Find out why you should skip the pretzels and how you may be mindlessly messing up your diet. And what's the deal with activated charcoal?
Pretzels may be better than some fatty chips, but four out of five nutrition experts surveyed by Time say if you're trying to eat healthy, pretzels shouldn't be your go-to snack. Although pretzels are low-fat, they are also pretty paltry on the protein and fiber front, and they can be quite high in sodium and carbs. What's more, they rank high on the glycemic index, meaning they can quickly spike blood sugar levels. "Pretzels are a snack food made from enriched flour, which provides very little fiber and overall very little nutritional benefit," registered dietitian Kate Patton told the magazine. Patton recommends that those in search of a healthier alternative choose nuts, seeds, roasted edamame or popcorn.
You're trying to lose weight, but the scale refuses to budge. Are you mindlessly sabotaging your diet? U.S. News has compiled a list of eight food choices you may not be aware you're making that may be holding you back. The habits include keeping your food out on the counter or in clear plastic containers where you'll see it (and reach for it), finishing the food your kids leave on their plates, leaving a candy jar on your desk, snacking in front of the TV, using oversize dinner plates (making portions look smaller), storing sweet drinks (rather than a nice, cool pitcher of water) at eye level, and eating right from the package. Yes, the calories count even if the food never hits a dish.
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