By Ayanna Kirton, Staff ReporterAMMY BROWN'S face broadens into a smile at the mention of low-fat ice cream.
The 24-year-old is a die-hard ice creamaholic, but swears that just a slip of the lip remains frozen to her hips. Over the years she has developed a love/hate relationship with her favourite treat. Low fat ice cream is ... well ... the best news she's had for a long while.
"It makes you feel less guilty. Because there's less fat you feel like you're making a contribution to losing weight. You can eat more and still lose weight," she adds, a grin threatening to split her face.
The cold truth is that Brown and others like her have a slim chance of losing weight by consuming diet products. Some fat-free or reduced fat foods are loaded with carbohydrates and sugar, say health experts.
Trouble also comes when people think they can eat unlimited quantities of diet foods.
If you're going to be consuming diet products (or any packaged item, for that matter) nutritionist Dr. Joy Callender recommends paying special attention to labels. Package labels (mainly on imported foods) provide a wealth of information about the nutritional content of the food.
KNOW YOUR FATS
"Fat free does not necessarily mean calorie-free" or low calorie, she explains. Her suggestion to combating weight gain is to know the fats and to recognise the types of fat that you consume.
A diet heavily laden with saturated fats (or fat obtained from animal sources such as meat,
milk, and cheese) will inevitably lead to an increase in weight, adds Dr. Callender.
While portion size is crucial and reduce fat foods are a smart alternative, she cautions that manufacturers may double the sugar content in an attempt to enhance the taste lost in the process of removing high amounts of fat bringing the dieter right back to square one.
Other no-nos are foods containing trans-fats. These are fats occurring from the process of hydrogenation and are commonly found in solid (stick) margarines and shortenings. Inspect labels to be certain that you are choosing the healthiest option, advises the Kingston-based nutritionist.
LIFESTYLE CHANGE FOR PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS
Although diet foods are all the rage, nutritionist and lifestyle specialist Dr. Heather Little-White is of the opinion that diet foods are nothing but a commercial venture -- a way for food manufacturers to make even more money. She believes that one can lose weight naturally without the help of foods marked "low fat", "low calorie" or "fat free".
Dr. Little-White also argues that these foods are not an economical option for the dieter on a budget, adding that invariably more preservatives
and additives are included to enhance the flavour. Instead, the health consultant who operates Little-White and Associates in New Kingston, endorses healthy eating habits and suggests that dieters make a total lifestyle change, a more permanent situation where fat intake is monitored closely.
She strongly encourages higher consumption of grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables as healthy alternatives to fat. This also dispels the myth that only a diet high in fat can boost your energy. Meat should also be eaten in moderation with special attention being paid to trimming the fat off those not-so-lean pieces.
IT'S HOW YOU COOK IT
The nutritionists agree that food preparation methods are important considerations in the weight loss process. "Let good sense prevail", urges Dr. Little-White. "Avoid fried foods (especially those that are deep fried) as much as you possibly can. Olive oil is the best. Stick to dry roasting, baking, or steaming your foods to minimise your fat consumption. Try non-dairy alternatives, such as soy, almond, or rice milk, all low in saturated fats and avoid refined sugars (common in processed foods). Honey, molasses, and brown sugar are healthy choices. Use herbs (thyme, escallion, onions, garlic, basil, etc.) instead of powdered seasonings, which are high in sodium and can pose severe health risks."
