Finding healthy snacks that go along with your
fitness program is not easy. The amount snacks with bad carbohydrates,
processed and fatty foods are everywhere and making better choices is
difficult. Americans suffer from extra pounds that are caused by a lethargic lifestyle
and poor food choices. Pretzels are a great alternative to what you might find
on your local supermarket shelf. Whole
wheat pretzels offer an even better snack option. It is these small decisions
on an everyday basis that culminate to higher level of fitness and health.
A 100-gram serving of pretzels (16) has about three
grams of total fat and no cholesterol with 88% consisting of healthy unsaturated fats while a
comparable portion of potato chips have 36 grams of fat (1).
Saturated fats and deep frying oil, often found in potato chips, add to
cholesterol and body weight. Many pretzel brands are baked which lowers the
negative effects.
You may be concerned over the salt on pretzels. Sodium
is a mixed debate in the health fields. For decades people believed that sodium
raised cholesterol and blood pressure. According to research, when people cut
back on sodium they experienced a 1% drop in blood pressure but also raised
cholesterol levels by 2.5% and triglycerides by 7% (2).
Salt is a mixed bag and doesn’t appear to have a positive or negative effect
when eaten in moderation.
The
type of pretzel you buy appears to be the most important consideration. Some
are processed flour, others sourdough and still others are whole wheat. The
100% whole wheat varieties are best. When they are sesame sticks, no trans fat,
no cholesterol, no artificial colors, and no preservatives you have made the
best choice. If you are a snack person, focus on making those small choices
that lead to higher health instead of trying to change your entire diet all at
once. When
done well you can reduce heart disease by 25-46%, stroke 37%, type 2 diabetes
21-27%, cancer of digestive system 21-43%, hormone related cancer 10-40%, and obesity
(3).
