FOOD FACTS
Carob Vs Chocolate
Many people choose carob over chocolate in the mistaken belief that carob is less fattening, but carob and chocolate are equally high in fat and kilojoules. A single 100 g carob bar contains a startling 1,760 kJ (440 Calories), 52% of which comes from fat. The only significant advantage that carob holds over chocolate is that carob is caffeine-free and may contain a little less sugar.
Playing the percentages
When buying juice it's wise to look at the label, because there are big differences in the proportion of fruit or vegetable juice in different brands. The words 'fruit juice' is a sure giveaway that there is little juice in the product, as is the phrase 'flavored with natural juice'. Low percentage fruit drinks are mostly water and sugar, which increases the calorie content while depriving you of the nutrients and vitamins found in fruit. Calories from sugar are much more likely to be stored as fat than calories from sucrose, the compounds that give the fruit a sweet flavor. Whether you choose pure fruit or fruit drinks you should be aware that these drinks are missing the fiber that fills you up when you eat fruit. This makes it easy to drink glass after glass and consume large amounts of calories without realizing it.
Zinc Suckers
Zinc supplements are commonly used to ward off approaching colds, but the immune protective powers of zinc do not extend to zinc lozenges. The US Federal Trade Commission recently successfully sued two companies for making unsubstantiated claims that zinc-containing lozenges prevent colds and alleviate allergy symptoms. While there are a few studies that show zinc lozenges can reduce the severity and duration of colds in adults, several more studies show no benefit. When it comes to children, there have been no studies to date that show zinc lozenges have any role at all in suppressing the immune system. Doubt also surrounds the effectiveness of other lozenges that contain vitamins/minerals (e.g., echinacea lozenges), as it is believed that the dose level of the vitamin/mineral would be too small for it to have many benefits.
The truth about avocados
Avocados are often mistakenly labeled as fattening and high in cholesterol. No type of fruit contains cholesterol, and this includes avocados. The only fruits that contain fat are avocados and olives, but their fat is mainly monounsaturated, which means they do not affect our cholesterol levels. If you are trying to lose weight it pays to watch your avocado consumption because they contain 23% fat and have an energy value of 2050kJ (490 Cal) - and that's without the salad dressing. For most people, however, avocados are a good choice because they provide valuable dietary fiber and are a good source of vitamin C, E, and B.
Appetite and Exercise
The question of whether exercise curbs or increases appetite has puzzled scientists for years, and there is still no clear answer since exercise involves so many variables (duration, frequency, intensity, and percentage of body fat). Recent studies indicate that hard exercise makes people feel less hungry immediately afterward, but more hungry a few hours following their workout.
Competitive athletes in strenuous training often eat more than normal to compensate for their higher energy output, but there is no evidence to suggest that people who exercise at a moderate pace on a regular basis will experience any significant long-term increases in appetite.
Even if you do find you get hungrier and eat more, regular exercise may offset the difference. Increased activity sets up metabolism and calorie burning and helps you become trimmer and fitter. Your weight might stay the same but you're building muscle and reducing body fat.