Many individuals are fixated with the energy (calorie) content of foods. Often this fixation results from a desire to lose weight. Many diet companies take advantage of this energy fixation, and offer a range of low energy foods to the consumer. However, the fixation on the energy content of foods is misguided and based on erroneous logic. Just because a food has low amounts of total energy does not mean it will aid in weight loss or is necessarily healthy. Many high energy foods such as whole milk, red meat and nuts and seeds can aid weight loss and are considered healthy foods. Certainly some healthy foods are low in total energy, but they also contain high amounts of nutrients. Is it the low energy content or the high nutrient content that makes them healthy? Many low energy foods marketed as such are processed and this makes them unhealthy compared to whole foods. Therefore the criteria for the healthiness of a food, and whether it is likely to cause weight loss, is not determined by the energy content of the food.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
