One of the most popular phrases in today’s health-conscious society is “low-fat.” Other common phrases we hear are “low-fat diet,” “sugar free,” or “calorie free.” What is being touted by the use of these phrases is that these foods are healthy because they are low in fat or calories. As a result, some people believe they are healthier than other food choices available.
Many health conscious individuals therefore believe that these foods will help them get into better shape. They are wrong. The reality is that these foods aren’t as healthy as advertised. In actuality, they are more harmful than helpful.
False advertising?
The US Food and Drug Administration has strict rules on how the following terms are to be used:
Sugar free/fat free: These products must have less than .5 grammes per serving.
Low cholesterol: These foods have 20mg or less of saturated fat per serving.
Low fat: These foods have less than 3 grammes of fat per serving.
Unfortunately, much of the food on local supermarket shelves do not adhere to these standards and there are no such local standards in place.
In addition, it has been found that while some products are labelled “sugar free,” the issue is with what has been added to the product in place of what has been removed. Some may assume that the ingredients remaining in the product are healthy, but in many cases they are not. There’s a strong possibility that they are worse than what was removed.
So while a product may indeed be sugar free, instead of sugar, other harmful ingredients such as artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, or other preservatives are present. This is done to improve the taste of the food item or make it visually appealing. But whilst it may look and taste better, is it really healthy?
Pick your poison
Foods labelled low fat, no salt, light and so on aren’t as healthy as people believe. Often, the so-called offending fat, salt and sugar contents have been replaced with monosodium glutamate (MSG), trans fats, food dyes and potassium bromate among others.
Here are some well-known food additives and why they should be avoided:
High fructose corn syrup
High fructose corn syrup is an artificial sweetener that has been linked to the following health issues:
– Weight gain
– Hypertension
– Increased risk of type II diabetes
– Elevated cholesterol levels
Aspartame
Aspartame is another artificial sweetener that has been used in lieu of sugar. Aspartame has been linked to the following ailments:
– Headaches
– Dizziness
– Digestive problems
– Alzheimer’s disease
– Diabetes
– Attention deficit disorders.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Most commonly associated with restaurant Chinese food, MSG is used pervasively as a flavour enhancer in fast foods, frozen meals, canned soups, and potato chips. MSG has been linked to:
– Increased body weight
– Liver damage
– Diabetes
– Headaches
– High blood pressure
But what about sugar?
In many cases, foods labelled as low fat are loaded with sugar instead. A study of 100 low or non-fat grocery items from major supermarkets found that dozens contained at least two teaspoons of sugar in a single serving. One in four products contained more than three teaspoons.
In addition, there are many other harmful food additives that can be found in foods like sausages, microwave dinners, canned and microwave soups and similar items.
Making better choices
Many of the foods people think are healthy contain additives and have little nutritional value. Foods that claim to be healthy should have vitamins and nutrients in their ingredients, not dangerous additives. Here are tips on avoiding these harmful foods:
- Avoid food in boxes. To increase their shelf life, many additives and preservatives are added.
- Opt for (organic) fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods are high in nutritional value and are free of additives.
- Opt for water instead of soda. Water has zero calories and flushes toxins out of the system.
- Avoid ready-made meals. Prepare foods using fresh ingredients.
If you avoid purchasing food items with dubious health claims on their labels and frequent your local market instead where fresh food is available, or better still plant some yourself, your body will thank you.
Stay tuned, friends.
If you need help with building muscle or losing fat, shoot me an email: emmersoncampbell@gmail.com
