Some foods have an excellent reputation, wrongly! We like it, thinking about doing good, imagining that we are going to lose weight, we look at the calories, we tell ourselves that we have to save fiber, good fats … and we fall into the trap! Zoom in on the false friends of the person who plans to diet.
The smoothie, a healthy fake friend
What do you think: The smoothie is good for me because it is fresh fruit. And since you have to eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day, you already have four fruits!
The truth: The smoothie can contain fruit with the pulp, it is neither more nor less than a sweet drink! Also, when you taste fresh fruit, you bite an apple, taste an orange, but in no case are you eating three oranges with a banana and a handful of strawberries! Think of adding fructose, the fruit sugar …
The good compromise is to make a smoothie made from sugar-free green tea, not milk or ice, and mix only one fruit with at least one vegetable.
The rice cake, snack trap
What do you think: The rice cake is very light, without sugar and has only 35 calories in total. This is my favorite snack alibi.
The truth: The rice cake, made from puffed rice, has a high glycemic index of 85 (above 50, we consider the GI to be high). This means that it causes blood sugar to pass quickly, causing a spike in insulin.
The GI of food differs according to the preparation and you should know that, like all puffed (dry) cereals, rice has its GI increased in the form of pancakes.
To limit the damage, if we really love it, we eat it with a slice of ham or plain soy yogurt, to combine it with a food that will lower this blood sugar spike.
Almonds, a concern with the quantity
What do you think: almonds are good for health, like and have not gained weight!
The truth: Yes, almonds provide great nutrients for your health. They provide fibers, vegetable proteins, antioxidants and, above all, fatty acids of the highest quality. But in fatty acids, there is “fat”! Almonds continue to be very caloric foods and in order not to eat a growing portion daily, limit yourself to 30g of almonds (maximum and if you do not eat any other olegineux during the day), for breakfast or as a snack with a natural yogurt or a fresh low-calorie fruit.
Of course, we will choose simple, unsalted and unroasted almonds so we don’t see their nutrients altered.
Sugar-free soft drinks, but still sweet
What do you think: when I drink a can of cola, I choose the version without sugar, without calories and without extra pounds.
The truth is not so simplistic! Firstly, because we are still used to the sweet taste, which is worthless to us. In addition, the sweeteners used in the composition of these soft drinks have been the subject of several studies, whose conclusions are clear: concerns about blood sugar levels, diabetes and even increased risks to the heart *.
So, we reserve them for exceptional moments and drink water for everyday life!
Granola, not so friendly cereals
What do you think: Granola contains grains like oats, it is full of fiber, and I like organic, it is only good!
The truth: to make granola, you certainly need cereals such as oats (otherwise very good for you), to which sugar or honey and fat are added to add the pieces under the effect of heat. In conclusion, we eat cereals that are already sources of carbohydrates – understand the new name for carbohydrates – with sugar (sugar = carbohydrates) and fat. In addition, when toasting, we change the nutrients that cereals can provide.
Conclusion, a greedy but not very healthy combination!
A good oatmeal or muesli without added sugar, but with pieces of fruit for the sweet taste, will do.
The vegetarian dish is necessarily healthy
What do you think: When making a meatless meal, inevitably as less rich, then it is better for the line!
The truth: At the supermarket, have fun looking at the labels! You will find that this vegetarian steak contains ingredients that 1) are not healthy; 2) provides as many calories as meat, or even have a higher GI.
As for eating meatless salad to lose weight, you can lose weight … but it is mainly the dry mass (the muscle) that you will lose. And the proteins that meat provides help to preserve that muscle mass.
So, unless you’re a vegetarian, don’t skip meats to lose weight and opt for lean ones (poultry, veal cutlet without cream, cooked ham, bresaola …).
