In my new book, Lose Weight Without Dieting or Working Out!, a popular section is called, Diet Foods that Make You Fat. There are many products marketed as “diet” because they have some reduced amount of sugar or fat. But without looking at all the ingredients, you won’t be able to identify the hidden ones that may contribute to weight gain. Also, there are many low-calorie products that have little to no nutritional value and provide very little health benefit.
Here are 3 diet foods that don’t help you lose weight:
Diet Sodas
Although diet sodas are better than regular sodas because they have no sugar, diet sodas still cause some health and weight issues. The artificial sweeteners in diet sodas are thought to potentially cause some health problems, including cancer. Have you ever wondered why people walk around all day drinking diet sodas but they are not thin? Diet sodas are made from chemicals and have no nutritional value. When the body finds nothing recognizable as nutrition, the brain sends signals to be fed something nutritional, which creates cravings for more. Diet sodas make you crave fattening foods. If you are addicted to sodas and diet sodas, you could drink green tea, which is a fat burner and helps you lose more weight, while still getting your caffeine fix for the day. You could also try plain water. If plain water does not sound appealing, try adding a bit of lemon or cranberry juice to it. However, don’t replace soda with a lot of store-bought juices, because they contain a lot of sugar and additives that cause weight gain.
Sugar-Free Baked Goods
You have to be careful that sugar-free baked goods don’t have the same amount of or more fat than the original recipes. Although the serving size may say 0 grams of sugar, it could very well have 9 grams of fat, which can also cause weight gain. Until you totally wean yourself off sugar and sweets, to satisfy your sweet tooth, try graham crackers, which have less sugar (about a teaspoon less per serving than most other cookies) and very little fat, about 2 grams per serving. They provide a subtle sweetness without the tremendous number of calories contained in cakes and cookies.
Fruit Snacks
Fruit snacks have added sugars and artificial ingredients that counteract any potential nutritional benefits they might have. Don’t get fooled by marketing if the package says the product is made with real fruit or fruit juices. Instead, read the list of ingredients on the nutrition label; if the product has a high number of grams of sugar, it is fattening. A better alternative is to eat fresh fruit. Just get the real thing and gain all the benefits of fruits. Unlike fruit snacks, real fruit is rich in fiber, phytonutrients, and cancer-fighting antioxidants. You should even watch out for dried fruit because it usually contains a lot of added sugar as well.
JJ Smith (www.JJSmithOnline.com) is a nutritionist and certified weight-management specialist who has been featured on The Montel Williams Show, The Jamie Foxx Show and on the NBC, FOX, CBS and CW networks. Her advice has also been featured in the pages of Glamour, Essence, and Ladies Home Journal. Since reclaiming her health, losing weight, and discovering a “second youth” in her forties, bestselling author JJ Smith has become the voice of inspiration to women who want to lose weight, be healthy, and get their sexy back! JJ may be contacted by email at info@jjsmithonline.com and on Twitter: jjsmithonline and Facebook Page: RealTalkJJ