SOFAS: Perfect for Cuddling, Bad for Health!
Sofas, perfect for cuddling, are bad for your health according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. Not in the sense that they encourage lounging, although that probably doesn’t help in the physical activity department!
SOFAS (not the kind you curl up on) is the new catchy acronym that stands for Solid Fats and Added Sugars. I see this whole concept of SOFAS as just another way of making simple concepts more complicated than they need to be. We have Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) and the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), but also Adequate Intakes (AI), oh and don’t forget the Tolerable Upper Level Intake (UL). Nutrition Science is not simple, creating yet another acronym like SOFAS, is apparently going to make it easier for “Americans”.
I am being sarcastic but there is a real problem that involve SOFAS: A substantial amount of calories ( about 800 kcal/day) that Americans consume come from “SOFAS” and that is not a good thing. SOFAS is collectively what has also been called “Empty Calories”. We are eating foods with calories, so we are still packing on the pounds but getting minimal nourishment.
Solution:
You should really stop eating those Solid Fats Burritos. You there- Put down that Added Sugar Sandwich and Pasta with Solid Fat Bowl.
Who thinks like that?
Who even knows what a Solid Fat is considered?
I’m going to be honest here, even I had to figure out what they are talking about with Solid Fats/ SOFAS and I have a Master of Science in Nutrition! Solid fats are referring to solid fatty acids at room temperature- butter, beef fat (suet), chicken fat, pork fat (lard), shortening, etc.
Who has a Shortening Taco at dinner?
Anyone try that Lard Lunch plate?
So now we know what the solid fats refer to, we have to further examine foods that contain these culprits: shortening, suet, lard. Solid fats are consumed when we eat foods like: pizza, cheese, processed meats like sausage, bacon, ribs, hot dogs, and processed produce like french fries. Most foods like this are obtained at fast food joints, ordered in, or enjoyed at BBQ get-togethers. They aren’t served up with a nutrient facts label, ingredient list, or recipe card. For a list of the most common foods consumed, check out this article.
(This image is from a presentation I did at Wake Med)
The truth is, Fat is not a feeling, a shape of body or something you can just say “I am going to stop consuming”. Fat is not a food- it is a nutrient. We consume food that contains fat or added sugars or both or neither! If we consume too much “solid fat”, what we should really say is, we consume too much food that contains solid fats.
We’re eating too many darn sausage egg and cheese biscuits, pizza, and my favorite “all other food categories”. It all boils down to that concept and most people don’t want to hear they should eat less pizza or take it easy on the cheesecake.
The positive side to that reduction is that if we can reduce the amount of SOFAS we consume, we leave room for foods that are rich in nutrients we do need- protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, carbohydrates and healthy (nonsolid type) fats!
Added Sugars are less complicated- they are added to foods that don’t normally have that amount of sugar in them. Take water for example, we carbonate it ( add a gas) then we add sugar to it. Add in flavoring and colors and what do we have? Soda! That was a simple example but there are added sugars in all kinds of processed foods like breads, sauces, energy drinks and of course desserts!
( I usually end up just eating the yogurt part and throwing away the sugary bottom. Does anyone else do that? )
So Anyways… SOFAS
SOFAS are important- but the message I think gets lost in the statistics- Try balancing those foods with healthier options like whole, fresh foods that are not processed.
Have you heard of SOFAS?
How about Empty Calories? Tell me your thoughts on this catchy phrase and concept!?!!
