BS detectors

Leanbean65
Leanbean65 Posts: 176 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Just wanted to say it is refreshing to read so many posts that back up my opinion that there is a lot of BS going around when it comes to weight loss, health and nutrition.

I can understand why people are so confused, the amount of conflicting information out there is bewildering. There are so many unhealthy, dangerous or just plain crazy diets. Often backed by "doctors".

Just the other day I was in the supermarket and picked up a package "gluten-free" double chocolate brownies just to see what was in them. First ingredient- sugar, then fat. Tons of calories too. But this is what people think is healthy!!!

Dito for all the "diets" that cut out entire food group. Is it really as simple as "eat less exercise more" :smile:

Replies

  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    I have no issues with gluten - but have found that when one item is removed from a food, others are added. You have to get in the habit of reading labels and thinking. Saw a package of reduced sodium sliced turkey. Read the label, and the sodium reduction was small (something like 490mg/serving for regular and 420mg/serving reduced) but the reduced had added sugar and was 20% higher in calories. People are health conscious ( which means something different to each person) but manufacturers know taste still needs to be good.
  • Laurenloveswaffles
    Laurenloveswaffles Posts: 535 Member
    Most people just want a quick fix, and don't bother researching anything they are about to do to their body.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    Just wanted to say it is refreshing to read so many posts that back up my opinion that there is a lot of BS going around when it comes to weight loss, health and nutrition.

    I can understand why people are so confused, the amount of conflicting information out there is bewildering. There are so many unhealthy, dangerous or just plain crazy diets. Often backed by "doctors".

    Just the other day I was in the supermarket and picked up a package "gluten-free" double chocolate brownies just to see what was in them. First ingredient- sugar, then fat. Tons of calories too. But this is what people think is healthy!!!

    Dito for all the "diets" that cut out entire food group. Is it really as simple as "eat less exercise more" :smile:

    Gluten-free double chocolate brownies are still double chocolate brownies... neither are healthy. (For someone with celiac or a gluten intolerance, that's a whole other mater, but they're still brownies!)
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Just wanted to say it is refreshing to read so many posts that back up my opinion that there is a lot of BS going around when it comes to weight loss, health and nutrition.

    I can understand why people are so confused, the amount of conflicting information out there is bewildering. There are so many unhealthy, dangerous or just plain crazy diets. Often backed by "doctors".

    Just the other day I was in the supermarket and picked up a package "gluten-free" double chocolate brownies just to see what was in them. First ingredient- sugar, then fat. Tons of calories too. But this is what people think is healthy!!!

    Dito for all the "diets" that cut out entire food group. Is it really as simple as "eat less exercise more" :smile:

    Gluten-free double chocolate brownies are still double chocolate brownies... neither are healthy. (For someone with celiac or a gluten intolerance, that's a whole other mater, but they're still brownies!)

    What's unhealthy about a double chocolate brownie?
  • Ginger046
    Ginger046 Posts: 204 Member
    Just the other day I was in the supermarket and picked up a package "gluten-free" double chocolate brownies just to see what was in them. First ingredient- sugar, then fat. Tons of calories too. But this is what people think is healthy!!!

    'Gluten-free' foods are usually high in sugar which is not healthy, ie GF breads and pasta! Eating NATURALLY gluten free foods is healthier and in my opinion is a not so extreme version of paleo! You can still have some jarred sauces and chocolates but just not everything!

    Drives me nuts when people switch to GF bread and pasta cause they are 'healthier'! They are made for people with food intolerances not people who want to be 'healthy'!

    Edit: To add quote
  • PapaChanoli
    PapaChanoli Posts: 178 Member
    Love this.

    Just commenting to follow it.
  • Leanbean65
    Leanbean65 Posts: 176 Member
    Hey, I love a good brownie, but I just think that these labels fool people into thinking that by being"gluten -free" they can eat all they want. Kinda like the "low-fat" phase in the 90's.

    I've read that the obesity epidemic is due to everything from gluten to antibiotics. The message that people are simply eating too much and not being active enough seems to get lost. I know that I gained weight by eating more than I was burning off,

    Now that I'm being honest with myself about what I'm eating and how much activity I'm doing I'm finally starting to see a change.

    I tried low carb then tried low fat and kept on mixing it up according to how I felt that day. Without monitoring how much I was eating and how much I was burning I wasn't getting anywhere.

    I noticed once I starting logging my food I was surprised to see how I was fooling myself before.

    Anyway just saying it is good to see that there is support for the idea that losing weight can be simple, not easy for sure but not complicated either.
  • Keepcalmanddontblink
    Keepcalmanddontblink Posts: 718 Member
    Just wanted to say it is refreshing to read so many posts that back up my opinion that there is a lot of BS going around when it comes to weight loss, health and nutrition.

    I can understand why people are so confused, the amount of conflicting information out there is bewildering. There are so many unhealthy, dangerous or just plain crazy diets. Often backed by "doctors".

