Diet products are "light" fat or sugar and should therefore provide less fat and sugar than normal products.
They may be labeled as "light" , "mild" , "light" , "0%"
Diet products must indicate on the label the percentage reduction (fat or sugars) and their total caloric value.
What difference is there between diet products , and some products labeled "sugar-free"?
Products such as candy , confectionery , chewing gum "sugar-free" contain almost as many calories as conventional products. This is why they are not products "lights" in the true sense of the term.
Sugars of these products are replaced by polyols designed to prevent caries but bring as many calories as sugar.
Such as polyols (hydrogenated carbohydrates) are not in the category of the sugars , at the legislative level , manufacturers can affix the word "sugar".
What is the value of diet products? • The low-sugar products generally have a lower glycemic index (which avoids peaks of insulin secretion by the pancreas that causes the setting aside of fat and weight gain).
• Drinks "lights" may satisfy those who are attracted by the sweet sensation , without providing calories: A calorie diet soda against a 150 calories for a normal soda.
• The meats and sausages are also subject to reduction by replacing some of the fat from broth starch , or offering products made from meat leaner than pork (sausage chicken , turkey ham , fish pâtés , rabbit ...).
• Light products can be a useful aid provided they do not consume more than non alleviated
What are the disadvantages of diet products? • Some low-fat products (prepared foods , mayonnaise , salad dressings , chips ...) may be alleviated at the expense of good unsaturated fatty acids (beneficial effects on cardio-vascular).
• Removing fat from food leads to elimination of fat-soluble vitamins (fat soluble) such as vitamins A , D and E.
This is why fat dairy products are rich in fat in these vitamins.
• Some low-sugar products sometimes have a higher fat levels for reasons of taste or presentation (including some chocolates).
Conversely , some biscuits "lights" are modestly lighter on fat but not sugar. And they are often larger (32 g) the classic cookies (12 g).
• Products such as low-fat chips remain fat products. A yogurt low fat calories from 40 to 60 calories with fruits (the equivalent of a conventional yogurt).
• Light products do not provide the same satisfaction than non lightweight and do not provide the same concentration of nutrients.
This is why eating low-fat products may cause a tendency to increase the portions or choose other foods , with the paradoxical risk of weight gain or eating disorders.
• Drinks "lights" the need to maintain and sugar can also promote habituation to these drinks and the need for sugar.
What should I be wary? Be wary of the terms "light" or "0%" which suggest a dietary product , low in calories and ideal for weight loss , which is not always the case.
