Beyonc\u00e9 may be able to see halos, but registered dietitians are begging people to question any food or drink that has what they call a \u201chealth halo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA health halo occurs when one appealing quality,\u00a0such as being green, organic, natural or packed with vitamins,\u00a0leads us to assume the entire product is healthy,\u201d warns Johannah Katz, RD<\/a>, a registered dietitian.<\/p>\n Registered dietitians are especially concerned with the halos currently surrounding certain beverages, especially on certain corners of social media. Depending on your algorithm, you may be familiar with some of the \u201caesthetically pleasing\u201d drinks that star in videos and photos on Instagram and TikTok. They\u2019re often green, beet-red or orange in color and full of powders and foods that often require a trip to the specialty store nearest you. To be clear, that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re all bad. However, Michelle Routhenstein<\/a>, <\/a>MS, RD, CDCES, CDN<\/a>, a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com, warns that \u201chealth halos\u201d can make us stop questioning what\u2019s in food and drinks.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen something is marketed as \u2018healthy,\u2019 we may assume it automatically supports our health and energy<\/a>, even if it contains things like added sugar<\/a> or lacks important nutrients like fiber<\/a> and protein<\/a>,\u201d Routhenstein shares.<\/p>\n Indeed, in addition to long-term health concerns like diabetes<\/a> and heart disease<\/a>, these types of \u201chealthy\u201d drinks can seriously drain energy. One drink in particular requires a closer look\u2014and the nutrition label and recipes often reveal ingredients that aren\u2019t as aesthetically pleasing as they appear on social media, especially if you\u2019re dragging quickly after your last sip. Below, registered dietitians say that this \u201chealthy\u201d drink can secretly destroy your energy.<\/p>\n \ud83e\ude7a<\/a>SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week<\/a>\ud83d\udc8a<\/a><\/p>\n The \u2018Healthy\u2019 Drink That\u2019s Secretly Destroying Your Energy<\/p>\n Registered dietitians say green juice is billed as \u201chealthy,\u201d but it may quietly deplete energy and contribute to your afternoon (or mid-morning) slump.<\/p>\n \u201cGreen juice may contain valuable nutrients, but consumers should still look at the serving size, total sugar, fiber and whether it provides enough protein and calories to function as a meal,\u201d Katz says.<\/p>\n Julia\u00a0Zumpano, RD<\/a>, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic, understands why people love green juice. But she says some of its most appealing \u201cperks\u201d are often over-hyped (at best) and harmful (at worst).<\/p>\n \u201cIt tastes sweet and provides some\u00a0green\u00a0veggies and fruits that people feel good about consuming since most often they are not consuming them through their diet,\u201d she says. \u201cIt gives you a false sense that you are doing something healthy, but instead you are consuming a large amount of added calories and sugar.\u201d<\/p>\n The added sugar in green juice is a big pain point for RDs when they\u2019re trying to help people determine how their diets may play into their energy levels throughout the day.<\/p>\n \u201cMany green juices get their sweetness from fruit juice, fruit concentrates, or added sugars,\u201d Routhenstein says. \u201cSome bottled green juices can contain 25-50 grams of sugar per serving, which can be similar to or even higher than some sodas.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not that \u201cfruit is bad.\u201d Yes, it\u2019s naturally sweet, and Routhenstein shares that it\u2019s also \u201cincredibly nutritious\u201d in whole form. <\/p>\n \u201cThe difference is that juicing removes much of the fiber that naturally slows digestion,\u201d Routhenstein explains. \u201cWhen you drink a sugary juice without much fiber, the sugar can enter your bloodstream more quickly, leading to a rapid rise in blood sugar<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Routhenstein adds that your body responds by releasing insulin, which helps move sugar into your cells. <\/p>\n \u201cFor some people, that can contribute to a blood sugar drop afterward, which may contribute to afternoon fatigue, brain fog or cravings for quick energy foods,\u201d Routhenstein reports. \u201cLiquid calories also tend to be less filling than food you chew, especially when they lack protein and healthy fats, so they may not provide the lasting energy you are looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: The \u2018Healthy\u2019 Drink That\u2019s Secretly Dehydrating You in Summer, Dietitians Say<\/a><\/p>\n Other Possible Issues With Green Juice<\/p>\n RDs\u2019 red flags about green juice don\u2019t stop at energy-reducing added sugar. The lower nutrient content may not just leave you dragging, but hangry. <\/p>\n \u201cMost green juices provide little protein or fat and may not keep someone satisfied for long,\u201d Katz says. \u201cIf juice replaces a balanced breakfast or lunch, the person may simply be underfueled.\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately, sometimes the underfueling is intentional. Routhenstein also warns that green juices are often part of restrictive \u201ccleanse\u201d dieting, including detoxes and low-calorie meal plans.<\/p>\n \u201cThese approaches can encourage skipping balanced meals, under-eating and relying on liquids instead of nourishing your body with adequate protein, fiber and calories,\u201d she adds. \u201cWhen you don\u2019t consistently meet your body\u2019s energy needs, it can lead to a slower metabolic rate, increased fatigue, irritability and intense hunger later as the body adapts to inadequate fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet, Zumpano adds that the excess calories, added sugars and simple carbs in many green juices can lead to unnecessary weight gain, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.<\/p>\n Related: Strawberries vs. Bananas: Which Fruit Is Better for Blood Sugar? Registered Dietitians Explain<\/a><\/p>\n How To Eat and Drink To Support Your Energy<\/p>\n Green juice isn\u2019t all bad. <\/p>\n \u201cDepending on its ingredients, green juice may provide vitamin K and folate from leafy greens, vitamin C from citrus fruits or vegetables, potassium and carotenoid plant pigments,\u201d Katz explains. \u201cNutrient levels vary significantly among recipes and commercial products.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Katz notes you can get these nutrients in other ways that keep your energy stable. For instance, she says you can add leafy greens to:<\/p>\n You can also snack on whole fruit or make a smoothie that retains whole fruits and veggies, rather than juice from concentrate.<\/p>\n When in doubt, \u201cThink whole foods versus ultra-processed food,\u201d Zumpano emphasizes.<\/p>\n Up Next:<\/p>\n Related: More Than 40 Years Ago, This Diet Became a National Obsession\u2014Dietitians Say It Didn\u2019t Hold Up<\/a><\/p>\n Sources:<\/p>\n This story was originally published by Parade<\/a> on Aug 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness<\/a> section. 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