Fast Food = Fast Weight Gain

Most of the fast food companies operating in Australia are aware of society’s increased interest in nutrition over the past decade, and therefore provide Nutrition Information Panels on their products for consumers. Other chains have printed information or forms that you can request. Having these Nutrition Information Panels on their packaging can appeal to the health conscious individual, but what do these numbers really mean? Ask yourself; if you have read one of these labels before, have you been able to interpret the impact on your nutritional needs?

An average Australian male requires 2000 - 2200 calories per day, to maintain a healthy weight. The average McDonald’s takeaway meal provides approximately 1200 calories (60% of an average male’s energy requirement). For an overweight female trying to lose 0.5kg per week, these 1200 calories are equivalent to her daily suggested calorie intake.

The table below outlines the number of calories that are contained within four typical fast food meals compared with the calorie count of  four comparable home made meals. 

As a guide, no more than approximately a third of your fat intake should be coming from saturated fat (6). For an average male, this equates to approximately 20 - 25g of saturated fat per day. For a female, following a 1200 calorie meal plan, this is approximately 12g saturated fat per day – with each of the below takeaway meals providing significantly greater amounts.

The table below highlights the saturated fat content contained within the same four fast food meals compared with the home made variations.

Not only are takeaway foods calorie and fat dense, they also distort our concept of meal portions from an early age. Promoting larger meals at cheaper prices, it encourages people to consume far beyond our nutritional limits.

References

1. Calculated per ‘McDonalds: Nutrition - Know Your Food’ available at http://mcdonalds.com.au/our-food/nutrition
2. Calculated per ‘Calorie Count’ available at http://caloriecount.about.com/
3. Calculated per ‘KFC Nutrition Information’ available at http://www.kfc.com.au/nutrition/index.aspx
4. Calculated per ‘Hungry Jacks Menu available at http://www.hungryjacks.com.au/menu.php
5. Calculated per ‘Subway’ Nutrition Information available at http://www.subway.com.au/info/our_menu/nutritional_information/
6. The Heart Foundation. Where to find Healthier Fats. 15th October 2011 available at http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/sites/HealthyEating/understandingfatsandcholesterol/Pages/Wheretofindhealthierfats.aspx

Proactol and Vitamin Absorption (Part 4)

Supplements which block the absorption of fat are effective at treating obesity because fat has significantly more calories than other nutrients. Indeed, 1 gram of fat has 9 calories, whereas 1 gram of protein or carbohydrate has just 4 calories. However, fats are required for the absorption of certain fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A or E. As a result, some fat blockers also block the absorption of essential vitamins. For instance, the popular fat blocker, Alli, reduces the absorption of Vitamin E by a whopping 60%.

To find out whether Proactol’s active ingredient, NeOpuntia, also interfered with the absorption of vitamins, researches performed a straightforward test using a gastrointestinal model. Researchers created a mixture of sunflower oil, which contained typical daily amounts of vitamins A and E, and they added NeOpuntia to the mixture to see if it affected vitamin absorption.

Scientists found that NeOpuntia did not bind to these

fat soluble vitamins

. This suggests that NeOpuntia, unlike many other fat blockers, doesn’t interfere with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. Go to Proactol web page right now.

Effects of Proactol on Fat Absorption (Part 3)

In research on NeOpuntia’s effect on

fat absorption

, researchers predicted that if NeOpuntia did indeed bind with fats from ingested foods, preventing these fats from being absorbed into the body, then feces should contain an increased amount of excreted fat.

To test this hypothesis, researches used a group of ten healthy individuals and divided them randomly into two groups. Both groups received the same diet and were administered a capsule orally with 1.6 grams of material in it. The control group received a capsule with an inactive ingredient (the placebo) while the other group received a capsule with NeOpuntia in it.

