Light and low fat is not always equal to healthy

I would like to give you tools to be able to make wise choices in terms of foods substitution to reach your healthy weight goals. If you go on different diet sites, especially American sites, you will see many suggestions to replace process foods with similar version of processed foods, which are lighter or lower fat.

I do not suggest you use the processed foods to reduce calories. In those low fat products, manufacturers must add fillers to make you see and taste very little difference compared to the regular product. Those products are added with either sugar, starches, water, artificial sweeteners, as well as many other chemicals that your body cannot process properly. Although, you may be controlling the number of calories you intake, you may jeopardize your blood sugar levels and insulin response, and you may be putting your health on the line.

The is a very simple equation to understand: low fat and lighter products are not necessarily equal to healthier. When it comes to your body, you only, can make the choice: quick and lighter version of processed foods, which may give you some weight loss results in the short run, but impair your health in the long run. On the other hand, healthy choices with slower weight-loss results in the short run, but overall health in the long run.

Here are the often suggested diet items, which I do not recommend for your long term health, the healthy recommendation is in brackets : Jello and light jello (fruits and agar-agar), non fat whip cream (egg whites or soy milk), turkey deli (tempeh), ham deli (eggs), turkey bacon (tofu), light salad dressings (lemon juice, herbs, spices a little cold press olive oil), very low fat hard cheese (tofu crumble), low fat but very sweet soy milk or dairy products (unsweetened version better), cold boxed breakfast cereals (cooked or soaked whole grains) , light crackers such as soda or other crackers which has oil and flour in its ingredients (buckwheat crepe, papadum), margarine (flaxseed oil fresh), pretzels (whole grain, home made crakers), light puddings (soft soy and fruit of vanilla, maple or melted dark chocolate 85%). There are natural alternatives, which can be much healthier. In the short term, it may be more time consuming to learn to cook and make those alternatives, but in the long run it will pay off.