain
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gut dysbiosis
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passing toxins to fetus
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effects from gmos
Ingredients to be aware of
Organic alternatives
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