    Just the other day I was in the supermarket and picked up a package "gluten-free" double chocolate brownies just to see what was in them. First ingredient- sugar, then fat. Tons of calories too. But this is what people think is healthy!!!

    Dito for all the "diets" that cut out entire food group. Is it really as simple as "eat less exercise more" :smile:

    Gluten-free double chocolate brownies are still double chocolate brownies... neither are healthy. (For someone with celiac or a gluten intolerance, that's a whole other mater, but they're still brownies!)
    This. It bugs the crap out of me when someone announces that they are doing a gluten free diet and they don't have a sensitivity to it. Why do it than?
  • Leanbean65
    Leanbean65 Posts: 176 Member
    I think it is because people see celebrities who are thin saying that they follow a gluten free diet, so there is a perception that gluten free will make you thin

    I realize that Celiac disease is very very serious life threatening condition and that people who have it must stay away from gluten. In fact the few people I have met with Celiac were very ill.

    But somehow gluten is now being considered a cause for people gaining weight. Where did this come from?
  • Ginger046
    Ginger046 Posts: 204 Member
    But somehow gluten is now being considered a cause for people gaining weight. Where did this come from?


    Lots of foods high in carbs contain gluten eg bread and pasta - if you eat less bread, pasta, pizza etc you are left with not much else to eat except proteins veggies and some grains.. thus creating a calorie deficit through a low carb diet - people think its becausetheyve gone 'gluten free' but really its because they have gone low carb and have made a calorie deficit for themselves without realising!

    A high gluten (high carb) diet will be more calorific especially if you dont control the portion sizes - hence the weight gain!

    I'm not saying everyone needs to go naturally gluten free to lose weight - I'm a firm believer of everything in moderation just my $0.02 on your question!
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    Just wanted to say it is refreshing to read so many posts that back up my opinion that there is a lot of BS going around when it comes to weight loss, health and nutrition.

    I can understand why people are so confused, the amount of conflicting information out there is bewildering. There are so many unhealthy, dangerous or just plain crazy diets. Often backed by "doctors".

    Just the other day I was in the supermarket and picked up a package "gluten-free" double chocolate brownies just to see what was in them. First ingredient- sugar, then fat. Tons of calories too. But this is what people think is healthy!!!

    Dito for all the "diets" that cut out entire food group. Is it really as simple as "eat less exercise more" :smile:

    Gluten-free eater here.

    Just in case you are unaware of what a gluten-free "diet" is... eating gluten-free isn't a "diet" in the first place. It's a lifelong lifestyle change… a big one. There's no difference between gluten-free brownies and gluten-containing brownies. The first ingredient will be sugar and fat in BOTH brownies.

    The point of eating gluten-free is to eat primarily WHOLE FOODS. The point isn't to replace gluten-containing foods such as brownies with gluten-free brownies or pasta with gluten-free pasta. Gluten-free items are typically higher in calories and carbs. That's why people run into problems when they go gluten-free.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    I think it is because people see celebrities who are thin saying that they follow a gluten free diet, so there is a perception that gluten free will make you thin

    I realize that Celiac disease is very very serious life threatening condition and that people who have it must stay away from gluten. In fact the few people I have met with Celiac were very ill.

    But somehow gluten is now being considered a cause for people gaining weight. Where did this come from?

    Celiac disease and gluten intolerance do not cause weight gain. Celiac disease causes weight loss because of malabsorption which leads to malnutrition.
  • Ginger046
    Ginger046 Posts: 204 Member
    The point of eating gluten-free is to eat primarily WHOLE FOODS. The point isn't to replace gluten-containing foods such as brownies with gluten-free brownies or pasta with gluten-free pasta. Gluten-free items are typically higher in calories and carbs. That's why people run into problems when they go gluten-free.

    No - The point in a gluten-free diet is for those of us who have coeliac disease to be able to eat foods without the constant diahorrea, migranes, bloating, stomach pains, infertility etc. People dont 'run into problems when they go gluten free' as it helps and actually makes our lives about 10x easier as our bodies are no longer malnourished.

    Im all for a 'low carb' diet and one easy way is to cut out foods containing gluten providing you dont then use the GF option.
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    The point of eating gluten-free is to eat primarily WHOLE FOODS. The point isn't to replace gluten-containing foods such as brownies with gluten-free brownies or pasta with gluten-free pasta. Gluten-free items are typically higher in calories and carbs. That's why people run into problems when they go gluten-free.

    No - The point in a gluten-free diet is for those of us who have coeliac disease to be able to eat foods without the constant diahorrea, migranes, bloating, stomach pains, infertility etc. People dont 'run into problems when they go gluten free' as it helps and actually makes our lives about 10x easier as our bodies are no longer malnourished.

    Im all for a 'low carb' diet and one easy way is to cut out foods containing gluten providing you dont then use the GF option.

    I'm well aware of what Celiac disease is. When I said people run into problems when they go GF, I'm not talking about people with Celiac. I'm talking about those individuals who choose to eat GF for the hell of it. People don't take into consideration that GF items are higher in calories.

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