Beware any food that calls itself “diet foods”. Often it is a low-fat, sugar-free or low-sugar, pre-packaged food that may be low in calories, but also low in any nutritional value. Many of these diet foods are sweetened with aspartame which is a known neuro-toxin that can wreak havoc on your body. Aspartame poisoning is known to mimic the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Splenda is another sweetener that was promised to be the next best thing, but is now coming under scrutiny for its safety concerns. Splenda is suppose to be as sweet as sugar with none of the calories. Unfortunately, long term studies of Splenda have never been conducted and evidence against its good benefits is mounting. Artificial sweeteners as food additives are not subject to the same strict regulations as pharmaceutical drugs by the FDA. Most testing of artificial sweeteners are funded by the food industry which obviously has quite a vested interest in it’s success. Foods with these artificial sweeteners also spike your blood sugar and deliver empty calories which leave you hungry soon after you have eaten them.
The best diet foods for weight loss are whole, healthy foods. When you eat whole foods, you are not always hungry because you are not eating chemicals and high fructose corn syrup that keeps you addicted and hungry. Whole healthy foods are like mother nature’s appetite suppressant. Whole foods are also a benefit to diabetics. Foods that are grown in the earth, not manufactured in a factory. Many good diet foods include fresh fruits and vegetables that you can eat as much as you want. They are loaded in fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals that your body needs to burn and break down fat cells. A whole food diet consists of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat pasta, and lean proteins like turkey, chicken or lean cuts of beef. Substituting heavy creams and oils with applesauce, riccotta cheese and yougurt is also a great way to lighten foods up. I like to visit my friend’s site to learn tips on lightening up Italian food - my favorite! A good rule of thumb to follow is if mother nature didn’t make it, don’t eat it. A whole food diet will give you energy, vitality and all the nutrients you need to get you through the day in top form.