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Fat Burn Secrets: List Of Fat-Pumping Food To Avoid
Everyone loves a “cheat meal” or an overindulgence of food from time to time, after all—we are human. Some of the best-tasting food are actually some of the worst in terms of fat and calories. But don't worry! You don’t have to resort to living like Tom Hanks in Castaway.
There are plenty of food that you can turn to that taste amazing and won’t jeopardize your well-being. It’s about learning why certain food are bad, so you can make better choices on a day-to-day basis. That being said, here are some dietary landmines to watch out for, and step around.
Trans Fat
A new study published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease revealed that 84 percent of packaged food that listed “0 grams trans-fat” on their Nutrition Facts label still had partially hydrogenated oil (the main dietary source of trans-fat) in the ingredient list. Current laws allow companies to “round down” fewer than 0.5 grams of trans-fat per serving to zero.
The good news? The amount of trans-fat we eat has dropped in the past 30 years, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Men are consuming 32 percent less trans-fat, and women 35 percent less, than they were in 1980. Still, 1.9 percent of men's daily calories and 1.7 percent of women's daily calories come from trans-fat today (the American Heart Association recommends limiting trans-fats to no more than 1 percent of total calories consumed).
Even a few daily grams of these fats increase bad cholesterol, decrease good cholesterol, and clog arteries; and Harvard researchers estimate that trans-fats cause up to 228,000 cases of heart disease and 50,000 deaths annually. Since 2 grams is the most you should have in a day, allowing food with 0.5 gram or less to call themselves trans-fat free is a real problem. You’re best off avoiding trans-fat-containing food completely.
Nondairy Coffee Creamer
Half a gram of trans-fat in creamer can quickly turn into multiple, since consumers tend to use more than the serving size of a teaspoon per cup (and the typical American coffee drinker guzzles an average of three cups of joe per day). On many “0 trans-fat” labels, you can find partially hydrogenated oils as the second or third ingredient listed.
Peanut Butter
Some companies use partially hydrogenated oils to achieve a long shelf life and creamy texture, so check the label. To be safe, opt for the natural variety; although it’s chunkier, it’s also healthier and normally made with just salt and peanuts—not oils loaded with trans-fat.
Frozen Pizza
Trans-fat sneaks into the dough of many frozen pizzas, with about 0.3 grams in just one slice. San Diego mother of two Katie Simpson sued Nestle for $5 million last year over the use of trans-fat in its frozen pizzas sold by DiGiorno, Stouffer’s, and California Pizza Kitchen. (The case was dismissed since she knowingly purchased and consumed the pizza.) One solution? Make your own pie at home. #Popcorn It’s your Friday night movie staple, but microwaveable popcorn puts the spotlight on trans-fats.
The true culprits are toppings: Butter flavoring can include 0.5 grams of trans-fat per serving, while caramel flavoring can contain as many as 1.5 grams. Some extra-buttery varieties can have up to 15 grams of trans-fat per bag which is all too easy to inhale in one sitting. “Stay away from the microwave popcorn,” says Napoli. “Just do the old-fashioned air pop or use an actual oil to pop the kernels in.”
Everyone loves a “cheat meal” or an overindulgence of food from time to time, after all—we are human. Some of the best-tasting food are actually some of the worst in terms of fat and calories. But don't worry! You don’t have to resort to living like Tom Hanks in Castaway.
There are plenty of food that you can turn to that taste amazing and won’t jeopardize your well-being. It’s about learning why certain food are bad, so you can make better choices on a day-to-day basis. That being said, here are some dietary landmines to watch out for, and step around.
Trans Fat
A new study published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease revealed that 84 percent of packaged food that listed “0 grams trans-fat” on their Nutrition Facts label still had partially hydrogenated oil (the main dietary source of trans-fat) in the ingredient list. Current laws allow companies to “round down” fewer than 0.5 grams of trans-fat per serving to zero.
The good news? The amount of trans-fat we eat has dropped in the past 30 years, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Men are consuming 32 percent less trans-fat, and women 35 percent less, than they were in 1980. Still, 1.9 percent of men's daily calories and 1.7 percent of women's daily calories come from trans-fat today (the American Heart Association recommends limiting trans-fats to no more than 1 percent of total calories consumed).
Even a few daily grams of these fats increase bad cholesterol, decrease good cholesterol, and clog arteries; and Harvard researchers estimate that trans-fats cause up to 228,000 cases of heart disease and 50,000 deaths annually. Since 2 grams is the most you should have in a day, allowing food with 0.5 gram or less to call themselves trans-fat free is a real problem. You’re best off avoiding trans-fat-containing food completely.
Nondairy Coffee Creamer
Half a gram of trans-fat in creamer can quickly turn into multiple, since consumers tend to use more than the serving size of a teaspoon per cup (and the typical American coffee drinker guzzles an average of three cups of joe per day). On many “0 trans-fat” labels, you can find partially hydrogenated oils as the second or third ingredient listed.
Peanut Butter
Some companies use partially hydrogenated oils to achieve a long shelf life and creamy texture, so check the label. To be safe, opt for the natural variety; although it’s chunkier, it’s also healthier and normally made with just salt and peanuts—not oils loaded with trans-fat.
Frozen Pizza
Trans-fat sneaks into the dough of many frozen pizzas, with about 0.3 grams in just one slice. San Diego mother of two Katie Simpson sued Nestle for $5 million last year over the use of trans-fat in its frozen pizzas sold by DiGiorno, Stouffer’s, and California Pizza Kitchen. (The case was dismissed since she knowingly purchased and consumed the pizza.) One solution? Make your own pie at home. #Popcorn It’s your Friday night movie staple, but microwaveable popcorn puts the spotlight on trans-fats.
The true culprits are toppings: Butter flavoring can include 0.5 grams of trans-fat per serving, while caramel flavoring can contain as many as 1.5 grams. Some extra-buttery varieties can have up to 15 grams of trans-fat per bag which is all too easy to inhale in one sitting. “Stay away from the microwave popcorn,” says Napoli. “Just do the old-fashioned air pop or use an actual oil to pop the kernels in.”