low fat vs whole-foods

julzbennett

I've done a fair bit of reading around different diet plans over the past few years...some endorse the use of low-fat products (sugar-free jelly and yoghurts, low-fat fromage-frais e.t.c.) in order to make it easier to limit calorie intake while others make a point of all food being natural...they argue that the liver spends all of its time processing the chemicals in low-fat/sugar products instead of combating the fat and I have to say this seems a reasonable argument for natural and non-processed food choices.

What are other people's thoughts and experiences with this issue; what side of the fence do you sit upon?

stefjc

In the grand scheme of things it won't really matter for weight loss - calories restriction is key.

As you lose weight you might choose to go one of the two ways - lo cal, lo fat or 'real' food. Personally I do what I suspect many people do, choose lo fat where the taste is not affected but eat as much real food as possible.

I have a thing about sweeteners, I dislike the taste so avoid them. I use sugar very little so I don't bother with substitutes. But every day dairy I go lo fat, creme fraiche, yoghurt, feta cheese, mozarella etc. But if I want cream for strawberries, I get cream. As long as it fits my kcals I'll go with the real version where I notice the taste. I also use butter, I avoid hydrogenated fats as much as possible. I also refuse to eat no cal foods, on the premise that they are plastic and taste like it - there is some science to say they may be harmful too. But mainly I don't like spraying plastic white stuff on fruit and pretending it is just as good as cream, when my tastebuds tell me different.

As for overworking the liver, that is its job. I am not sure there are any real studies to back up what you have read, so I will go and have a look.

The very best diet is easy.... the one that best fits your head and lifestyle. Anything else will be too stressful to stick to. So pick the one you think sounds nicest, most doable. As long as it restricts calories and not whole food groups you will lose weight and be healthy.

Good luck.

julzbennett

thanks for a balanced response; I'm certainly not into cutting out food groups...I like to keep my protein high where possible, and I think that picking the 'right carbs and fats' is the key rather than eliminating them.

I think I agree with the 'sweetener taste' thing...I'd rather have a full-fat yoghurt every 3 days than a low-fat one every day. I think the best I do is semi-skimmed milk!

I think it may have been an online video explaining the dual role of the liver, and the fact that low-sugar products typically have chemicals in them which are interpreted as 'foreign' to the body means that the liver performs this function ABOVE fat-processing. Or something? Seemed a reasonable assertion but as you say I have no evidence or studies to back up this claim...just intersted in how other people treat the low-fat debate!