eating q&a serious about eating

Eating can sometimes be a temptation, and other times a pile of confusion.

"What is real food?"

"When should we eat what?"

"How can we eat to achieve the best state?"

"How can we learn to listen to our body's signals?"

In this article, we will share insights on eating and resolve the confusions about it.

We take eating seriously!

Does 0 calories really mean no weight gain?

Many people love cola, but what if you want to drink it without gaining weight? Sugar-free cola, with 0 cal/100ml, will absolutely satisfy you. With a "psst~" sound, you open the bottle, and with "glug, glug~" the cola goes down your throat. You enjoy the refreshing feeling the drink brings while also considering your health—it's simply perfect.

Sugar-free drinks still taste sweet but contain no sugar because they have artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners are substances that provide sweetness but are hardly converted by the human body, thus called zero-calorie sugars. Representative sweeteners include sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin.

Since sugar-free drinks have zero sweetness, drinking them won't increase calorie intake, right? Unfortunately, reality is harsh.

Sweetness can stimulate the brain to make you consume more food, bringing in extra calories. The body might mistakenly think you've consumed sugar, leading to insulin secretion and fat storage. Additionally, sweeteners can affect gut microbes, impacting digestion and health.

Studies have shown,that people who frequently consume artificial sweeteners unknowingly increase abdominal fat and waist circumference.Abdominal and visceral fat increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, and insulin resistance.An increase in waist circumference can lead to metabolic syndrome, raising the risk of hypertension and high blood sugar..

How to eat out while dieting?

Eating out has always been an important way for people to bond. There's nothing a meal can't solve; if there is, then two meals will do.

However, this can be awkward for those on a diet. So, how can you eat out without gaining weight during a diet? After all, life would be so dull without delicious food. Don't worry, @Xiao Bing will share some "eat without gaining weight" skills today. Follow these "dining principles" and you can eat happily~

First, eat early.

1. Choose lunch over dinner, and breakfast over lunch if possible.

2. If dinner is the only option, try to have it as early as possible.

Second, choose light flavors.

Opt for dishes prepared by cold mixing, steaming, boiling, stir-frying, or stewing.

Third, have more vegetables.

Vegetables generally have lower calories than meat, so to control calorie intake, ensure that vegetables make up a larger proportion of your meal when dining out.

For a ten-person meal, with each person ordering one dish, the best ratio is—Meat dishes: Vegetable dishes = 1:2

The priority for ordering dishes is as follows:

First choice: Seafood, such as fish, shrimp, and shellfish.

Second choice: Poultry, such as chicken, duck, and goose.

Last choice: Livestock, such as pork, beef, and lamb.

Strongly recommend ordering algae and fungi foods to ensure variety. These are not commonly eaten and contain bioactive substances (like lentinan and auricularia polysaccharides) that help boost immunity.

"Dining out" tips

1. Avoid desserts after meals!

2. Avoid junk sweet drinks!

3. Limit creamy soups!

Don't underestimate a small meal; there's a lot to learn. Keep these dining skills in mind to ensure your dieting efforts don't go to waste!

Are you eating fake whole wheat bread?

As people pursue a healthier lifestyle in modern society, eating has become increasingly important. Fitness enthusiasts, in particular, replace refined staples with whole wheat bread to reduce fat. Whole wheat bread, rich in dietary fiber and vitamins, has not disappointed its fans. But are you buying real whole wheat bread?

Some bakeries make fake whole wheat bread to cut costs, so the "whole wheat bread" you buy might not be genuine. Knowing how to identify real whole wheat bread is a must for fitness enthusiasts.

1. First step: Check the color

Real whole wheat bread is brown or slightly brown (right in the image), while non-whole wheat bread is whitish (left in the image). Some manufacturers add caramel for coloring, so further identification is needed.

2. Second step: Check the ingredient list

The ingredient list of real whole wheat bread must include whole wheat flour, and it must be listed first (bottom right in the image). If there's no whole wheat flour in the ingredient list, it's not whole wheat bread (top right in the image); if whole wheat flour is listed but not first, it's also not whole wheat bread (left in the image).

Like bread color, the ingredient list can also be faked, so further identification is needed.

3. Third step: Check for bran

Real whole wheat bread has bran (darker particles) on the surface and cut sections, and in large quantities. Some manufacturers add bran directly to wheat flour, but this bread lacks the endosperm, so further identification is needed.

4. Fourth step: Taste it yourself

Real whole wheat bread has a coarse texture and lacks the soft, delicate feel. Due to its poor texture and short shelf life, many merchants are reluctant to sell genuine whole wheat bread.

Is a beer belly caused by drinking beer?

Rumor:A beer belly, as the name suggests, is related to beer. Those guys love drinking beer, so it's no wonder they get big bellies! Plus, beer is known as "liquid bread," so it must be high in calories.

Truth:"Beer belly" is a colloquial term for abdominal obesity caused by visceral fat accumulation. The fat comes from excess energy, and the same weight of beer has far fewer calories than bread. So, beer belly isn't directly related to drinking beer. If there's a connection, it's because:1. Excessive drinking; 2. Drinking stimulates appetite,leading to overeating and weight gain. Abdominal obesity has many causes, including unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, and stress-induced cortisol imbalance.

Can you drink beer without getting a beer belly?

It depends on the amount of beer consumed.

Adult men should drink ≤750ml of beer daily, and women ≤450ml. While drinking, eat light dishes, reduce food intake, and avoid snacks or high-calorie foods to maintain energy balance. Generally, this won't cause a beer belly.

The correct way to drink beer healthily:

1. Control the amount of beer consumed.Generally, adult men should limit beer intake to 2 small cans or 1 bottle per day;

2. Choose appropriate side dishes when drinking beer.Avoid unhealthy pairings like fried, grilled, or roasted foods. Increase vegetable intake to reduce fat intake and decrease carbohydrate intake;

3. People with hyperlipidemia and gout should drink less or no beer.Alcohol accelerates purine breakdown, increasing uric acid production. Alcoholic beverages also hinder uric acid filtration by the kidneys, reducing its excretion and potentially triggering gout.

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*Some images are sourced from the internet; please contact for removal if there is any infringement.