The TV doctor and diet guru warned against some seemingly healthy foods
Dr Michael Mosley, who passed away in the summer, last year sounded the alarm over some seemingly healthy foods. He said that they could actually be detrimental.
He wrote about the subject of low-fat foods and others that purported to be free of “unhealthy” aspects. But he said that could sometimes mean they also lacked nutritional benefits.
Writing for the Fast 800 blog, Dr Mosley said: “In a world full of food manufacturers, with clever marketing and a lack of science behind their claims, it can often become confusing to know exactly which foods are healthy when you’re navigating the supermarket.”
He highlighted the pervasive pitfalls laid out by cleverly marketed products asserting transformative health benefits: “With huge signs at the end of each aisle, telling you exactly why the latest products will turn your health around, it’s easy to fall into their well-set traps and spend a fortune on ‘healthy’ foods that are not so healthy.”
The TV doctor named four particular foods marketed as healthier alternatives, which he argued were unworthy of your expenditure. First on the list were vegetable crisps, often seen as a healthier alternative to their potato counterparts.
However, Dr Mosley suggested that these thinly sliced veggies don’t pack enough nutritional punch and aren’t necessarily healthier than traditional crisps due to the amount of sunflower oil used in frying them. Instead, he advised reaching for raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, or gut-friendly sauerkraut and kimchi.
Another point of caution from the health expert was against products marketed as ‘low-fat alternatives’. He highlighted that scientific research had shed light on the health benefits of full-fat foods.
He explained that low-fat items often have their nutrients stripped away and are packed with sugar and additives to compensate for the loss of flavour when fat is removed. This can result in blood sugar spikes and further cravings.
Dr Mosley elaborated: “A study, carried out by researchers at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute, tracked the diets of 20,000 women over a period of 20 years. The study found links between the consumption of full-fat dairy products (milk and cheese) and weight loss. Over a ten-year period, the women who regularly consumed full-fat milk saw a lower BMI.”
He also warned against instant porridge sachets where you ‘just add water’. According to the doctor, one bowl of this type of oatmeal can contain up to three spoonfuls of sugar, with some brands packing a whopping 16g per serving.
Lastly, the health expert advised against the consumption of bottled salad dressings. Despite salads being a healthy choice, these dressings “have a significant amount of calories per serving”, and few people adhere to the suggested serving size.
The expert warned: “They’re also packed with additives, to extend their shelf life, thickeners, hidden and other nasties that simply don’t belong in your cupboard!”
Instead, he suggested preparing your own dressing using equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.
