Fat tastes good, plain and simple. When you choose a low fat option have you ever wondered how the flavor never seems compromised? The saddening truth is that in most cases sugar is added to replace the flavor of fat. We have spent years believing that fat is bad for our health and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Fat is not the main villain, sugar is!
We need fat, it is essential to our health.
One of its many benefits of fat is that it helps to slow down the absorption of carbohydrates.
Why is this important? All carbs, including fruits and vegetables, turn into a form of sugar (glucose) once consumed. When we over consume carbohydrates and our body has to continuously store unused glucose, our glycogen tanks get full causing glucose to pool in the bloodstream. This increases the body’s production of insulin.
What does insulin do?
Over time the body can develop a resistance to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that shuttles glucose to the cells for use or storage. With excess glucose floating around the bloodstream the liver sends it to the fat cells and can also make it into LDL cholesterol, which is when diabetes and other diseases can manifest.
We can prevent this by avoiding “lonely carbs”
In order to prevent this rapid rise in blood glucose we want to avoid “lonely carbs”. Essentially this means that foods like crackers, fruits high in sugar, and sweets should never be consumed on their own. Having them in combination with a fat and/or protein will allow for a controlled blood sugar response. For example, pairing crackers with a dip, adding banana to Greek yogurt, and having a treat right after your meal instead of waiting for the meal to be digested by itself.
Look past the low-fat label. What else is hiding in there?
What has happened in the food industry with the low fat movement is actually quite tragic. It has done nothing but contribute negatively to our health issues and steer consumers away from healthy, whole foods such as eggs. We as consumers must become informed and stop the madness. So if you notice that a particular product boasts a ‘low fat’ label make sure to take note of the sugar content and other ingredients that may be lurking behind the label.
There are lots of foods that are naturally low in fat such as fruits and vegetables, but when choosing the low fat alternative please read your labels and be aware of added sugar.
For all your Power Up news make sure you check out Vince’s Facebook, Instagram, andTwitter. Make sure you follow @VincesMarket and #powerupwithvinces, sign up for ourPower Up Newsletter and keep an eye out for nutrition tips and tricks from me, our in-house nutrition expert!
In good health,
Danielle
In-House Holistic Nutritionist (R.H.N.),
Natural Chef., R.M.T.
