Sweetners and additives

[Rooble]

I'd be interested on your thoughts on regularly consuming sweetners, additives, etc and if they should be used infrequently for instance during a cutting phase?

For transparency I watched a lot of Greg Doucette during lockdown and followed his advice for dieting. It was without a doubt the easiest I've ever found eating in a calorie deficit, however it does use a lot of 'chemicals' to achieve the calorie deficit and I wondered if I should switch to 'real' foods like sugar, olive oil, not Walden Farms, etc. When eating at maintenance or in a surplus.

I just want to add that using this diet I also consume a lot of fruit and vegetables so it was fairly strong from a micro nutrient perspective.

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

I think they are completely fine as part of an otherwise health-promoting diet.

[Rooble]

Thanks Jordan.

Is there ever a time you wouldn't choose the low fat or no sugar option? I've always assumed that with things like fizzy drinks that are mostly garbage anyway that there is no 'good' option but with things like low fat Greek yoghurt or low calorie sprays that there would be a benefit to changing to full fat Greek yoghurt or extra virgin olive oil as they are less processed?

To expand on this I don't really change what I eat for the most part of I'm eating in a surplus or deficit, I just change the cooking oils, add more/less/no peanut butter, egg whites/whole eggs, etc. Do you see any issues with this?

As a final question do you have any issues with bread as a regular part of a diet?

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

I would choose the full-fat option if I wanted it and it fit my calorie/macro goals at the time. I think avoiding added sugar is a reasonably good idea. Full-fat greek yogurt isn't less processed than non-fat greek yogurt and I'm not sure I understand your question about EVOO.

I would not assume that all artificially sweetened drinks are garbage. Furthermore, zero calorie drinks are far better than their sugar and calorie-containing counterparts.

I also have no problem with bread, particularly if it's whole grains. People who eat whole grains are, in general, healthier than those who don't/can't.

[Rooble]

With the EVOO I was asking if it's good to occasionally use that or even butter rather than that the low fat butter/oil alternatives like sprays now and again? Maybe a better example would be maple syrup over Walden Farms, would you ever use regular syrup? The fact that Walden Farms pancakes syrup tastes so good leads me to fear there is some dark science involved.

I guess in my mind something like butter seems like a 'proper' food where as low fat sprays are chemicals. So if I change up eggs/egg whites, whole milk/semi skimmed, peanut putter/PB2 there is no reason to change from low fat dressings, low fat yoghurt, Walden Farms, etc from a nutritional stand point.

I meant all fizzy drinks in general, like if I'm having a Monster or Fanta I may as well go for the zero sugar variant? Personally I prefer them anyway.

That's interesting, anything to do with the bread or just the fact that people who eat while grain are typically more conscious of their nutrition?

Thanks again for taking the time to reply and for all the information you put out.

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

With the EVOO I was asking if it's good to occasionally use that or even butter rather than that the low fat butter/oil alternatives like sprays now and again?

I don't think butter is particularly health promoting in any way, but if it's in moderation, that's fine. I'd prefer most of your added dietary fats to come from MUFAs and PUFAs.

IMaybe a better example would be maple syrup over Walden Farms, would you ever use regular syrup? The fact that Walden Farms pancakes syrup tastes so good leads me to fear there is some dark science involved.

If I wanted to have it and it fit my daily calorie/macro goals, sure. For most folks though, the calorie cost just isn't worth it. I would be less skeptical about diet foods in general and more concerned about dietary patterns

[Rooble]

Thanks, I'll stick to the low calorie stuff I like then.