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Healthy Diet: What Do Light Products Bring?

2019-09-04T10:22:24.510Z


"No added sugar" or "fat-reduced" - almost all foods have a light output. But are alternative products useful?



"Light", "low-fat", "balance" or "less sweet": With such and similar terms, the food industry tries to attract figure-conscious people. Feasting without remorse, that's the promise. But it is not that simple.

"It starts with the fact that some terms are not protected at all," says nutritionist Thomas Ellrott, who heads the Institute of Nutrition Psychology at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

In certain cases, the consumption of light products from Ellrotts view may make sense. Especially fat-reduced products could help you lose weight, because they contain fewer calories and often more proteins than the normal product, says the nutritionist.

In addition, the products can also induce shoppers to eat more or more often - because it's "light". "If you want to change your diet over the long term, light products will not help much," says Yvonne Knips from the NRW Consumer Center.

Raisins: Full sugar, but "without added sugar"

In addition, terms such as "sugar reduced" are often insufficient to detect low-calorie product. Sugar-reduced biscuits, for example, usually contain more starch or fat instead of sugar, which provides just as much or even more calories. "They can be a real calorie trap," warns Ellrott.

In Muesli's "no added sugar", on the other hand, raisins are often used to create a sweet taste. However, about 60 percent of the dried fruit is sugar, so calories can not be saved in case of doubt. "In any case, look at the nutrition information," says Knips.

It can also help to know what is behind the light markings - because not always keep the concepts of what consumers imagine it:

"Balance": The term gives the impression that the food is about fat or calorie reduced. In fact, however, the claim is not legally regulated. Manufacturers can print them on the packs without any specification.

Low Fat: This term is only valid if a product contains less than 3 grams of fat per 100 grams or less than 1.5 grams of fat per 100 milliliters. From a limit of 0.5 grams of fat per 100 grams or milliliters food is considered "fat-free" or "no fat".

"Light" or "light": Here, the energy or fat content must be reduced by 30 percent compared to the normal product. In addition, a note must indicate what makes the food "easy" - for example, "30 percent less fat".

"Low Sugar": This term applies when a food contains no more than 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams or not more than 2.5 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters. From 0.5 grams of sugar per 100 grams or 100 milliliters may be labeled food as "sugar free".

"No added sugar": this information assumes that no sugar has been added to the food. If an ingredient naturally contains sugar, such as fruit, this must be noted on the label.

"Less sweet": This is just a taste description. "It does not guarantee that the food contains less sugar than comparable products," says Knips. It is also possible, for example, that the product contains only a less sweet-tasting sugar, such as glucose instead of fructose.

Alternative to light products: feeling for your own body

For those who want to lose weight, experts advise you to find your own measure - with normal foods. Often it is enough to eat only when you are really hungry. "The menu includes fresh ingredients like fruit, vegetables, lettuce, yogurt and cottage cheese," explains Ellrott.

However, it also depends on the individual preferences. "If one of my clients tells me that he eats very little sweet food, but does not want to miss a small glass of coke a day, then that's fine," says Margret Morlo from the Federation of Nutrition and Dietetics (VFED).

However, the overweight client, who drinks a liter of sugared cola every night, should consider changing to another drink. Incidentally, the light version is not the best alternative. It helps to save sugar. But: The substances that replace the sugar, get used to sweetness. "The appetite for sweets is thus stimulated again," says Knips.

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2019-09-04

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