Many times they appear in the advertising the products associated with slim and perfect bodies. They also promise us that they are tasty and very appetizing but do we really know if it is light it is healthier or has nothing to do with it? Are foods or drinks that have that word on their label healthier? We are going to analyze how they are and what they can contribute to our diet.
So that a product can be labeled and considered as and, too must contain a 30% less caloric intake than the originalIn other words, there must be a reference product of the same brand with a calorie intake of at least 30% higher. This decrease in calories in the products is achieved by reducing the level of sugars or fats.
Low in sugar
The products low in sugar they have been achieved by reducing added sugars. In many cases they are replaced by Sweeteners like saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, stevia, etcetera. To a large extent, the reduction of this ingredient is positive, but we must not forget that just because they are low in sugar does not mean that they are healthy. That is, in the reduction process they may have other components that are not entirely healthy. In this way, we should look at what products have been added to be able to substitute sugar.
Yes we must emphasize that all authorized sweeteners, that is, those that contain the well-known letter 'E', are safe for our health. At a minimum in the normal amounts that can be ingested. Each of these elements have their properties in the flavor, texture and they are used in each formula or recipe of elaborated products, trying to find the most similar to the original ones.
It is also important to highlight in this explanation of if it is light it is healthier that a soft drink is not the same so it has 30 or 40% fewer calories than a soft drink with 0% calories. If we decide to buy a low-sugar product, we must know what real reduction in calories it has. A good example is the Coca-Cola.
Low in fat
La fat reduction in processed products are mainly replaced by appreciable amounts of salt, starch and some sugars like dextrose. All this in the search for the flavor that the product has lost in the elimination of that fat and that it is palatable for the consumer.
It should be noted that all fats are not bad in our diet and that there are healthy fats and that, at normal levels, they can help our health. That is, fats can be consumed without major problem at reasonable levels. unsaturated. These help lower bad cholesterol in the blood and increase good cholesterol.
Foods like blue Fish, oil and fruits like avocado they are rich in fat, but very interesting fats for our health. We should know how to distinguish foods with saturated and unsaturated fats.
It is important to note that in the fat reduction process, they are sometimes replaced by less fat but of poorer quality. These are known as 'hydrogenated' fats or fats tranny. These fats that are artificially introduced hydrogen molecules they are of great economic interest to the industry. The products that are processed with fats allow to produce more durable and easier to elaborate products.
If it is light it is healthier: keys in quantity and quality
The large risk of the products and, too is that we think that they do not get fat and that they are very healthy. It is not like this. If we forget that they are simply somewhat less caloric than normal ones and ingest more of the product, the objective of controlling calorie consumption loses all sense. Drink two diet sodas instead of one or add twice as much light mayonnaise in our food it is a serious mistake.
More and more people are returning to products of origin. All those that are not processed knowing that they are more caloric and realizing that we must reduce the amount of these foods. Products of quality, ecological with an authentic taste that are not processed. Perhaps served in smaller plates and glasses, in smaller quantities accompanied by other products such as vegetables that will satisfy us is undoubtedly a healthier solution.
In short, we cannot say if it is light it is healthier, if it is more good or bad, it cannot be generalized. Must be assess each case, knowing each product and the needs of each person. It is important to seek advice and help from nutritionists or doctors and introduce them into our diet knowing what they really are.
