Should we still be choosing fat-free over full-fat products?

[AussieNeil]

Not CLL related, but given we usually reconsider our diet when we receive a cancer diagnosis, I thought many would be interested in what Rebecca Charlotte Reynolds, Lecturer in Nutrition, UNSW Australia has written: 'Light or “lite”, 99% fat-free, reduced fat, low fat, less fat, reduced calorie, low calorie, lean, extra lean – are products with these labels always healthier?'

theconversation.com/should-...

Interesting discussions in the comments section too. I liked this by Sue Ieraci: 'There is so much pseudoscience in diet. Meanwhile, the processed food companies that convinced us to eat sweetened low-fat products are now selling us coconut fat and fancy sugars and salts.

In the background, the nutrition profession advises that we mainly eat fresh, whole foods and minimise processed foods, fats and sugars. It’s still sound advice.'

Neil

Photo: Growing carbohydrates; barley crop just germinated, most likely destined to become beer later in the year.

[Mijoed]

I do believe that its all a case of moderation. Eat more than you burn and you get fatter...eat less and you lose weight. Eat too much of any one type of food and you probably will suffer some consequence. If you go out for a meal and fancy that calorie loaded sugar coated sweet then go for it.....just remember that you cant do that every day.

Personally I feel better eating a balanced diet (with some good and some bad days) than trying to stick to the current fashion..

[wmay13241 in reply to Mijoed]

Most people will not have their high blood pressure lowered just by restricting salt. These studies show that a diet to lower high blood pressure should be rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, contain beans, seeds, nuts and low-fat dairy products, and limit everything else. Here's a day on the DASH diet: 8 servings of grains, 5 servings of vegetables, 5 servings of fruit, 2-3 servings of skim or low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese

a serving of nuts, seeds or beans, 1-2 servings of meat, poultry or fish, restrict sweets and fats. Source: drmirkin.com/heart/8614.html

[lexie in reply to Mijoed]

Moderation is relative to personal interpretation and means that instead of my eating a complete 1/2 gallon carton of ice cream I would reason that half of that would be a moderate amount for me in comparison. Still not good, so I use portion control instead because I just can't trust myself to be honest about what constitutes moderation for me.

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to lexie]

It's instructive to look at how dinner plate sizes have increased from what they were mid last century, particularly when studies show that we eat less with a smaller plate...

[kathypawpaw]

Good discussion so far. As for me I've started doing full fat products in moderation. Also increasing my exercise. For millions of years we survived pretty well on whole food and no factories. I just am not a fan of all the "lite" stuff. Strikes me as a way to sell more "products". No weight gain from this change either and there is plenty of evidence that we need some fat in our diet. Also when the fat and therefore the flavor is taken out usually some sugar, salt or other additives are put in to make up for it.

Kathy