Low fat foods = High fat YOU!

If you want to live a healthy life, it is better to do it properly or not at all. I am speaking in particular, about food and trying to convince yourself that you are eating healthy alternatives. Manufacturers play on this by creating “healthy low fat” alternatives knowing that Johnny Consumer will buy the products. The truth is that there are no half measures when it comes to eating healthy foods, you either do, or you don’t.

Research shows “low fat” foods can make you fat

Some foods contain fat substitutes which supposedly reduce your calorie intake and help consumers to lose weight. Research has shown this to not be the case, and that commercial low fat food can actually cause weight gain.

Research was conducted on 2 groups of rats to prove this point. The first group was fed low-fat food, and the other group was given a high-fat diet. One group was also given full-fat potato chips and the other group was given chips with substitute fat in them. Surprisingly, the group of rats which consumed the fat substitute chips gained weight. Even worse, when the chips were removed from their diets, the rats did not lose weight. Scientists believe that the fake fat affected the rats’ metabolisms.

The lesson to be learned from this study is that fake fat is bad for you, and that it will affect your health.

It is better to address the reason that you are craving the chips

If you are craving potato chips, your body is wanting carbohydrates. The way to address this is to opt for a complex carbohydrate which is healthy and contains lower calories. Fruit is a great choice as it is healthy,filling and it has a high-water content.  (Learn more about cravings here)

If you continue to have cravings, your body is obviously lacking essential nutrients. The best way to deal with this is to eat a balanced diet that contains everything that you need. Start your day off with a high-protein breakfast as it will keep you satiated until lunchtime and keep your insulin levels regular. When your insulin levels are normal, you will not crave food as your blood sugar is regular, thereby helping you to remain focused and energized until your next meal.