7 Unhealthy Diet Foods

[Katee]

By Reader's Digest Editors

Diet soda

Though it has fewer calories and less sugar than regular soda, diet soda may actually keep you from losing weight. New research suggests that dieters who choose to drink diet soda may actually add weight instead of losing it.

(The other headings are):

Smoothies

Artificial sweeteners

Light salad dressings

Processed diet foods and snacks

Flavored yogurt

Baked chips

Read the rest here.

This is not news or a surprise to any of us here at HH. What IS a surprise is the source: Reader's Digest, which has historically always sold out to Big Pharma and the food companies and the ones that produce the artificial sweeteners.

Katee

[Reesacat]

That is a shock-talking about diet soda and artificial sweeteners being unhealthy in Reader's Digest is a big change (for the good!).

[mellowsong]

I am absolutely amazed! I let my subscription to RD run out and haven't read it in probably close to 4 years because of their take on vitamins and natural health. Something has changed...I just might look at it again if they keep this kind of stuff up!

[highlander]

It filed bankruptcy last year, got a new board of directors this year, and apparently is now up for sale. Maybe the decision makers are shaking things up out of desperation.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6458f810-b...#axzz1T9Xt14OL

[Julieanne]

Smoothies? Aren't they usually all natural fruit and veg?

[Reesacat]

If you make the smoothies yourself, they can be very healthy. In the USA many fast food restaurants are offering 'smoothies' with 'real fruit' in them, but they are mostly HFCS and junk.

[Islander]

I usually use my juicer, especially in summer, but when I make a smoothie the ingredients will be quite different: raw eggs, cocoa powder, stevia, a banana, a T or 2 of frozen oj concentrate. Or maybe blueberries or raspberries. Yogurt. Depends what I have on hand, but sweet rather than savory.

[Katee]

I personally don't care much for smoothies. Duane loves Jamba Juice. I just looked them up, and their "power" size smoothies range from 280 calories up to 580. (The one he prefers isn't listed on their menu anymore but they still make it. I would guess it is probably between 450 and 500 cal because he does get that large size.)

The problem is, of course, that people buy these large size, high calorie dessert drinks and think they are doing something "good" because it contains fruit. I'm not running down their choices, but a lot of folks aren't aware that what they are consuming is not "diet."

McDucks is currently promoting smoothies. I looked up their ingredient list and frankly it isn't horrible, but i don't know that i would trust their ingredients, either. They list a 12 oz smoothie (do people actually get them that small?) as being 210 cal.

I'd prefer to just eat the fruit, although when i make a smoothie for Duane at home i do drink a couple of oz to taste it.

edit: Just looked it up. A Jamba Juice power size is "30 fl oz this beverage contains more sugar than two pints of Ben and Jerry's Butter Pecan ice cream."

[Islander]

Just looked it up. A Jamba Juice power size is "30 fl oz this beverage contains more sugar than two pints of Ben and Jerry's Butter Pecan ice cream."

No contest. Pass the ice cream.

[sollyb]

No tthe Ben and Jerry's though, full of crap ingredients

[Islander]

No tthe Ben and Jerry's though, full of crap ingredients

Did somebody recommend ice cream? What did I miss?

[highlander]

Did somebody recommend ice cream? What did I miss?

I was wondering that, too; but since I've been scanning I assumed I just missed it.

[Pattypans]

No contest. Pass the ice cream.

I'm with you, Islander!

[Julieanne]

When I was experimenting with smoothies I found I could put in any mixture of veg, which tasted really good as long as I added an orange, or some juice. Islander, I prefer the sweeter ones too, but this was OK. But I need a better blender - the food processor tends to make 'lumpies' rather than smoothies. I'm saving up, waiting for a bargain.

[Pattypans]

When I was experimenting with smoothies I found I could put in any mixture of veg, which tasted really good as long as I added an orange, or some juice.

Julieanne, I'm almost sure I've read somewhere that there's a reason why it's not good for you to mix citrus fruit and greens in the same drink. It was a long time ago, and I don't remember the reason, though.