Are “Healthy” and “Organic” Foods Making You Fat?

Alisa Daglio  Body Makeover Jump Start Expert

     Often when people make a move to improve their eating habits and streamline their physiques, they will begin by seeking healthy and organic cuisine.  Selecting natural whole foods is a wonderful place to start, but many pure and unprocessed alternatives are not conducive to weight loss.  Unless wisely chosen, many so called “health” foods can actually pile weight on!  The best solution is to choose your options wisely and become aware of a food’s caloric, fat, sugar, and sodium content per serving.  Once educated, you automatically become empowered and can quickly select organic foods that engender the results you are looking for.
    
     Launching your morning off with a breakfast consisting of a bowl of granola in skim milk and a glass of juice may seem like a healthy way to start the day.  However, one cup of granola coupled with one cup skim milk has  29.92 grams of fat, 36.99 grams of sugar, and 681 calories.  The seemingly harmless glass of orange juice adds an additional 112 calories, 20.83 grams of sugar, and .5 grams of fat. This brings in a grand total of 30.42 grams of fat, 57.82 grams of sugar, and 793 calories to your morning. Add a healthy bran muffin and you will be reaching for an additional 420 calories and 18 grams of fat.  This means you already will have consumed the sugar equivalent of several candy bars and 1.7 oz brick of pure fat before lunch!

     A more friendly weight loss option would be to select a serving of organic oatmeal, which contains 150 calories, three grams of fat, and one gram of sugar.  For added guilt-free fiber and flavor, dice up a peach, apple, plum, or nectarine and add it to your oatmeal. You may also whip up several egg whites and a medley of organic green vegetables, herbs, and salt free spices for your morning protein. With a meal plan like this, you will be feeding your body in a healthy way, providing yourself with a jump start to weight loss, and plenty of energy to take on your morning tasks.
  

     To expedite your weight loss further, try omitting the following organic foods from your diet completely:  yogurt, honey, nuts, corn, coconut, dates, and avocado.   Replace these items with the many vegetables and fruit that are naturally low in fat and sugar.   Remember that simply because an organic food offers healthy/nutritious components, does not mean that you will lose weight if you consume it. An excellent example of this is yogurt.  The probiotics (live cultures) that can be found in yogurt are currently being touted for their health benefits, including the promotion of healthy bacteria growth inside the colon.  However, with the 22 grams of sugar found in most yogurts (approximately the amount of sugar found in a candy bar) you would be better off obtaining your probiotics in capsule form at the health food store.  If calcium is a concern, you can find 178 mg in just one cup of broccoli.

     Avocadoes and nuts are often touted for their good “healthy fat” and fiber.  While this may be true, it is also true that these foods are high in calories and very high in fat.  A medium California avocado contains 30 grams of fat which means that roughly ¾ of the avocado is nothing but pure fat! There are 35.6 grams of fat in ½ cup of dry roasted almonds and 49.4 grams of fat in ½ cup of Macadamia nuts!  People who are trying to lose weight will have more success if they look for organic alternatives to these caloric laden saboteurs.

     Remember that you are in charge of protecting your waistline and your health.  Here are five powerful tips to help you along the way:

1.  Avoid consumption of any food that contains over eight grams of sugar.

2.  Avoid fruit juice drinks, and reach for the actual fruit instead.

3.  Become label savvy and aware of the fat, caloric, sodium, and sugar contents of the foods you eat.

4.  Cut out all dairy products