Researchers found that the two groups varied in the amount of excreted fat: those in the NeOpuntia group excreted 27.4% more fat than those in the control group. These results suggest that NeOpuntia does bind with fats and prevents them from being absorbed into the body. This is recorded as increased

fat content

in the feces. Go to Proactol web page right now.

When Exercise Is Not Enough

It may seem unusual, but often exercise is not always enough to prompt fat loss, even if you are eating correctly...



However, if you are working out and still putting on excess lbs, you may need to contemplate including the following techniques into your

fat loss program

.

• 1. Go to your doctors
  
  There might be a medical reason why you are putting on excess lbs including hypothyroidism, stress, the menopause or certain prescription medications. Because of this attend your physician, get them to assess you and tell them your fat loss problems.
  
  
• 2. Check your heart and breathing
  
  The simplest way to review this is by using the Borg Scale of Perceived Exertion, and ensuring you are running enough to guarantee results, but not so full on that you are causing yourself to gasp for air. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 sleeping and 10 running full pelt), you should be around a 6 or a 7.
  
  
• 3. Start a food diary
  
  No matter how much you work out, if you are eating too many calories this can lead to weight gain. The problem many of us have is under guessing our calorie content. Even the littlest of drinks - crisp or a cappuccino - can add tonnes of calories to your daily content.
  
  To discover if you are unintentionally letting calories slip under your mouth try weighing, measuring and keeping track of everything you eat and drink in a food diary. Then, at the end of each day, sit down and count how many calories you have had over the course of the day.
  
  You will quickly be able to discover which snacks are making problems. However, for added support talk to a nutritionist who can help you to discover your strengths and your weaknesses.
  
  
• 4. Try a pedometer
  
  Supposedly for every 2,000 steps you take per day, you can burn roughly 100 calories. To figure out how far you walk each day begin using a pedometer and keeping track of how many steps you take in a week. If for example you are already doing 10,000 steps, boost this by another 2,000 to get the results you crave.
  
  
  
  
• 5. Start strength training
  
  Muscle is more active metabolically than fat, so by including strength training to your exercise plan 3 times per week, you can gradually enhance your lean tissue mass and speed up your metabolic rate.
  
  For maximum results, aim to utilise free weights, resistance bands and exercise machines...
  
  
• 6. Quicken your pace
  
  As with many things in life, it is simple to get into a rut with your exercise routine. Try pushing yourself further by including quick bouts of fast-paced training such as cycling. Attempt to cycle as fast as you can for 30 seconds (every 3 to 5 minutes) or including hills to your running program.
  
  
• 7. Stay focused
  
  It is easy to get distracted by the numbers on your bathroom scales, especially if your daily routine is the same. Instead, try mixing up your exercise routine by doing a new activity, listening to fast-paced music and most importantly ensuring you focus on feeling positive and healthy.
  
  
• 8. Get plenty of sleep
  
  Sleep is essential. Sleep infrequently and this can cause your body to start putting on fat. Equally, being tired all day can prompt you to eat more as a means of deal in, contributing to extra weight gain. To overcome this, attempt to nap for roughly 6-8 hours every day.
  
  For permanent

  successful fat loss

  , it is important that you find an equilibrium between your nutritional content and work out routine. However, to help give your diet a boost, the help of a credible fat loss pill can help.
  
  Scientifically tested through 6 medical trials, Proactol has been found to make up to 28% of your daily fat content indigestible, reduce your cravings, improve your cholesterol levels and double your energy; the perfect combo for helping your fat loss to go in the correct direction.
  

Click here to learn our secret way for a quick weight loss

Low Fat Makeovers: How to Modify your Favourite Recipes

Low fat cooking doesn’t have to mean bland, boring food. Even though removing fat removes some flavour, there are plenty of delicious options to replace it with! In this article we’ll show you three easy ways to modify your favourite recipes: substitute high fat for low fat ingredients, reduce the levels of high fat ingredients and eliminate high fat ingredients:

1. Substitute

The following low fat options can be substituted for their high fat counterparts:

Butter and margarine (1 Tbsp = 16g fat)
- Cottage cheese, mustards, chutneys, fruit spreads or honey
(If you use butter use mono or polyunsaturated margarine and spread it thinly.)

