Is low-calorie food necessarily good? Debunking food calorie myths

"Only eat 1200 calories a day...", "Only eat light meals with less than 100 calories". Do you feel tired of working hard to lose weight in such a life full of calorie calculations? Although expending more calories than consuming is the key to successful weight loss, it is not the only factor. Sometimes, considering the overall nutritional value of food, higher-calorie foods are the better choice.

The Huffington Post reported that the quality of food is not only determined by its calorie content, but also by its protein, fat, fiber and other ingredients. However, many people who want to lose weight only look at the calorie column on the product's nutritional information label, while ignoring the fact that the food may contain considerable fat and sodium content. Therefore, the following are some common myths about low-calorie food comparisons, putting aside the obsession with calculating calories.

1. Cookies vs. Nuts

A pack of 6 whole-wheat biscuits contains about 120 calories, and a handful of 14 unsalted nuts contains about 185 calories. It seems that eating biscuits has a lower calorie content. But don’t forget that nuts are rich in omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, which can help reduce the brain’s hunger. On the contrary, the carbohydrates in biscuits are easy to digest and make you more hungry.

2. Chicken Breast vs. Chicken Legs

Chicken breast is the best source of protein for dieters because it is the lowest-calorie part of the chicken. So, can chicken legs be eaten? Compared with chicken breast, the same 3 ounces (about 85 grams) of chicken legs have more iron and zinc. As for the extra fat compared to chicken breast, it is only about 1 gram more than chicken breast. The right amount of fat can help prolong the feeling of fullness.

3. Low-fat yogurt vs. coconut milk ice cream

Many yogurt ice creams on the market are marketed as low-fat, trying to reduce the guilt of people who want to eat desserts but are afraid of gaining weight. However, low-fat ice cream does not mean low in sugar. The hidden sugar in it may even make you want to eat more. A whole bowl of it can contain almost 700 calories!

It is better to choose regular ice cream. Half a cup of coconut milk ice cream has about 250 calories, which can satisfy the body's craving for sugar. Coconut can also provide antioxidant effects like berries, grapes, and dark chocolate.

4. Vegetable stick snacks vs. popcorn

Don’t think that vegetable popcorn means it’s healthy. Since cheese and twice as much salt as potato chips are added during the production process, one serving of vegetable popcorn has about 140 calories. But if you choose pure popcorn without butter or seasoning, one serving has only 93 calories, which is healthier and can satisfy your desire for snacks.

5. Jam vs. Nut Butter

No matter how you think about it, peanut butter and spreads made from nuts are higher in calories than jam, right? But will choosing strawberry or grape jam really make you thinner? Generally, commercially available jams have already mashed the fruit fibers and added a lot of sugar and artificial colors, which invisibly increases the absorption of sugar. In comparison, nuts are rich in protein, which can provide the body with more energy. They are also a good source of nutrition as a condiment for breakfast toast.

6. Low-Fat Cheese vs. Full-Fat Cheese

One ounce of cheddar cheese has 65 more calories and 7.5 grams of fat than low-fat cheese. However, nutritionists point out that instead of feeling empty after eating low-fat cheese and looking for more snacks, it is better to eat a small amount of full-fat cheese to replenish the body's needs. And cheese is rich in calcium, protein and other nutrients, so eating some full-fat cheese every day will not make you too fat.

To establish the correct concept of diet for weight loss, we must first get rid of the mentality of being too obsessed with food calories and weight. If we worry about the left and right swing of the scale pointer every day and calculate every pound of food on the computer, we will not only make ourselves tired, but also gradually fatigue our body, which will affect the results of weight loss. Next time when you choose food, don’t just look at the calorie content, remember to consider other nutritional values ​​as well, so that you can eat healthily without gaining weight!

(http://www.top1health.com/Article/250/11198)