Refined sugar has gotten a bad rep and even been compared to poison, it’s no wonder fruits, dates and honey seem like a better alternative, but they’re not really. Despite the fact that they may be less processed and have more trace minerals and vitamins. Tablespoon for tablespoon, honey has more calories than sugar (60 calories vs 15 calories, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database), and fruits have about the same fructose and glucose make-up as regular sugar. The lesson here: we still need to watch our sugar intake no matter which sweet source it comes from.
When you’re trying to lose weight, carbs aren’t the enemy. The problem is what kinds of carbs you’re eating, says Lisa Mallonee, a US-based dietitian. A diet full of refined and processed starches is a no-no, as “binging on these carbohydrates will contribute to weight gain.” Instead, she recommends more complex carbs such as whole grains – think oats, brown rice, and the like. Cutting out carbs completely is not the solution, as it is our body’s “main source of fuel”. However, you should watch how much of it you eat too. For easy reference, the Health Promotion Board’s My Healthy Plate chart recommends keeping starches to no more than a quarter of your plate.
Butter is not bad, at least not when you compare it to veggie oils. Though linoleic-acid rich oils like sunflower, soyabean, corn and safflower led to reduced cholesterol levels, a report in British Medical Journal shared that they did not seem to reduce heart disease or prolong life. In fact, the article, which referenced several studies extending back to 1968, pointed out that some study groups with lowered cholesterol readings experienced higher mortality rates. While the scientists say more research needs to be done, they theorise that oils high in linoleic acid may still cause inflammation and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) when exposed to certain processes, including oxidation, and this could explain why these veggie oils may not be such saintly substitutes for butter after all.
Worried about osteoporosis? Don’t get started on calcium supplements yet, unless your doctor tells you to. Apparently, excess calcium from these pills could build up in arteries and cause heart damage if it doesn’t get absorbed or expelled through urine, shares researchers at John Hopkins Medicine who conducted studies on this subject over 10 years involving more than 2,700 participants. Thankfully, a high-calcium diet that may include dairy and dark leafy greens doesn’t seem to have any adverse effect on the heart, so that may be a better source of the mineral.
If you don’t touch candy, you probably want to stay away from energy bars too. They may be a convenient meal replacement, but if you’re not doing plenty of exercise, you really don’t need the extra calories, and these have plenty. Dipped in chocolate and laden with oils, fats, salt and sugar, many of these have similar nutritional values as popular sweet snacks, and that’s definitely not a good thing if you’re watching your figure.