3 Nutrition Facts You Need to Know
The holidays are here again, and although the temptation to overindulge is ever present, you can make it through the last push of festive eating by keeping a few key facts in mind. Or, if you are like us, bookmark this post for reference if you cannot seem to keep anything in mind these days other than Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
1. Artificial trans fats are awful. According to the American Heart Association, there are two types of trans fats: natural and artificial. “Naturally-occurring trans fats are produced in the gut of some animals and foods made from these animals (e.g., milk and meat products) may contain small quantities of these fats. Artificial trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid.” This essentially means that those vegetable oils are kind of like sludge at room temperature--not exactly something you want in your system! Artificial trans fats “raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels” which can lead to a multitude of health issues—yikes![1] Be sure to always check the nutritional info panels on your food.
2. Low-fat labels are liars. Or, at least, they can be. We’ve discussed this in depth before, but it bears repeating. Always be sure you’re reading the nutritional info on your food, but especially when it comes to low-fat foods. Oftentimes, low-fat foods compensate for the lack of fat by packing in the sugar.
3. Fruit juice is loaded with sugar. You might be reading this and thinking, “Oh, come on! Fruit juice can’t be that bad—it’s fruit!” But it is true; fruit juice can end up containing as much sugar as a soft drink. Some of the biggest offenders when it comes to sugar content are grape, apple, and orange juices.[2] You don’t necessarily have to give up juice entirely, but it might be worth moderating your intake.
Are these the only things you should keep in mind while clearing the junk out your diet? Of course not, but they’re worth remembering all the same. At the end of the day, you should focus on eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with the least amount of artificial garbage as you can. Just remember to follow a healthy approach to nutrition and weight loss by consulting with your physician or health care professional prior to starting any new exercise or diet plan!
[1] “Trans Fats.” American Heart Association, American Heart Association, 2015, www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/trans-fat.
[2] Dray, Tammy. “Juices With the Highest Sugar Content.” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group, 3 Oct. 2017, www.livestrong.com/article/450038-juices-with-the-highest-sugar-content/.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.