You go on a diet to lose weight, and the first thing that comes to your mind is to get everything light or 0% products that are available in the supermarket? More and more foods are being discovered that are low in calories, fat or sugar, such as: sauces, yoghurts, cheeses, soft drinks, cookies, chocolate…Many people believe that choosing these products instead of the original version is a better choice. key to losing weight and eat a healthy diet. However this This may be why you are not losing weight..

Light or zero-calorie foods, even if they have fewer calories, fat, or sugar than their original versions. This does not mean that they are harmless or healthy.. In fact, they may have the opposite effect: causing more hunger, anxiety, food cravings and overconsumption. In fact, these are foods that speed up metabolism. doesn’t respond the way we want or we don’t modify levels of ghrelin, a hormone that prevents you from losing weight or losing weight.

Today we are dismantling some myths and we will tell you a few the truth about light or 0% foodwhich doesn’t mean they’re completely offensive to your health, although they do need to be considered if you are thinking about including them in your diet to lose weightwhich can also prevent you from eating a healthy, balanced and varied diet due to the additives and other substances it contains.

What is the difference between light, 0% and low fat foods?

When we go to the supermarket, we find a wide selection of products that promise to be… healthier, less calorie or more suitable for our diet. However, do we really know what the labels “light”, “0%” or “reviewed” mean? ¿Are these products really better than the originals? First of all, let’s talk to you about the main differences between them:

• Product Light this is the one who has at least 30% fewer calories, fat and sugar per serving than the original product. As promising as it may seem, it may have the same or even higher calorie content than its regular version because Sometimes a decrease in one ingredient is offset by an increase in another.. For example, zero-fat yogurt may contain more sugar than regular yogurt. Light cookies may contain more refined flour than regular cookies. Additionally, they may contain other additives or artificial ingredients that alter metabolism, causing even more hunger, anxiety, and overconsumption. In fact, “sometimes they less nutritious and much less interesting for health“explains Dr. Paloma Gil.

• Product 0% is one that contains 0 amount of any nutrient or ingredient. per serving compared to the original product, for example, there is no sugar and fat, since they are completely eliminated during the production process. This this also does not mean that the product is healthier or lower in calories because other ingredients may be added to it. 0% products can be confused with products labeled “sugar-free” or “fat-free.”which allow up to 0.5 g of these ingredients per 100 g or 100 ml of product, as specified by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition in the annex to Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006.

• A low fat product this is the one that has a reduced fat content, which has a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g or 1.5 g of fat per 100 ml, which This does not mean the product has fewer calories, sugar or additives.nor that it is more filling or healthier.

Why am I not losing weight if I always choose light or 0% foods?

We have already seen the main differences between light or 0% products and their original versions. I don’t want to say it choose on occasion The first ones won’t help you lose weight because it will depend on you and your consumption, but they can make you hungrier and more anxious about food and prevent you from moving forward in the process.

These types of foods can also negatively affect metabolic functioning. slowing it down and causing you to burn fewer calories and store more fat.

So the reason why don’t lose weight It may be because you prefer more these downgraded versions than the original ones, since losing weight requires a balanced and varied diet combined with exercise and healthy habits. It would be simple enough eat a slightly smaller portion of the normal product you are original if you want to get it being “lighter” is natural.

So, which is better – regular products or light and 0% products?

It would be wrong to say that normal foods are better than light foods or vice versa. All It depends on the type of product, its composition, quantity and frequency of use.and the needs and goals of each individual. What can be stated is that light or 0% foods are not a guarantee of weight lossno health.

Therefore, it is important to read the label carefully, as In many cases, it is more convenient to buy the original and eat a smaller amount.. “Let’s not think that because we are light, we can eat whatever we want,” emphasizes endocrinologist and nutritionist Paloma Gil. Ideally, if you choose these options, use them in moderation and as part of a balanced and varied dietaccompanied by regular physical activity to achieve adequate weight and a better quality of life.