Are Fat-Free Products Really Healthy For You?

It isn’t new or surprising to come across the tempting range of desserts, biscuits, cookies and other calorie-counted meals labeled under the fancy word – FAT-FREE.

And in no time, these products take over a permanent place on our kitchen shelves.

Sadly, most of us don’t realize that ‘fat-free’ is definitely not the magic bullet to keep weight in control or the cholesterol level down.

The Truth behind ‘Fat-Free’

Fat-free foods manipulate the minds of consumers worried about ‘weight’ issues. Food manufacturers market them as the magical foods to satiate hunger, please the taste buds without any increase in weight.

So is this the actual reality?

Well, no. There are basically two kinds of fat-free foods. One that’s found naturally like vegetables, legumes, egg-whites, and herbs & spices. The other type are the ones that have undergone processing or manufacturing for removing the fat.

Food when devoid of fat is simply not appetizing because it’s fat which enhances the flavor of any particular food.

When this fat is removed, manufacturers add other ingredients to make up for the taste. These ingredients normally include flours, gums, artificial sweeteners or starches. They have zero nutritional value but do a great job in increasing the calorie content of the food.

A Better Approach – Go for Healthy Fats

Instead of going after ‘fat-free’, we must think of consuming good fats. Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated are healthy fats. They can provide our body with the much-needed nutrients while keeping a check on the weight.

Olive oil, peanuts, nuts, and peanut oil are also examples of healthy monounsaturated fats. However, their intake should be in limits.

The polyunsaturated fats help in reducing bad cholesterol levels in the blood. This further helps in decreasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, sesame oil are all rich sources of polyunsaturated fats.

The type of fat we eat is way more important than the amount we consume. And if you are eating the right fat type, there will never be a need to go for any fad diet.