From Valleynewslive · · 50s
Fat-free diets can be unhealthy
Fat-free labels hide unhealthy replacements; check ingredients for real food.
In brief
Fat-free labels hide unhealthy replacements; check ingredients for real food. Fat-free products often replace fat with sugar or starches, so look at ingredients to avoid unhealthy options. Originally reported by Valleynewslive.
Fat-free misconception
People think fat-free means healthy, but removing fat replaces it with something else.
“People think that fat-free is healthy. And really, fat free does not mean that it’s problem free.”
Front of package
The front of food packages is advertising, not nutrition information.
“Just remember this is about advertising. So the package, the front of the package is all advertisement.”
Unhealthy replacements
Manufacturers often add sugar, sweeteners or starches to replace fat.
“They made it taste good and all that, but it’s not healthy.”
Simple label rule
Eat foods with sugar fifth or lower on the ingredient list.
“I eat anything with sugar being fifth and lower, and then I look at what’s above.”
Food’s purpose
Food should stabilize blood sugar and support hormones, not just count calories.
“Why don’t you look at what is this food doing to my body? How is it helping me to stabilize my blood sugar?”
Healthy fats
Monounsaturated fats like olive oil and avocados help heart health.
“Monounsaturated fats, those are good fats. You want to eat them all day long.”
Real food test
Choose foods your great-grandparents would recognize as natural.
“Would our great-grandparents recognize that as food?”
The bottom line
Fat-free products often replace fat with sugar or starches, so look at ingredients to avoid unhealthy options.