Oil (1 Tbsp = 20g fat)
- Experiment using soy sauce, lemon juice, wine or stocks to stir fry or sauté
- Use non-stick pans and no oil at all
(If you use oil choose vegetable oils such as canola, olive and sunflower. Use small amounts and brush or spray rather than pour.)

Cream (1 Tbsp = 7g fat)
- For soups and casseroles stir in non-fat natural yoghurt
- For desserts use low fat ice cream, yoghurt, ricotta cheese or low fat custard. Add a little icing sugar, honey, fruit or liqueur for sweetness

Sour cream (1 Tbsp = 7.5g fat)
- Use low fat natural yoghurt, buttermilk or evaporated skim milk mixed with a little lemon juice

Coconut cream/milk
- Use evaporated skim milk with a little coconut essence.

Cheese (variable fat content)
- Use smaller amounts of lower fat varieties such as mozzarella, bocconcini, ricotta or cottage cheese
- Mix cheese with oats, breadcrumbs or wheat germ for toppings on casseroles and baked dishes

Mayonnaise/dressing (1 Tbsp = 6.5g)
- Use low fat yoghurt, ricotta or buttermilk with added garlic, lemon, mustard, tomato paste, vinegars, fruit juices, pepper or herbs

Pastry (1 sheet puff pastry = 18g fat)
- Use filo pastry and moisten between the layers with egg white, water, stock or low fat yoghurt
- Make low fat pastry by mixing two cups of self raising flour, 250g ricotta cheese and 4 Tbsp low fat milk. Mix and knead.

Meat and Poultry
- Choose lean cuts of meat and keep your portions small
- Make your own mince or ask your butcher to mince lean cuts of meat for you
- For a bit of variety and to add bulk to mince dishes, add grated vegetables such as carrot and zucchini
- Remove visible fat before cooking
- Use marinades, herbs and garlic to add flavour

Cakes and Biscuits
- Choose recipes with less fat and use poly/monounsaturated margarine
- Experiment with using buttermilk or low fat milk to replace some of the fat, using egg whites instead of whole eggs and adding fruits and vegetables such as banana or carrot.

If you find it difficult to modify your own recipes there are a range of low fat cookbooks available from supermarkets, newsagents and bookstores. You can also try online recipe collections from Taste and the National Heart Foundation.

2. Reduce

If a high fat or high energy ingredient can’t be substituted, try using a little less of it. When baking you should be able to reduce the amount of fat or sugar by a quarter to a third without changing the final product too drastically.

Remember that if you remove moisture you need to replace it. So to make up for less oil, add a little more water or low fat milk.

3. Eliminate

If a high fat or high energy ingredient isn't strictly necessary (i.e. it is used for presentation or extra flavour) you can remove it. For example you can omit bacon from pasta sauce.

With these ideas you should be ready to experiment with new low fat dishes at home. But if you need further inspiration, speak to a Dietitian.

How to Make Healthy Choices at the Supermarket

To lose weight you need to reduce your calorie intake, which means selecting foods that are low in fat and sugar. Here’s a quick guide to making healthy choices at the supermarket to save you time sifting through the shelves.

The trick is to locate the product’s food label, find its nutrition information panel and look for the ‘per 100g’ column. Good choices are foods that contain the following amounts of fat and sugar:

Fat Content

Less than:
Cereals – 8g/100g
Biscuits – 5g/100g
Cheese – 15g/100g
Milk and yoghurt – 2g/100g
Mayonnaise and sauces – 3g/100g
Spreads such as cream cheese – 10g/100g
Meat products – 8g/100g
Frozen/packaged foods – 5g/100g

Sugar Content

Less than:
Cereals and biscuits – 5g/100g

For more detailed information see our article How to Read a Food Label.