The sugar trap

Why sugar-free, low-cal foods can be a health hazard

Why sugar-free, low-cal foods can be a health hazard
When you are looking to shed the extra pounds, a pack of sugar-free cookies or a blob of fat-free butter is what you pick. Not only are these foods ineffectual in helping you lose weight,they also lead to deficiencies. Read on to know why you should keep away from fat-free and sugar-free foods.

LOW FAT, LOTS OF SUGAR
A lot of fat-free or low-fat foods have added sugars and chemicals. “Since the food gets most of its taste from the fat, once it’s been taken out, the food becomes tasteless,” says Dr Bhuvaneshwari Shankar, dietician, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. So, the manufacturers add monosodium glutamate and sugar in the food for taste. “So you end up eating fat-free foods laden with sugar which can result in insulin resistance and even diabetes,” says Dr Honey Khanna, dietician, Max Hospitals, Delhi.

MISSING NUTRIENTS
Fat is a necessary nutrient. So, if you eat a lot of fat-free food, you will end up missing important nutrients that your body needs. “Fat-free foods may reduce calorie intake, but if they become a big part of your diet, you will end up with a lot of deficiencies,” says Dr Khanna. Vitamins A and D are found in large quantities in foods that have a good amount of fat in them. So, instead of cutting out fat altogether, include a little butter or ghee in your daily diet.

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THE BINGE RISK
Since most of the fat-free foods and snacks are not very filling or satisfying, people tend to eat them in large quantities. “And we tend to think that we can have a lot of it without guilt. So we overeat and that is worse than eating fatty food,” says Dr Shankar.

SWEET TOOTH
A study by the American Diabetes Association in September showed that the chances of being overweight increased by 65 per cent with each diet soda that a person consumed everyday. “Artificial sweeteners tend to give you a sweet tooth. Since it’s not possible to have sugar-free foods all the time, you will end up having food with real sugar a lot of times,” says Dr Sakshi Chawla, senior dietician, Fortis, Noida.

THE SIDE EFFECTS
Sugar-free foods contain sucralose, an overdose of which can lead to headaches and dizziness. “Many people who consume sugar-free foods suffer from depression and anxiety,” says Dr Shankar.

LESS SUGAR BETTER THAN NONE
If you want to stay away from sugar, have natural sweeteners such as maple syrup or honey. “Instead of eating sugar-free products, go for real foods that contain natural proteins and fats. When you have natural sugar, your sugar craving will go away easily,” says Dr Chawla.

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