When you first get on a diet, especially one that is calorie restricted, you’ll find that you are pretty limited when it comes to food choices. For many, it’s simply easier to take advantage of prepackaged meals. While these are expensive, there is a lot to be said for convenience, and for having everything spelled out for you. But are these foods actually bad for you? Just because it’s prepackaged, doesn’t mean that it is safe. You need to read those labels and make sure that what you are putting into your body is actually healthy. Here are some warning signs to watch out for.
1. Sodium content.
Most of us don’t bat an eye when it comes to cracking open a can of soup, or even a can of nice vegetables. They are so low in calories, they have to be good for us, right? Did you know that one simple can of soup can have more than your entire day’s allotment of sodium? The average adult needs less than 2400 mg of sodium per day, but the average American ingests way more than that.
Prepackaged diet food is a common offender when it comes to overdoing it on the salt. They have to make it taste good somehow, right? Now, some sodium is good for you, after all, your body does need it need for vital functions. But too much sodium is also very bad for you. It leads to excess water retention, and has been blamed for high blood pressure and a host of other problems.
The key is reading that label and seeing just how much sodium is in one serving. Remember, if you eat the whole thing, you’ll need to multiply that number by the amount of servings to get an idea of the exact amount of sodium that you are eating. Try to stick to the 2400 mg a day suggestion, or go a little less.
2. Chemicals.
Prepackaged foods are typically loaded with different preservatives and some of them can be harmful, especially if you are sensitive to them. MSG is probably the biggest offender and it has been blamed for everything from weight gain, to migraines and increased blood pressure. Even if you are not sensitive to MSG, it’s a good idea to limit your exposure to it.
Check for other common names such as autolyzed yeast and disodium guaylonlate. This is a cheaper form of MSG, but it contains the same makeup. In fact, many MSG “free” soups will contain either of these ingredients and if you are sensitive, you may have the same reactions.
BHT is another common preservative and that can be found in everything from breakfast cereal to deodorant. In those that are sensitive to this additive, it may cause vertigo and other health issues. It’s best to try to limit your exposure to this preservative as well.
Remember, just because something says that it is natural or good for you, doesn’t mean that it is. Always read your labels!
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Originally posted 2008-10-07 05:59:10. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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2 comments ↓
I absolutely agree. Honestly, if you really want to lose weight you should stay away from processed foods altogether and try to eat 100% naturally.
Nice blog,
Rafi
“When you first get on a diet, especially one that is calorie restricted, you’ll find that you are pretty limited when it comes to food choices.”
Why would you say that? Seriously … on a blog that is supposed to support losing weight, I don’t understand why you’d make such a totally false, misleading, and defeatist comment. I don’t doubt that a lot of people THINK that they are limited when it comes to food choices - because they are used to our “eat everything and Supersize it” society.
But the truth is a reduced calorie diet does NOT mean someone is “pretty limited” when it comes to food choices. There are quite literally THOUSANDS of foods in millions of combinations that people can eat on reduced calorie diets.
Let’s start with the close to 100 varieties of veggies that can be found in the average grocery store. And the 20 or so different ways you can cook all of them individually or in combinations.
Let’s add in a plethora of lean meats such as beef, pork, chicken, fish, and shell fish.
Throw in any variety of healthy grains like quinoa, brown rice, whole grain bread, couscous and then legumes like beans (I can think of 8 different types off the top of my head), lentils, and so forth.
Not to mention low fat dairy of all kinds, including yogurt and cottage cheese. And let’s not forget eggs.
Plus healthy snacks like popcorn, nuts, hummus, etc.
People who aren’t used to thinking in healthy low-cal terms might THINK they are limited just because they need to think in different terms from what they’re used to, but once they start eating healthy food, they’ll realize that there are FAR more options than they’d ever imagined. A weightloss blog shouldn’t validate the concept that food choices are limited .. it should encourage people to get out there and find the massive variety of healthy foods that are available.
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