A few months ago I wrote a blog post comparing some of your favorite foods.  This post is a continuation of that article, focusing on some foods that I often get asked questions about.  A few of these more specific ones you gals stumped me with on our grocery tours, so I did a little research and here’s what I came up with…

Is added fiber have the same benefits as natural fiber? – We have often talked about how fiber is the great equalizer when it comes to weight loss.  There is a strong correlation between fiber intake and weight loss / maintaining a healthy weight, so it stands to reason you should be loading up on this essential nutrient.  We often see products on the grocery shelves that have “added fiber”, or are touted as “high fiber”…some of which include fiber bars, “lower glycemic” pastas, even water.  So, are any of these equal in quality as compared, say, to a head of broccoli?  The answer is most likely no.  Studies have shown that the altered fiber in some of these foods do not transport cholesterol out of the body as readily, because they are not as sticky.  Furthermore, studies are inconclusive as to whether or not the fiber in these foods creates the environment in the digestive tract that is conducive to proper nutrient absorption and immune function.  Having said that, if you are one of those people that would rather die than eat a vegetable, then some of these products are better than nothing, as they can still “push things along”…as we all know fiber does.

Differences in potatoes – Somebody asked me at a recent grocery tour if a red potato was better than a white.  Great question…she stumped me for sure.   Which should she/you go with?  Well, upon research, and taking into account a couple of different prep methods…they are essentially the same.  Taking into account nutrient level and glycemic load, there is not too much difference between the two.  I say two, but there are hundreds of potato varieties, if you want to take the time to research all of them, then be my guest.  Truth be told, you would be much better off with a yam or sweet potato anyway…both from a nutrient standpoint, and by how fast they break down in your body (slower).

Look, they’re all carby goodness, but the bottom line is that you’d be better off getting your carbs from ANY potato than from a ton of bread, pasta, crackers, etc.  If we are looking at how fast these break down in your body by themselves (which you shouldn’t be doing anyway since you eat all your meals with protein right?)

Do we really have to worry about mercury in canned tuna? –   Yes, but really only if you are pregnant, considering getting pregnant, or are a baby or small child.  Canned albacore, though claimed to be a better quality in the realm of processing, does seem to have higher concentrations of mercury than regular chunk light tuna.  For most adults, the mercury content in canned albacore is not enough to be detrimental to most people, if consumed in moderation.  Bodybuilders might have to be worried since they seem to eat canned tuna every day.  Not many of my female clients are in that mode J

Are those blue chips any good for you? – Define “good”.  I suppose if you compare them to say, regular corn based chips, they seem to have some slight “benefit”.  Generally, the darker the vegetable or fruit, the more packed with nutrients they are.  Not always the case, but it’s a good rule to eat by.  This seems to be the case with blue corn chips, as they have a bit more in the way of vitamins/antioxidants, and they do have a slightly lower glycemic index.  At the end of the day, however, they are still chips, and most are still fried, so they have plenty of fat in them.  I would look at them as an occasional cheat, but not as a staple healthy carbohydrate.

Is seltzer, or carbonated water just as readily absorbed as straight up water? –  Inconclusive.  Some research shows that it does not, provided it is straight up carbonated, or sparkling.  I’ve also read some stuff that indicates that since it is harder to digest, it causes the kidneys to work a bit harder, making you go to the bathroom more…which would, in turn, make you dehydrated if you were not replacing the fluids.  It is also rumored that carbonated water can inhibit calcium absorption.  Again, inconclusive as far as research goes.  I will say this, from my end, I tend to believe the kidney thing, as I’ve kind of experienced it on my own.  There was a time, not so long ago, that I was looking for something flavored without sugar.  I bought a bunch of bottles of those Publix seltzers and was drinking them all day long.  Not to go into too much detail, but I peed all day long.  You might say this was because I was drinking too much liquid, but the kicker was my mouth felt dry.  The kind of dry that you experience when you’re dehydrated.  Just sayin’.  Maybe it was placebo effect, I don’t know, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

What’s so bad about Equal (aspartame) or Splenda (sucralose)? -  See this previous blog post for a little more detail, but…

http://www.roswellbootcampsforwomen.com/blog/34/

Here’s what most scary about these artificial sweeteners.  They are finding their way into a hell of a lot of products nowadays.  They also tout them (especially Splenda) as being all natural.  Well, it might have been at some point, but if you chlorinate sugar, can you really call it all natural?  They also haven’t been around all that long in the scheme of things, so who’s to say that this stuff won’t cause some kind of stomach cancer down the line?  Regarding aspartame…a naturopath MD explained it to me this way…aspartame turns to a form of formaldehyde in your body once ingested, causing all sorts of neurological issues.  Food companies refute this in a major way, and it’s a debate that rages on.  Here’s what I do know…I’ve heard numerous first-hand accounts of clients, friends of clients, etc that consumed a lot of this stuff, suffered from headaches, dizziness, etc, and could never find the cause of them.  Guess what?  Got off Diet Coke, and voila…no more headaches!  Just saying, you say you NEED your Diet Coke.  Do you really?

Anyway, I hope some of this stuff clears up some questions you might have about the foods you are buying.  Please drop me a line or ask some more questions if you have them.  I’ll address them in an upcoming blog post or newsletter.  Have a great week!

Chris

Quotes For The Week –

“Red meat is not bad for you.  Now, blue-green meat – that’s bad for you!”

~Tom Smothers

“Gluttony is an emotional escape, as sign something is eating us.”

~ Peter De Vries

Chris Buckley, B.S. Exercise Science, is a certified Fitness Trainer and exercise physiologist, graduate of the University of Florida and fitness professional located in Roswell, GA. Buckley is the owner of BodyBack! Women’s Fitness Boot Camps…serving Roswell, Woodstock, Milton, and NE Marietta, and has posted more information on his website, www.RoswellBootCamps.com.  To try a trial week of his fat churning, calorie burning boot camp…click on the registration link at http://www.roswellbootcampsforwomen.com/roswell-boot-camp-registration.html

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