Diet Doctor > Diet Myths > Low Fat or No Fat Means No Calories

Low Fat or No Fat Means No Calories

Don’t be Fooled by Packaging

Low fat foods are everywhere these days, thanks to the popularity of low fat diets. Some people swear by low fat diets, while others claim that they’re unhealthy and that moderate amounts of fat are good for us. It’s true that the body needs fat, but fat isn’t exactly hard to find in most of our diets, so few of us are in danger of following a plan that’s too low fat. One mistake many people make when choosing this type of dieting, is thinking that low fat or no fat means no calories .

No one really thinks that’s absolutely accurate. They rationally know there are calories in everything, but they equate low fat and no fat foods with very low calories. And very often that’s not the case at all. It’s important to read the packaging on every “healthy” food you find. Foods low in fat often use other things like sugar and salt to make up for the taste lost when so much fat is removed; often the calories in the food are as high or higher than the regular fat version.

Low fat diets have taken a bit of clobbering since low carb diets became all the rage. And these diets seem to approach the whole concept of dieting from two different extremes. One says fat makes you fat—cut the fat, and you’ll lose weight. The other says fat is fine, and in fact, vital. It’s carbohydrates like flour and sugar that pack on the pounds. Which is correct? According to the experts, neither and both.

They both end up restricting calories, just through different methods. So either diet can help you lose weight. Some people do better on low fat diets, while some do better on low carb. And some diets take a measured approach to both, like a zone diet that claims that necessary fats, carbs and other dietary elements in certain proportions is what will help you achieve healthy weight loss.

You should choose a diet according to how it makes you feel. Many low carb dieters don’t mind giving up traditional desserts because they say the diet keeps them at an even keel, and they stop craving super sweet and starchy foods, while on low fat diets that include lots of carbs they feel unsatisfied and starving all the time.

Some low fat dieters say that they feel best when monitoring the amount and types of fat they eat, and low carb diets make them feel nauseous from all of the fat allowed. People are different, so their preferred ways of eating will be different too. No one diet will probably satisfy everyone.

Regardless of which diet you choose, if you’re eating the right amount of calories and exercising regularly, which can help boost even a slow metabolism into an efficient fat burner, you’ll lose weight. Whether you eat low fat, no fat, or low carb, try to makes your meals balanced and nutritious, and it’ll be easier to reach your healthy weight loss goals.