If you’re looking to lose weight or even just maintain your good
health, your first course of action should be to revisit your grocery
shopping habits. If you’re like most people, chances are you gravitate
towards healthy-sounding products that carry “low-fat,” “0% fat” or
zero-calorie labels. However, in doing so, you’re not making the healthy
choices you think you are.
Experts say that while phrases like “low-fat” and “zero-calorie” are
incredibly enticing to health conscious people, foods with such
designations actually have the potential to harm your health. Every time
you eat such foods, you increase your risk of gaining weight, suffering
from nutrient deficiency and developing diseases like diabetes and
cancer.
Low-fat foods can make you eat more and can lead to serious health problems
As for weight loss, a Cornell University study found that individuals
consume up to 28% more food when they’re eating low-fat options,
demonstrating that people tend to overindulge when they’ve been eating
something that sounds healthy. Either they eat more than the suggested
portion size of the low-fat food of choice, or—because they’ve been
eating low-fat products regularly—they think it’s alright to feast on
the likes of pizza and ice cream. Either way, they’re taking in
excessive amounts of foods with the thought that “low-fat” is synonymous
with “low-calorie.” Consequently, they end up in a constant struggle
with their expanding waistlines. Interestingly, the researchers in the
Cornell study also found that people would even eat foods they typically
didn’t enjoy just because they had a “low-fat” label.
Contrary to what many people think, foods with the right kind of fats
are good for you; scientists have found no significant evidence linking
certain dietary fats with a higher risk of heart disease. Information
discussed at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)
in Vienna, Austria, also found that eating full-fat dairy products like
butter, cream and whole milks can reduce, not contribute to, the risk of
developing diabetes.
Coconut, naturally-fed meats and nuts are some foods containing types
of fats that won’t destroy your health. Coconuts, for example, are
associated with aiding the fat-burning process and bolstering brain
function, while some meats contain an amazing mix of essential vitamins
and minerals.
It’s even been found that eating a low-fat diet plays a role in
lowering the “good” cholesterol (HDL). Furthermore, experts note that
low-fat meals contribute to diabetes, heart disease, cancer and lower
testosterone. There’s something to be said for eating foods as they
exist naturally, without the questionable chemical and processing
modifications that make them able to carry “low fat” or “reduced fat”
labels in the first place.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should eat these items in excess. As
with anything, moderation and sticking to recommended portion sizes is
essential.
Zero-calorie foods confuse your body and have the potential to destroy health
When it comes to calorie control, those low-calorie or zero-calorie
items containing artificial sweeteners wreak havoc on your health.
Whether you tear open the packets and stir them into your coffee or buy
diet soda that already contains the ingredient, you’re lessening your
chances of losing weight and are harming your health in the process.
For example, studies have found that zero-calorie sodas end up making
you feel hungrier; your body actually becomes confused due to the fact
that it’s not getting any energy or nutrition during the digestive
process. Sure, you’re satisfied with the thirst-quenching sweetness, but
over time you will find yourself in a mode that essentially becomes
numb to what constitutes “sweet” because you’re so used to the false
tastes coming from those pink, yellow or blue packets.
Even worse than feeling hungrier than normal and potentially
overeating as a result is that eating zero-calorie products containing
artificial sweeteners are linked to headaches, fatigue and cancers,
although claims about this topic remain controversial.
Avoiding foods with healthy fats or consuming zero calorie items robs
your body of essential nutrients, so you’re depriving yourself of
what’s needed to function optimally. So, next time you’re in the grocery
store, consider swapping that skim milk for whole milk and reaching for
regular yogurts instead of ones that make low-fat promises. In many
instances, you’ll even find that the calorie difference isn’t shocking.
Yes, the total will be higher, but in the case of many yogurts (for
example), you’ll see that the difference may be closer to 30 calories
than 300.
Sources:
http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/outreach/low-fat.html
http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/13572-full-fat-dairy-reduce-diabetes.html
http://vegetarianspotlight.com/2012/zero-calories-zero-benefits-why-diet-sodas-are-bad-for-you/
http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/food/dangers-artificial-sweeteners
http://authoritynutrition.com/7-ways-the-low-fat-diet-destroys-your-health/
http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/news/20061115004304_health_news.shtml