Fat is not your enemy… SUGAR IS!

Eating a diet high in refined sugar is a leading cause of obesity in adults and kids. Many people think that eating fatty food is the main cause of weight gain, but that is not true. Sugar is what is making you fat.

So, which is better?

Bacon and Eggs or Bagel and Cream Cheese?

Although we say SUGAR is making you fat, what exactly constitutes sugar? More than you would think actually! We know that skittles, Fun Dip, sour punch straws, and soda all contain sugar. But, what about foods that don’t actually TASTE sweet? Did you know that when you eat a bagel, your body immediately converts it into sugar? What most people don’t know is that your body doesn’t know the difference between carbohydrates and sugar…because there is no difference. Your body uses sugar for energy. So every carbohydrate you eat is immediately converted to sugar and enters your blood stream. When your body needs to work (as in work-out/do a strenuous task) it uses the sugar that is already being pumped through your body for energy. But, what if your job requires you sitting all day? How much “energy” do you REALLY need? Not nearly as much as you are eating, that is for sure! That is why we are overweight and why diabetes is so prevalent in our society. We take in far too much sugar, and our bodies cannot handle it! If you are not USING that sugar as energy, your body then has to STORE it! Where does your body store it? Right around your midsection, thighs, arms, and anywhere else it can find. But guess what, when summer comes and you go on that low-fat diet, you won’t loose weight! WHY, you ask? Because low-fat foods tend to be loaded with sugars. If they take away all the fat, it doesn’t taste nearly as good as it did before, so they add sugar and high fructose corn syrup in fat’s place and call it “fat-free” and you think that is going to make you skinny, but it’s only going to make you fatter.

You have to realize that foods that contain fat are often high in other essential dietary nutrients, like protein and vitamins. Although there is fat in the bacon and eggs, there is also protein, something most carbohydrates lack. Protein keeps you feeling fuller longer, helps with muscle repair, and is ONLY stored as fat when you consume it in excess of your daily needs (this would probably only happen if you were supplementing with protein shakes and eating protein rich foods 6-8 times a day. You usually need to WORK to make that happen).

What should you take away from this?

Read the label and ingredients. When choosing a carbohydrate, read the INGREDIENTS. “Contains 2 servings of whole grain” DOES NOT mean it is a whole grain! The first ingredient should be unbleached whole grain wheat, or something similar!

Don’t be fooled. Marketing companies HOPE you only read the front of the product label! That’s why the nutrition label is on the bottom, back, or side!

Check it out! Not only does the label show that it is made with wheat, but if you read closely it says "lightly sweetened whole grain cereal". Is 12g of sugar really lightly sweetened?

Avoid nutrition labels that read: bleached flour, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, rice, corn, and anything you cannot read/don’t know what the heck it is! The best plan is to keep it simple and eat good, wholesome, whole grains (remember these are sugars, and the only ones you really need), and avoid the following:

•       Canned or packed fruit (choose fresh/unsweetened frozen)

•       Cakes / Pies / Pudding

•       Muffins / Biscuits / Bagels

•       Cereal bars / Some protein bars

•       Sweetened breakfast cereal (even those that sound healthy)

•       Specialty coffee drinks (chai tea lattes, frappes, etc.)

•       Ice cream / frozen yogurt (beware of fat-free kinds)

•       Soft drinks and energy drinks (even diet/sugar free ones)

•       Bottled fruit juices (as opposed to you juicing it yourself)

•       Sweetened or flavored milks and yogurts

•       Condiments (ketchup, salad dressings, dipping sauces)

 Individuals who have food allergies or are sensitive to certain foods, or those who are looking to make changes to their diet plan should consult their doctor prior to making dietary changes.