| No: 05 | May 2007 |
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False – To claim that a product is 'reduced fat' the amount of fat must be at least 25% lower than the standard product But these types of foods tend to be high in fat and energy in the first place, so the 'reduced fat' version can still have quite high amounts of both. Foods labelled 'low fat' or 'reduced fat' aren't necessarily low in energy. The fat is replaced by other ingredients, so the product can end up with the same or an even higher energy (calorie) content. Also, if you're tempted to use more of a reduced-fat product than you would of the full-fat version, you might end up having the same, or even more, fat and energy.
False – Removing visible fat can make a big difference to the fat content of meat. In fact, lean red meat is quite low in fat at 4–8g per 100g. When the lean and fat components of meat are blended together in mince or meat products, this can make the fat content much higher. Meat products, whether they've been made from red meat or poultry, can also be high in fat because of the other high fat ingredients they contain, such as the pastry in a meat pie or pasty. Skinned poultry meat only contains about 1–3g fat per 100g, and white meat contains less fat than darker meat. But if the skin and fatty deposits beneath it aren't removed, the fat content will be much higher. So try to go for leaner cuts, always remove the visible fat, and remove the skin from poultry.
False – Drinking water that is ice cold doesn't use up any more calories than drinking water at room temperature. If you do want to lose weight, it's important not to go on a 'crash diet'. Losing weight takes time. The most effective way to lose weight – and keep it off – is by changing your lifestyle for good. You need to eat a healthy balanced diet, which means eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, basing your meals on starchy foods, cutting down on foods high in sugar or fat, and by being more physically active. Reference |
If the label says 'low fat' or 'reduced fat' then the product will always be a healthy choice
Red meat is always very high in fat and poultry is always low in fat
Drinking ice-cold water uses up more calories and helps you lose weight