Less Is Better Than More - Don't Overpay For Supplements

Nowadays, supermarket counters are beckoning with an incredible amount of products . In addition to the minimal set: bread, milk, meat, vegetables and fruits, we see a lot of bright packages and bottles - the eyes run wild. Promotions, discounts, and most importantly, a new taste! And we buy it - well, how can you not try it, because it's a new taste. However, we should not forget that the best for us is all natural. The best for both health and wallet.

Let's not forget that everything that is in the product and on the product - ingredients, additives , packaging, advertising - everything is included in its final price. Because, the more it is packed in there, the more expensive the product will be. And what to say about the absolute lack of health benefits.

According to research results, 90% of Ukrainians consider the information on the product packaging to be important . However, 60% of the population do not trust what is written. Data from the same study show that more than half of Ukrainians are willing to pay more — from 5 to 30% — for natural food products without food additives. In addition, more than 20% of the population cannot say with certainty whether they have consumed food supplements or not.

Products with the "light" label, the inscriptions on the package "defatted", "light", "does not contain sugar", etc. have been at the peak of popularity for more than a year. And they cost at least a third more than their ordinary companions. But. This is often not enough incentive to abandon their purchase.

And at this time, nutritionists do not recommend drawing conclusions about the benefits of the product , based only on the mark of its "lightness" on the package. It is well known that fat and sugar are enemies of health and a slim figure. However, sugar is, in addition to harm, a natural preservative, and fat gives the product a pleasant taste and the right consistency. If, for example, low-calorie yogurt has a dense jelly-like consistency, characteristic of a high-fat product , then a lot of thickeners have been added to it - so that it does not lose its presentable appearance. For the production of "light" cottage cheese, kefir, ice cream and other dairy products , skimmed milk is used, and chemical additives are used to improve the taste., as, in fact, are carbohydrates (for example, modified starch). And excess carbohydrates, as we know, also have a negative effect on the figure. Not to mention the much greater harm of additives due to their "chemistry". And after all this — changing and supplementing the composition of the product to make it fat-free — its primary benefit and nutritional value is left empty, and even worse.

We usually overpay by 30-50% for such "useful" products . Instead of fanatically insisting on low-fat and "light" foods , it is better to reduce the portions of food consumed.

Shelves are full of such examples in supermarkets. For example, let's think about muesli. The advertisement claims that muesli is a versatile and extremely healthy product . There are cereals and fruits with nuts. In short, eat and enjoy. However, a package of muesli is not so cheap - of course, there are just as many ingredients. Let's look at it rationally - if you buy separate whole-grain oatmeal, dried fruits or fruits, nuts, season it all with honey. We will get the same, and even better - probably, the factory muesli did not do without preservatives and flavor enhancers. And if you calculate the cost of individual ingredients and the fact that you can change the composition of the flakes every time, it is definitely more profitable.

And now let's look at the shelf with dairy products. As has been said more than once, if you want to eat healthily, economically, just eat to saturate your body with nutrients, and not fill your stomach with anything — forget about all these "natural yogurts" with the taste of mango-passion fruit. Buy or cook yogurts without additives , and add pieces of fruit, dried fruits, nuts, even flakes to them yourself. That way, you won't be paying the manufacturer to flavor the yogurt.

It is clear that according to the characteristics of human nature, the more unusual the product is, the more we want to eat it, or at least try it. But too much is unhealthy. Everything that is sold in the store "with taste" can be divided into components and prepared by yourself - from healthy ingredients. Of course, you're unlikely to cook crab-flavored chips — but chips simply as a product should be on your shopping list.

As for muesli, yogurts and curds, even ice cream with any additives or something - we make it ourselves. All you need is to buy the main product and possible additives : fruits, nuts, dried fruits, candied fruits, chocolate, honey (who likes what), and with the help of a few simple movements combine it in a portion of your meal. Calculate the cost of individual ingredients, the amount of food that you will get from it and compare it with a similar amount of ready-made store product . In addition, you can use each of the ingredients for other dishes, or just eat it yourself. And finally, remember that all your supplements are natural, which cannot be said with certainty about a store -bought product. Isn't that motivation enough?