True-false on lightened products
Skimmed milk was the first of the lightened products to appear in supermarkets. Since then, the brands and types of products are multiplying on the shelves: yogurts, butters, biscuits, cheeses ... Do you know exactly what you put on your plate when you eat "light"?
1- For a product to be lightened or "light", it must contain at least 25% less sugar or fat than the "whole" product.
TRUE - The product must, moreover, clearly show how it is lightened.
2- The calories of a lighter product is always less than 300 kcal per 100 g.
TRUE - But you have to compare what is comparable: a lighter natural product and a whole-life yoghurt. A lightened fruit yoghurt will have more calories than a plain whole yoghurt.
3- It is possible to decrease the number of calories keeping the sweet taste thanks to aspartame.
TRUE - Aspartame contains almost no calories.
4- "No added sugar" products do not contain sugar.
FALSE - These products may contain natural fruit sugars for example, as in compotes and fruit juices.
5 - Lightened products often have less taste.
TRUE - Low-fat products often replace them with water, air or sugar to enhance textures and flavors.
6 - Low fat cheeses present a real benefit for health.
TRUE and FALSE - The number of fats is represented as a percentage on the dry matter. They remain fat. Some cheeses are also much fatter than others. Better a good whole milk cheese than a light pie. You gain in both taste and calories.
7 - There are fewer vitamins and minerals in lean products.
FALSE - The products are only lighter in fat and sugar.
8 - Children must eat whole products.
TRUE - These have higher fat requirements than adults.
9 - Aspartame is bad for your health.
TRUE and FALSE - The dangers of aspartame on the body have never been proven. However, it would act as a decoy for the brain that claims more and more sweet taste.
10 - Lightened products are reserved to people who want to lose weight.
FALSE - It is good to take care not to bring too much sugar or too much fat to your body. Modern foods often contain them in excess.
Our advice
For cooking, butters lightened to less than 41% fat do not support cooking. Think about cooking steam or papillotes, then add a knob of light butter on your plate for the taste.
1- For a product to be lightened or "light", it must contain at least 25% less sugar or fat than the "whole" product.
TRUE - The product must, moreover, clearly show how it is lightened.
2- The calories of a lighter product is always less than 300 kcal per 100 g.
TRUE - But you have to compare what is comparable: a lighter natural product and a whole-life yoghurt. A lightened fruit yoghurt will have more calories than a plain whole yoghurt.
3- It is possible to decrease the number of calories keeping the sweet taste thanks to aspartame.
TRUE - Aspartame contains almost no calories.
4- "No added sugar" products do not contain sugar.
FALSE - These products may contain natural fruit sugars for example, as in compotes and fruit juices.
5 - Lightened products often have less taste.
TRUE - Low-fat products often replace them with water, air or sugar to enhance textures and flavors.
6 - Low fat cheeses present a real benefit for health.
TRUE and FALSE - The number of fats is represented as a percentage on the dry matter. They remain fat. Some cheeses are also much fatter than others. Better a good whole milk cheese than a light pie. You gain in both taste and calories.
7 - There are fewer vitamins and minerals in lean products.
FALSE - The products are only lighter in fat and sugar.
8 - Children must eat whole products.
TRUE - These have higher fat requirements than adults.
9 - Aspartame is bad for your health.
TRUE and FALSE - The dangers of aspartame on the body have never been proven. However, it would act as a decoy for the brain that claims more and more sweet taste.
10 - Lightened products are reserved to people who want to lose weight.
FALSE - It is good to take care not to bring too much sugar or too much fat to your body. Modern foods often contain them in excess.
Our advice
For cooking, butters lightened to less than 41% fat do not support cooking. Think about cooking steam or papillotes, then add a knob of light butter on your plate for the taste.
