Fat, Salt, or Sugar: Which to avoid? (ingredients, diet, frozen)

[jtur88]

If you were choosing a product from three choices, otherwise equal, would you buy the one with more fat, more salt, or more sugar? (Aside from any particular medical indicators and instructions from your doctor.)

I just happened to notice in the Dannon Yogurt cooler today that the Fat-free and Low-fat plain yogurts had about 1/3 more sodium and sugar, but low or zero fat. I chose the fat and took it home and enjoyed its hearty texture.

Actually, I have such a positive diet of almost no pre-processed foods and very small meat portions, I feel fine getting some fat, but I keep my salt and sugar intake minimal. I never even consider buying a low-fat product.

So, which do you try the hardest to avoid---Fat, Salt or Sugar? Or something else?

[Nomadicus]

First of all I avoid the food police like the plague. I tend to go with the truth of all things in moderation.

[toosie]

Originally Posted by jtur88

If you were choosing a product from three choices, otherwise equal, would you buy the one with more fat, more salt, or more sugar?

I'd probably buy the one with more sugar.

Originally Posted by jtur88

So, which do you try the hardest to avoid---Fat, Salt or Sugar? Or something else?

Like Nomad, I'm an everything in moderation kind of eater. I never reject something based on sugar content, but will make choices based on different sodium or fat content. For example, if I'm not sure which canned soup or canned veg to buy, often I'll choose the one with less sodium. Also, I like reduced fat Wheat Thins better than full fat ones so I get those. I'll choose skim milk but full fat cheese but opt for fatty lamb chops instead of chicken.

[bjh]

Everything in moderation.

[CMichele]

Probably all 3 but I personally avoid fat and sugar more than salt.

[ConeyIsBabe]

IMHO all fats are not equal nor are all sugars equal. I read all the ingredients on the label of any processed product and I'm very selective ! It is not difficult to become educated regarding nutrition, good fats, bad fats, natural vs. artificial ~~ etc. Research is available at our fingertips so there is no excuse not to be informed

[elnina]

Depends what are someones health problems: salt if high blood pressure and tendency to accumulate fluids
fat: if high cholesterol, weight problems
sugar: well, that's just a simple poison, besides this: if diabetic or weight problems

[HereOnMars]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Actually, I have such a positive diet of almost no pre-processed foods and very small meat portions, I feel fine getting some fat, but I keep my salt and sugar intake minimal. I never even consider buying a low-fat product.

So, which do you try the hardest to avoid---Fat, Salt or Sugar? Or something else?

You're on the right track, jtur88. Processed foods are bad, bad, bad. White sugar and sugary foods are like poison. The only sugar I eat is found in fresh fruit.

If more people knew how deadly sugar is to the body, they wouldn't eat it, in any form. It raises havoc from your blood glucose to your kidneys. A little table salt isn't bad if you have eliminated products that contain sodium. As a label reader, you must have noticed the sodium content on packaged foods as opposed to fresh made. As an example, take cornbread. If you check the label on a box of Marie Callander's or Betty Crocker Cornbread Mix and then take all the ingredients separately, you will see that the sodium levels are very high. Eating convenience foods instead of preparing them fresh is the biggest problem for Americans, today. Chips, cookies, canned foods, frozen entrees, cake mixes, all those things that you can make yourself from scratch are awful.

There are certain foods you should be eating regularly to maintain good health. Of course, vegetables are at the top of the list. Then, fresh fruits but not so many bananas (as they are very high on the glycemic index). There are good fats and bad fats. Olive oil is excellent unless you are heating it in a pan. The molecular change to the oil makes it unhealthy. Surprisingly, coconut oil is very healthy for the body and has been given a bad rap over the years by manufacturers of other types of oil. Real butter is better than margarine but just be sensible and don't make it a staple of your daily diet.

A person who suffers from occasional gall bladder problems or high blood pressure can improve both by drinking fresh beet juice or eating fresh cooked beets. Radishes will also very beneficial to the liver and gall bladder.

Keep up the good work at reading labels and, if you can, try preparing many of the foods you now buy already prepared; i.e. frozen entrees.

Just an FYI ... I had a horrible gall bladder attack last year and was advised by my doctor to have it removed. Not having health insurance right now, I turned it around by eating only fresh and laying off red meat altogether. I eat more veggies and fruits and don't eat anything white (rice, flour, mayonnaise (unless it is Vegenaise), and cut out all sugar. My doctor was very pleased to find I had not only lost weight but my blood pressure was that of a 20-year-old and I'm over twice that age. I am not on any medication but I do take vitamins and I also take a probiotic in the morning and digestive enzymes after a meal. Doing that has saved me from being on the operating table and I'm feeling better than I have in years.

Sorry for the length of this post but I didn't want to give you just a short answer when this subject comes up. If you are reasonably healthy to begin with, you can maintain that good health by paying attention to what you put into your body.

Good luck in your quest for good health.

[Ohiogirl81]

Sugar first, then salt, then fat. Depends on the product, too; in the case of the yogurt, I'd rather have the full fat than additional salt (?!) or sugar.

[TKramar]

I don't avoid any of it. I don't even check the labels.

I think all that's a bunch of hogwash really, and that doctors convince people that they're "sick"...and the people let them minds make them sick.

This isn't coming across as I'd like it to. Yes, the people are sick, but it's all in their head. If they ignored all that stuff, and didn't concern themselves with it, then it probably wouldn't even have affected them to begin with!