Going shopping with the aim of trying to find the healthiest types of foods can often be challenging when you're bombarded with labels such as low-fat, fat-free or low-carb.
These labels can make many think they are being healthy – but it is far more complex than that.
Health experts state there a number of other factors to take into account when choosing the best types of food to include in your diet.
This is particularly true for the elderly who may be at a heightened risk for certain health conditions, who have a weakened immune system or who are taking certain medications.
Here are so-called healthy foods that could cause other health problems.
Raw sprouts
A number of sprout-type foods are praised for their health benefits including mung beans and radishes “but raw sprouts can also pose a health threat to seniors and anyone with a weakened immune system,” warns WebMD.
According to the site this is because they are grown in warm conditions which could harbour bacteria.
For this reason, cooking the sprouts before consumption is a better option for your immune system.
Starchy vegetables
Although high in good nutrients, starchy vegetables should be kept to a minimum particularly for those suffering with type 2 diabetes.
These vegetables such as potatoes, peas and corn can contribute to a spike in blood sugars.
For people who have diabetes, it's best to stick with eating non-starchy vegetables over starchy vegetables.
Salty foods
Consuming a diet high in salty foods will pose a number of health risks including increased heart attack risk and higher blood pressure.
If you're 51 or over or in a high-risk group, the American Heart Association recommends you watch how much sodium you get.
If you're over 51, the recommended limit is 2,300 mg per day.
And if you're in a high-risk group, make sure you get no more than 1,500 mg of sodium each day.
A number of foods may seem healthy but in fact have a high sodium content these include canned soups, cured meat and fermented foods.
It's advisable to check the salt content on food labels.
Grapefruit juice
Most fruit juices remain a conundrum when it comes to their health content.
Although fruit is highly recommended, the added sugars mean it should be kept to a minimum.
Grapefruit juice in particular is one type which should heed warning as it can affect the way your medicines work with the drug interaction potentially causing problems.
This is particularly evident when it comes to those taking the cholesterol-lowering drug statins.
“Do not drink grapefruit juice if you're taking simvastatin,” says the NHS.
“Grapefruit juice increases the level of simvastatin in your blood and makes side effects more likely.”
Keep in mind that eating a balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health.
That means eating a variety of foods, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
If you need more information about which fruits and vegetables to include in your diet, you can check out the NHS Live Well section.
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