ORLANDO, Fl – Forty two percent of Americans are obese. One in three people is overweight. Lack of exercise, eating too much processed foods, genetics, there are several reasons but what you think you know about nutrition may be adding to the problem.
Filling up our stomach starts with filling up our plate.
“Sometimes we get confused about portion sizes. That’s the amount of food that we choose to eat. A serving is defined,” said Steven Burroughs Instructor for College of Health Professions, UCF.
But what’s the difference? A serving size is regulated by the FDA. It’s found at the top of a nutrition label.
“Serving size is really important because you want to ensure that you’re not overconsuming foods,” explained Burroughs.
Before you pour a big bowl of cereal in the morning know that a serving size is typically one cup.
Here’s another nutritional question, is natural sugar healthier than table sugar?
Honey and maple syrup may have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. But they also have the same calories as table sugar and have the same effect on our blood.
Next questions — fresh fruits and veggies are better than frozen ones. The frozen ones can contain higher levels of nutrients because they’re frozen at their peak.
And one more, you shouldn’t eat anything after 7 p.m. Studies show it’s not when you eat, but what you eat that causes you to gain weight.
Do you believe eating certain foods like grapefruit, cayenne pepper or vinegar can help your body burn fat? Wrong again. The Mayo Clinic reports that no foods burn fat or make you lose weight more quickly than others.