Need Advice On Reading Nutrition Labels

run4yourlife

I sometimes feel like I don't know what I'm doing when I read Nutrition Facts on products.
Today I compared 2 products and I'm totally confused. I wanted to try a recipe that calls for Earth Balance butter substitute so I hunted it down in the grocery store. This product has 100 calories per Tbsp and has 11g Fat. What I currently have in my fridge is Becel Light margarine which has only 35 calories per 2 tsp and only 4g of Fat.
My second example is agave nectar which I just learned about. Thinking this would be a good substitue for pancake syrup, I checked it out. Agave nectar has 60 calories per 1 Tbsp and 16g of sugar. The light pancake syrup I have in my fridge has 50 calories per 2 Tbsp and 13g of sugar.
In both cases, the more healthy/natural product has more calories and more fat or sugar than what I am now using. I don't get that. Why are those items supposedly better for you. What am I missing?

lisawest

I can't speak about the products you mentioned specifically, but generally, the "lite" products have a LOT more processing. Some use artificial sweeteners in them that do not contain calories, but DO taste sweet. There is A LOT of controversy about artificial sweeteners and what they do, and don't do, for your body. Some of the research says they cause cancer, some says they may actually CAUSE weight GAIN because your body isn't getting the calories expected and this causes you to crave MORE sweet stuff. That's only two examples. It is a personal decision you have to make. Are you wanting to put fewer calories in your body, whether or not that means more "man-made" chemicals? Or are you wanting to return to the more "natural" way of eating, and eat foods with less processing? Both are legitimate choices. IMO one is a better choice than the other, but that's just MY OPINION. (Stressing that it is just an OPINION!!) I can tell you, that if you are having trouble reaching your calorie goal, switching from the more processed foods to the more natural foods is an easy, great tasting, way to do that without having to add more food to your meal plans.

The nutrition label doesn't tell it all. My personal rule (it may not work for everyone) is that fewer than 1/2 of the ingredients can be words I couldn't pronounce without my HS chemistry class. (Dihexi-something something, Mono-this that or the other, etc.) Again, THAT IS MY PERSONAL RULE! IT MAY NOT BE WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO DO! (Sorry, but I'm tired of getting ripped for my opinion. If you don't like my opinion, then let it go in one ear and out the other. You don't have to live with me, so it doesn't affect you unless you choose to let it!)

kelly_a

depends what you are really looking for or wanting to change. I would go with the one that has the least amount of ingredients . I don't use margarine any more or the tub oleo's. I use the real thing, butter ( yup)....but that is maybe once a month. I cook with EVOO and make my own salad toppings with it. I use natural peanut butter on my toast, and real mayo on my sandwiches. Anything that is closest to it's natural form is always going to be better....in moderation. Good luck.

greeneyes82

Yeah, as you can see it pays to check out the labels and compare. Make sure the sodium is not too high, otherwise it sounds like you are choosing the better foods. :drinker: Way to read them labels!

questionablemethods

I agree with the previous posters on here. Sometimes the more natural products are going to be higher in calories or grams of fat or what have you, but I would prefer to have a small amount of real food than something that has been further removed from its natural state. That's my preference. As an example, a lot of "lite" or sugar-free things have artificial sweeteners in them and, frankly, I would just prefer to have a bit of real sugar from honey or agave nectar or something than aspartame and other things that our bodies just don't know how to process.