Do Light Products Cause Obesity?
Light products have become a popular option to supplement slimming diets. But are they as good as we think they are? In this article, we will tell you more about these products.
Light products attract the attention of people struggling with overweight. But are they as good as is commonly believed? Remember that weight problems have become one of the most important health problems of our century.
Obesity is a risk factor for the development of many diseases, and also determines their prognosis. For this reason, a number of dietary changes are made gradually.
It was concerns about body composition that led the industry to release light products . These are products that promise a lower caloric value than their counterparts. However, they are not always the best option. For what reason? We will explain the secrets of this range of products to you.
Light products contain fewer calories
Light products have fewer calories than their normal counterpart. This is achieved by reducing the fat content of the product. However, in many cases the amount of simple sugars in a given product remains unchanged or even increases.
On the other hand, removing fat from food, unless it is trans-type, is usually not a good idea. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as the D vitamins, are dissolved in this nutrient. By limiting fat, we reduce the presence of micronutrients in the body.
Continuing with the example of vitamin D, we are dealing with a nutrient deficiency. If we continue to reduce its share, we can lead to health problems in the medium to long term.
Stocks of this micronutrient are limited, moreover, its deficiency is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular or inflammatory pathologies, according to an article published in the Annual Review of Medicine.
They can cause excessive consumption
Despite the fact that the caloric content of light products is lower than their counterparts, sometimes knowing that we are dealing with a light product, we usually consume more of it. Therefore, the total energy consumption is greater than when choosing the classic variety.
As if that was not enough, the greater the amount of this product means an even greater share of simple sugars and even addictive substances. In this way, we can influence our health in the medium and long term.
How to properly plan a diet?
Instead of looking for the lowest caloric food on the market, it is better to base our diet on fresh products. Reducing the consumption of processed foods is beneficial in reducing calories, sugars, and additives.
This translates into a lower risk of developing complex diseases such as diabetes, obesity and other food-related metabolic disorders.
In addition, we must choose less aggressive cooking methods with a small amount of oil. In this way, we limit the production of substances that are toxic and harmful to the body, such as acrylamide.
On the other hand, we should not stop consuming fats, although they must come from blue fish, nuts and vegetable oils. Reducing the consumption of animal fats (although scientists are not entirely in agreement on this) and trans fats can lead to better health.
Attention to light products !
Light products offer us a version with fewer calories. But that should not mean that we stop reading labels carefully. In many cases, the reduction in calories is due to the suppression of fats, which is compensated on the level of taste by adding more simple sugars.
This, along with the tendency to eat more of these types of foods because of the lower caloric content, can lead to a gradual deterioration in the quality of our diet.
A healthy lifestyle is one that combines a varied and balanced diet with regular exercise. To achieve this first goal, we need to increase our consumption of fresh produce and reduce our consumption of processed products.
Although you can choose different types of light products , you should not neglect the consumption of fats, especially mono and polyunsaturated.
