Eating foods with less than FIVE ingredients key for dieting and weight-loss trends now

Trying to work out what foods are healthy is so complicated these days — especially with the rise of buzzwords like 'organic', 'all-natural' and 'sugar-free'.

But experts say a simple rule of thumb that works in most cases will keep you healthy and slim: stick to snacks with fewer than five ingredients.

Nutritionists told DailyMail.com a short ingredient list indicates something is natural, contains few additives and has been through very little processing.

Another hack, according to Jessica Cording, a registered dietician in New Jersey, is to avoid items with ingredients that are hard to pronounce.

While scientists are unsure of the exact long-term effects of each chemical in processed foods, repeated studies have linked them to higher rates of obesity, cancer, Alzheimer's and other potentially devastating conditions.

'There are many ingredients that are providing little for actual nourishment,' Ms Cording said.

'More processed foods tend to be less nutritious, and [eating them] is liked to different types of cancers, heart disease, diabetes and cognitive decline.'

Last year, researchers at Tufts University found that men who often ate highly processed foods suffered a  29 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer.

The Alzheimer's Association warns of data from Brazil showing men who consumed most of their calories from these foods suffered a 25 percent increase in rates of cognitive decline.

There are a very small number of exceptions to the five-ingredient rule. 

Fruit juice is one of these exceptions. Even when 100 percent natural with no additives, pure fruit juice is not considered healthy because of it is highly concentrated with sugar, which can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

So, can you guess how many ingredients are in some grocery store staples? 

Featuring the iconic BuzzBee, who delivers a drop of 'real honey' to each box, Honey Nut Cheerios are widely viewed as a healthy yet sweet breakfast treat.

The product is a spin-off of General Mills' iconic Cheerios breakfast cereal and sells itself as having the same health benefits with a taste even children can enjoy.

The cereal's packaging is covered with labels such as 'gluten-free,' 'natural flavor, and even that it 'can help lower cholesterol'.

The nutrition label on the side of the packaging can say otherwise, though. A box of Honey Nut Cheerios contains 22 ingredients, well over the five nutritionists recommend.

While it contains vitamins and minerals, it also contains additives such as tripotassium phosphate. 

The salt-like chemical fights moisture and keeps a product from being too acidic.

A single serving of Honey Nut Cheerios also includes 12 grams of added sugars - 24 percent of the daily allowance recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Ms Cordling told DailyMail.com the sugar in Honey Nut Cheerios 'negates some of the other benefits' of the reportedly healthy cereal. 

While Honey Nut Cheerios are preferable to other General Mills, such as Lucky Charms, it falls well short of the standard Cheerios brand.

Ms Cording says she tells patients to mix it with regular Cheerios so eaters can still get the same taste - with only half of the sugar.

22 ingredients: Whole Grain Oats, Sugar, Oat Bran, Corn Starch, Honey, Brown Sugar Syrup, Salt, Tripotassium Phosphate, Canola Oil, Natural Almond Flavor. Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) Added To Preserve Freshness. Vitamins And Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Zinc And Iron (Mineral Nutrients), Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate), A B Vitamin (Niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin Mononitrate), Vitamin A (Palmitate), A B Vitamin (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3. 

Most popular cheeses in America are highly processed and contain large amounts of sodium and fats which have been linked to high cholesterol and a build up of plaque in the arteries.

But cheese can also be a great source of calcium and vitamins A and b12 - among other essential vitamins and minerals.

Sargento Provolone Cheese - while more expensive than some competitors - cuts out many of the additives in other cheese that make it harmful.

Ms Cording says that in many cases paying the slightly higher costs for less-processed food could be better in the long run.

'If it's something that's a staple food for you, you want to go for the healthier version,' she said.

'Down the road, this could save you a lot on healthcare bills,' - she added, noting that unhealthier foods increase a person's risk of developing many harmful diseases. 

5 ingredients: Pasteurized milk, Cheese culture, Salt, Enzymes, Natural smoke flavor

Chobani's mission statement says the New York-based company is 'making the world a healthier place' - but dieticians recommend against their popular Greek yogurt products.

Greek yogurt became a craze in the 2010s, as the public became more aware of the health benefits of the now-famous Mediterranean diet.

While yogurt, well-known for its thicker consistency and sour taste, is generally considered healthy, highly processed versions are not recommended by experts. 

Someone who has a cup of Chobani fruit-flavored yogurt - such as the mango, blueberry or black cherry varieties - as a part of their breakfast or as a quick afternoon snack likely thinks they are boosting their health.

Ms Cording warns that the brand 'has traditionally been higher on sugar' than its competitors. 

She instead recommends alternatives with zero sugar and even plain Greek yogurt.

One good hack is to buy fresh fruit and mix it into plain, low processed, yogurt yourself to have more control over sugar contents and to be more confident in what you are eating.

12 ingredients: Cultured Nonfat Milk, Cane Sugar, Black Cherries, Water, Fruit Pectin, Guar Gum, Natural Flavors, Cherry Juice Concentrate, Locust Bean Gum, Lemon Juice Concentrate (listed ingredients are for Black Cherry flavored Chobani yogurt) 

Peanut butter has earned a less-than-stellar reputation in some households - mainly because of the latter half of its name.

Many peanut butter

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