That ‘healthy option’ on the menu isn’t always as nutritious
as you think. In fact, sometimes the ‘bad for you’ choice performs better
What has more carbohydrates?
Couscous or mashed potato?
Couscous – by a fairly big margin.
Why?
One cup of couscous contains more than twice the amount of
carbohydrate as one cup of mash, even though it looks like the same quantity on
a plate. So? It’s a difference that adds an extra 443kJ to a meal from carbs
alone without you noticing it, roughly the same amount that’s in a glass of
white wine.
Work with it
Check how many carbohydrates a serve of a particular food
provides, and learn how many you need in a day. On low-activity days, stick to
about 3g of carbohydrate per kg of bodyweight, and at least 5g when you
exercise for an hour. Here’s a tip: serve moderate or high glycemic index (GI)
carbs, like couscous, with meat or fish and lemon juice. Protein and acids both
lower the GI of a meal, which will keep you fuller for longer.
Couscous – by a
fairly big margin.
What is worse for your teeth?
An apple or a fizzy drink?
The apple. UK researchers say apples can be up to four times
more damaging for teeth than soft drinks – even the sweetened ones like cola.
Why?
Both are acidic, so one explanation is that, provided you
don’t swill a fizzy drink around your mouth, eating an apple creates more
opportunity for your teeth to come into contact with the acid in the fruit,
compared to having a drink. The study found apple eaters were 3.7 times more
likely to have damaged dentine, the structural layer of teeth below the enamel,
while soft-drink users didn’t increase their risk.
Work with it
Don’t stop eating apples. The researchers say the key is
giving your teeth time to counteract the effect, instead of exposing them to
acid for a prolonged period. So eat an apple at breakfast or lunch but don’t
snack on one throughout the day.
