If you’ve been consuming foods that are sugar-free, fat-free and guilt-free; consider throwing them all out.
If you’ve been consuming foods that are sugar-free, fat-free and guilt-free; consider throwing them all out.
Regular Sugar vs Sweeteners.
Dietitian Kate DiPrima suggests reducing the amount of sugar used or opt for stevia, a natural sweetener with a quarter of calories of sugar. It’s also safe for people with diabetes. She advises, “If you eat a lot of regular sugar, reduce it gradually. Sugar drives the desire for more sugar.”
Veggie Chips vs Potato Chips.
Kate says, “Essentially, veggie chips are similar to potato chips.” Compare brands for fat and salt and if you must eat chips of any kind, choose a 25 g snack pack. Small packs are still under 95 kcal which is ideal, shares Kate.
Regular Cola vs Diet Cola.
In a US study, the rats that were fed with artificial sweeteners gained more weight than those fed with regular sugar. The research suggests that the brain craves more food, as there is no calories that come with the artificial sweeteners. Kate says that she is familiar with this problem. People think diet drinks are great because they have zero calories, but their cravings do not decrease. They also think that if they have ‘diet foods’ they can have two or three times as much.
Chai frappe vs Regular cap.
Did You Know? One regular fast food large chai frappe contains 17 tsps (67 g) of sugar – or as much as a large hot? fudge sundae!
Traditional chai tea is a natural, herbal, non-caffeinated tea, but the chai lattes that are sold in cafes and fast food are sickly sweet. “You hear ‘chai’ and think it’s healthy but it’s not always. If we say ‘lemongrass citrus tart’, it sounds healthy but it’s still a great big pastry. Names aren’t always what they seem,” warns Kate.
Full-fat Yoghurt vs Low-fat Yoghurt.
Some diet yoghurts are not what they seem – a recent study found that some low-fat brands contain more calories and sugar than regular yoghurt. Experts share that the sugar is added to compensate for blandness of taste created by the loss of fat. However, do note that not all low-fat yoghurts are high in sugar, so it’s best to compare labels. Or you can always buy plain yoghurt and add your own fruit.
