Looking Past Misleading Dieting Labels
There are lots of healthy-sounding foods to choose from today and a new survey shows that half of all shoppers look for food labels that say things like “a good source of fiber,” “gluten-free” or “contains extra virgin olive oil.” But which food trends can you trust, and which ones are a waste of money? Here’s what you need to know:
Food trend #1: Gluten-free foods. Sales have doubled in the past year but experts say gluten-free foods only benefit the 1% percent of people who have celiac disease - or a gluten intolerance. Otherwise, they offer NO health benefits to the rest of us.Another hot food trend: Greek yogurt. Health experts like Dr. Oz recommend Greek yogurt because it’s loaded with protein, and full of “good” bacteria that’s proven to help digestion. The catch? Those benefits mostly apply to plain Greek yogurt, because if you’re eating flavored Greek yogurt, you may be getting a lot of extra sugar. So, read the ingredients list carefully.
A 3rd food trend: Foods made with extra virgin olive oil. Research shows that olive oil’s a good alternative to butter or margarine, because it’s lower in trans fats. And as we’ve said many times, trans fats are linked to a higher risk for heart-attacks. But that doesn’t mean you can eat all the snacks you want, just because they’re made with extra virgin olive oil because any “oil” is still fat and olive oil has about 2,000 calories per cup!
Foods made with “natural” sweeteners. A survey shows that natural sweeteners are the 2nd most-looked-for item on food ingredient lists, behind the fiber content. But experts say as far as your body’s concerned, sugar is sugar! In other words, whether you call it “agave nectar,” “molasses,” “honey,” or “high fructose corn syrup,” you still need to eat it in moderation.
Finally, let’s talk about: All the new “lite” menus at restaurants. For example: Last year, the Cheesecake Factory introduced their “SkinnyLicious” menu, with 40 new dishes under 600 calories. Experts say it’s a step in the right direction, but in general, the portion sizes in those meals are still too big, and they’re dripping with sauces and dressings that are not good for you. So, even if you order from the ‘lite’ menu, box up half of your meal, and ask for sauces and dressings “on the side.”
Food trend #1: Gluten-free foods. Sales have doubled in the past year but experts say gluten-free foods only benefit the 1% percent of people who have celiac disease - or a gluten intolerance. Otherwise, they offer NO health benefits to the rest of us.Another hot food trend: Greek yogurt. Health experts like Dr. Oz recommend Greek yogurt because it’s loaded with protein, and full of “good” bacteria that’s proven to help digestion. The catch? Those benefits mostly apply to plain Greek yogurt, because if you’re eating flavored Greek yogurt, you may be getting a lot of extra sugar. So, read the ingredients list carefully.
A 3rd food trend: Foods made with extra virgin olive oil. Research shows that olive oil’s a good alternative to butter or margarine, because it’s lower in trans fats. And as we’ve said many times, trans fats are linked to a higher risk for heart-attacks. But that doesn’t mean you can eat all the snacks you want, just because they’re made with extra virgin olive oil because any “oil” is still fat and olive oil has about 2,000 calories per cup!
Foods made with “natural” sweeteners. A survey shows that natural sweeteners are the 2nd most-looked-for item on food ingredient lists, behind the fiber content. But experts say as far as your body’s concerned, sugar is sugar! In other words, whether you call it “agave nectar,” “molasses,” “honey,” or “high fructose corn syrup,” you still need to eat it in moderation.
Finally, let’s talk about: All the new “lite” menus at restaurants. For example: Last year, the Cheesecake Factory introduced their “SkinnyLicious” menu, with 40 new dishes under 600 calories. Experts say it’s a step in the right direction, but in general, the portion sizes in those meals are still too big, and they’re dripping with sauces and dressings that are not good for you. So, even if you order from the ‘lite’ menu, box up half of your meal, and ask for sauces and dressings “on the side.”
