How can you count the Mid-Autumn Festival if you haven't eaten moon cakes?
However, the high-calorie and high-fat ingredients of traditional mooncakes always love and hate health-conscious people. Therefore, many new mooncakes are launched on the market to promote low sugar, low fat, low starch, and low cholesterol.
The reporter found several ketogenic, vegan and fruit mooncakes, and asked consultant nutritionist Lin Siwei to analyze and compare the ingredients, and found that most of the mooncakes have 100 grams of calories close to the traditional double-yellow white lotus paste or five-nut mooncakes. The serving size and publicity are all ambiguously written. If you don't adopt a special diet or pay careful attention to nutrition labels, most people may fall into the trap of high oil and fat.
Lin Siwei reminded that moon cakes are always moon cakes. They are foods for the season. They must be high in calories and fat. "Eating less or less will not cause sudden heart disease or becoming obese. If you continue to eat a lot, there will be problems, but what is zero? I don’t think it’s so much in the world if I’m burdened or I can lose weight if I eat.”
The reporter found several ketogenic, vegan and fruit mooncakes, and asked consultant nutritionist Lin Siwei to analyze and compare the ingredients, and found that most of the mooncakes have 100 grams of calories close to the traditional double-yellow white lotus paste or five-nut mooncakes. The serving size and publicity are all ambiguously written. If you don't adopt a special diet or pay careful attention to nutrition labels, most people may fall into the trap of high oil and fat.
(Photo by Cen Zhuoxi)
Those on a non-ketogenic diet do not need to buy ketogenic mooncakes. High saturated fat can affect blood lipids
The ketogenic diet is one of the emerging weight loss programs in recent years. It advocates the intake of large amounts of fat and protein, while reducing or even quitting carbohydrates and sugars. The liver will break down fat and protein to produce ketones as a source of energy for the body. .
The flour and sugar content of traditional mooncakes is naturally the "big enemy" of ketogenic mooncakes. Therefore, some manufacturers have introduced ketogenic mooncakes. Although the carbohydrate and sugar content is controlled at a very low level, the saturated fat is three to four times higher than that of traditional mooncakes.
Lin Siwei pointed out that in addition to salted egg yolk, light cream, butter, and cheese, saturated fat is mainly derived from coconut oil. If the average person does not follow the ketogenic diet, there is no need to buy ketogenic mooncakes, nor should they see it. Coconut oil is mistakenly regarded as equivalent to vegetable oil.
Lin Siwei also noticed that the mooncake promotional brief mentioned that people with diabetes and the elderly "can only look at traditional mooncakes without touching them," so they launched ketogenic mooncakes.
Lin pointed out, "Although it is not directly said that it is suitable for diabetics, diabetic patients often have high cholesterol and hardened blood vessels. Of course, elderly people are also prone to "three highs". Yes, you don’t eat sugar, but saturated fat is too much. High levels may affect blood lipids." People who are worried about cardiovascular problems should be as careful as possible.
Written by edible portion size?
The number of calories printed on the package is not the unit of the whole moon cake
A bowl of white rice has about 200 calories, and a double yellow lotus seed paste mooncake has about 800 calories. Therefore, it is often said that "a double yellow lotus seed paste mooncake is equivalent to four bowls of rice."
But whether traditional or new mooncakes, the serving size will not necessarily be the whole unit, and there will be half, one quarter, or even one eighth. Lin pointed out, "Some people see the package and mistakenly think that the 125 calories written refers to one. In fact, It means one in eight. When you eat one out, it’s 125 calories multiplied by 8. The reason why the food label does this is that the manufacturer may want to reduce the calories as much as possible, so you can buy it when you see it.” It is recommended that mooncakes be bought every time They all eat one eighth, or calculate how much "quota" you have for each meal according to the label, and then measure how much you eat.
According to the Food Safety Center’s regulations on food labeling, the edible portion refers to the amount that people usually consume each time they eat the relevant product. However, the relevant regulations do not specify the size of the edible portion, as long as all the information listed is true and there is no misleading ingredient. That's it.
However, the Center for Food Safety also pointed out that the amount may not necessarily reflect the actual amount that most consumers would normally eat.
How real is the filling?
It's worth looking at the ingredient list
In recent years, online shopping has become more and more convenient. The reporter also measured that through Taobao, he successfully bought a box of "avocado moon cakes" and shipped them from the mainland to Hong Kong.
However, the nutrition label in the Mainland is different from the Hong Kong standard. Hong Kong requires "1+7", which means calories plus seven core nutrients, but the mainland label only needs "1+4", which means calories plus four core nutrients, omitting sugar. , Saturated and trans fats.
However, Lin Siwei also teaches the way. In Hong Kong, the ingredient list requires ranking by weight, and the higher the proportion, the higher the ranking, so consumers can estimate how "real materials" the product is from the order.
This rule is the same in the Mainland. The ingredient list of mooncakes is written with flour, sugar, milk, and a bunch of things, and only avocado is written at the end. You know that avocado is very small."
In recent years, there has been a boom in durian and avocado delicacies, but the two fruits are relatively high in calories. When asked whether adding mooncakes will be "fatter" in disguise, Lin Si added that both fruits are originally rich in fiber and vitamins. , But adding mooncakes depends on the manufacturer’s "conscience." If the fruit ingredients are high, it can be considered healthy.
Consultant dietitian Lin Siwei reminded that moon cakes are always moon cakes, and they must be high in calories and fats. If you eat too little, you won’t have a sudden heart attack or become obese. If you continue to eat a lot, there will be problems.
(Photo by Wang Haitu)
Nuts and dried fruits contain oil and sugar are also calories
Most of the vegan mooncakes use healthier vegetable oil instead of lard. In recent years, they also love to use high-fiber foods such as nuts and dried fruits as fillings. Lin Siwei also reminded that nuts and dried fruits also have oil and sugar, and they also have opportunities The total calories are exactly the same as traditional mooncakes.
