The short answer to that question is YES.
Not only are many diet foods specifically recommended for people with certain health conditions (low-sodium for hypertension or sugar-free for diabetic), oftentimes they can be terrific choices for those with no diet restrictions at all.
When I am referring to “diet” foods in this post I am specifically referring to foods with additives. Almost always, there are substances added to foods that turn them into their diet counterpart. For example, regular cottage cheese (4%) is made with some variation of milk, cream and salt with 7-10 grams of fat per serving. The “diet” version (1%) will have, among other things, some sort of thickener added to the regular ingredients. This is usually seen on the label as a ‘gum’ (carob bean gum, guar gum, etc.). This is because in the low-fat version, almost all of the fat has been removed (it will have about 1 g), and how are the manufacturers supposed to get a consistency that’s as desirable as the 4%?
One category I think many people are concerned with now is artificial sweeteners. That’s really what brought this topic to mind, after I was sitting drinking one of my absolute favorite beverages (pictured above). I love carbonated beverages, and I have a sweet tooth. Instead of drinking soda, I drink artificially sweetened seltzers. I go through 1-2 of these per week. One of the main ingredients in this drink is aspartame.
For as long as I can remember, people have had a problem with aspartame. According to the FDA, “aspartame is one of the most exhaustively studied substances in the human food supply” (over 100 studies- that is A LOT) and it’s still confirmed to be safe for consumption. It’s important to remember that no ONE food is going to influence health outcomes. It’s a combination of behaviors and nutrition that’s going to do the trick.
The most important thing to do with your own nutrition is block out the noise and decide for yourself what you like and what makes you feel good! Pay attention to your gut, your sleep, your mood, your weight (yup), your labs, and your appetite!
Don’t let people tell you that you should only shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Don’t let people tell you to only buy organic, or only buy unadulterated versions of foods. Full-fat is not always the way to go, and “natural” sugar does the same. exact. thing. in your body as white granulated sugar does. Also, don’t think that just because you can’t pronounce an ingredient doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t eat it or that it’s unsafe.
My job as a dietitian is to remove the stigma from ALL foods, and show you that you can actually enjoy what you eat on your own terms. No more dieting, trying this or that, or hoping that there’s one superfood that transforms your life. The truth is, the only thing that can transform your life is you.