Nutritional Fad or Savior?

There are so many trendy foods out there right now.  They are supposed to be super healthy and save you from everything: cancer, environmental pollution, you name it.  So, is this just hype or is there any truth to the current hype around these super foods? 

1. Coconut Oil: Everywhere you look, someone is trying to get you to consume coconut oil by the spoonful literally.   So, what is so great about coconut oil? The current hype around coconut oil claims that it is the world’s most friendly fat because of its effects on metabolism and its ability to boost feelings of fullness.  Some people are currently encouraging others to consume it by the spoonful to help them attain their weight loss goals.  Unfortunately, this is not likely going to work.  Adding calorie dense coconut oil without decreasing calories elsewhere will likely just cause you to gain weight.  It may be beneficial to substitute it for other fats that you plan on consuming, but otherwise it will probably just add to your expanding waist line. 
2. Juicing Diet:  Have your ever been to a health food store where people are waiting in line to get their “green juice”?  The claim is that it is an efficient way to get your antioxidants and nutrients in one quick drink:  you can lose weight and decrease your risk of getting cancer.  Is any of this true?  Once you juice fruits and vegetables, you remove all the fiber and your body doesn’t have to work so hard to absorb all the nutrients.  So, technically it does help your body absorb the vitamins and minerals better.  However, there are lots of disadvantages to juicing that people forget.  First, when you remove all the fiber from the fruits and vegetable, you are more likely to feel hungry throughout the day.  Fiber is what promotes that feeling of fullness that prevents you from consuming unnecessary calories.  When you are trying to lose weight, the worst thing you can do is snack all day.  Consuming all these extra calories because you are always hungry will likely just lead to weight gain.  Also, while fruit is considered “good for you”, it contains a ton of sugar.  By consuming sugary drinks all day instead of consuming real food, this plan will make you more susceptible to insulin resistance and diabetes.  Also, fiber is very important to gut health and digestion as it helps slow down the absorption of sugar.  Eliminating fiber from your diet is very detrimental to your overall digestion and weight loss goals. 
3. Nutrient Water: There are lots of popular nutrient waters these days like cactus, watermelon, and maple. The idea is that you are hydrating and getting your vitamins too!  Don’t fall for it.  This is very similar to juicing stuff.  Most people forget all the extra calories that they are consuming.  I promise you there is nothing magical in watermelon or cactus-its not going to detox you or decrease your exposure to environmental pollutant or decrease your risk of getting cancer.  Its just going to make you consume more calories and negatively impact your weight loss goals.  I promise you all you need for adequate hydration is good old H2O.   If you need to flavor your water- add a sprig of mint or a piece of lemon. 

There are so many fad foods out there that I could probably write a book full of blogs on this topic alone.  If you eat healthy and stay active, you will probably meet your health and fitness goals.  All these fads are just a way marketing firms have devised to make you consume their product.  Unfortunately, most of these are probably negatively impacting all the hard work you are putting into trying to stay healthy.  That being said, don't give up on your health goals!  Good luck this summer as you work towards your healthiest year yet!

​Dr. Pam