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Fat-Free, Gluten-Free and Other Labels That Hinder Weight Loss

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Leslie Goldman on Aug 3, 2010 at 3:38PM

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Fat-Free, Gluten-Free and Other Labels That Hinder Weight Loss

Gary S. Chapman

Thinking "Natural" Means You Can Eat More

Natural foods stores have a way of making ingredients like honey, evaporated cane juice and brown rice syrup sound virtuous. But in terms of weight gain, a gluten-free cookie made with agave is the same as a Chips Ahoy. “When it comes to fat loss, none of them are good for us,” Kalanick says. “It’s like paying with a dollar bill or ten dimes.” They all get converted to glucose for energy, which stimulates a hormone called insulin to be released. Excess insulin (triggered by excess carbs) causes your body to store more fat. So don’t fool yourself into thinking a muffin sweetened with fruit juice is doing your waistline any favors.

Filed Under:
- fat,
- Fruit & Vegetables,
- labels,
- lose fat,
- low-fat,
- natural

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Which label term confuses you the most?