Zero calorie foods are not always good. avoid these 3 types of food

In order to achieve ideal body weight, many people deliberately eat low-calorie foods. There is nothing wrong with having a low calorie diet. But you also need to be careful in choosing the type of food. Because, there are several foods that are classified as zero calorie foods empty calorie, which can secretly derail your diet plan, even threatening your health. What are the zero calorie foods to avoid?

Zero calorie foods are not all good for the body

Calories are basically energy. The body needs calories to live. The calories you get from food will be converted by the body into energy and will be used when you do activities. Without energy from calories, the cells in our body will die, including the heart, which can stop beating. However, excess unused calories will be stored in the body. Over time these "idle" calories will be converted into fat and lead to weight gain.

That's why many people choose to eat low-calorie foods to avoid gaining weight. However, some zero calorie foods are not considered healthy foods that should be included in your diet plan. The reason is that even though they are zero calories, these foods do not contain the balanced nutrition your body needs - they may even be zero!

Apart from being low in nutrients, food or drink is classified as empty calorie is usually the kind of high intake of simple carbohydrates that can secretly cause a person to experience excess calories. Zero calorie foods are generally processed foods and sugary drinks.

The excess calories resulting from eating these foods will cause you to gain weight over time, while also increasing your risk of a variety of chronic diseases. For example, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

List of zero calorie foods that you should avoid

To find out which foods are categorized as zero calorie foods, you need to read the nutritional value information labels. Compare the number of calories and the content of saturated fat and added sugars and the content of other nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals.

There are three categories of foods that include zero calories. Among others:

• High intake of sugar - sugar is a type of simple carbohydrate and is a type of food with a high calorie count. High sugar levels are found in:
  • Fast food
  • Processed or packaged foods
  • Dairy products
  • Flavored ingredients (condiments)
  • Soft drink
  • Packaged fruit juices
• High fat intake - Different from healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, fish and meat, this type of intake is high in saturated fat which contains little additional nutrients for the body. Saturated fats are usually stored in a solid state at room temperature such as butter, margarine and white butter (vegetable shortening). High fat intake is found in:
  • Cakes and pies
  • Pastries, muffins and biscuits
  • Krakers and chips
  • Food fast food
  • Pizza
  • Various kinds of processed meats such as sausages, bacon and ham.
• Alcoholic drinks - apart from sugary and fatty foods, extra calories can come from alcoholic beverages. These types of drinks usually contain mostly simple carbohydrates, and a few other additives. Liquid carbohydrates are easily absorbed by the body and quickly increase your calorie intake. Alcoholic drinks are also usually mixed with syrups and other additives that are high in sugar.

Tips for reducing intake empty calorie

Limiting calorie intake can be done by simply changing the type of food consumed. With the change in consumption of types of food, it prevents obesity in the future. Here are some ways you can reduce consumption of unhealthy zero calorie foods:

• Choose foods that are rich in nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and protein derived from animal flesh.
• Cut down on processed foods and instead prioritize eating foods that are cooked at home.
• Pay attention to the content of processed foods before buying, such as the number of calories and look for nutritional content such as protein, amino acids, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, especially calcium, magnesium and potassium.
• Watch your intake and diet plan in a matter of days or a week.
• Change your drinking habits. As much as possible try to consume beverages such as mineral water, tea and coffee or other beverages without sugar when buying drinks outside the home.
• Provide nutritious snacks such as nuts or vegetables. If you want something sweet try eating fruit before eating sugary foods.

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