Are Spray Butters a Healthy Choice?

Spray butters have always been a mystery to me.

Do they have calories or not? Does using spray butter really help save calories? And, what are the actual ingredients in these diet products? They even have spray dressings at the supermarket now.

I have researched all the brands of spray butters and will share with you my findings.

The actual idea of a spray butter or spray condiment is great because hopefully it will help us use less of the product. However, when we have to use twenty or more sprays just to get some flavor out the product, you have to start to wonder if the calories are adding up.

Most spray butters advertise zero calories, zero fat, and zero everything. That is only the nutrition facts for one to five sprays (depending on the product). On average, each spray actually contains almost one calorie. Plus, you are adding about 15 milligrams of sodium for every five sprays.

So, these are not truly zero calorie products. One entire bottle of spray could contain anywhere from 600 to 1000 calories (depending on the brand and size) and 80 to 100 grams of fat. The catch is that food manufacturers are allowed to call something "zero" when it contains less than one calorie per serving or whatever they decide to call one serving.

The first ingredient in butter sprays is usually water followed by oils (usually soybean oil), buttermilk, thickening agents, preservatives, and flavorings. So, butter sprays are not a natural product. I cringe at the thought of spraying chemicals on my food. Check out FoodFacts.com if you want to see what the chemicals are exactly and any associated health risks. The decision of whether or not to use butter sprays comes down to personal preference. If you only use a few sprays and if it helps you cut down on calories, then butter sprays seem like a reasonable choice. However, if you are more into clean eating, I would choose a natural whipped butter which contains only contains cream and salt, but for fewer calories.

Finally, if you fall into the third category of consumers who like to use 30 or more sprays at a time, I would seek other ways to flavor food. Try adding lemon juice, garlic, onion, or other spices.

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Dannon Activia: A Healthy Yogurt Choice?

Dannon recently rolled out both Greek and French versions of their Activia® line.

I was sent a few samples to try out and despite my Monday through Friday no sugar diet, I put them to the test.

Dannon Activia® is marketed as a healthy yogurt that will regulate your digestive tract if eaten everyday for two weeks. I won't be evaluating that aspect as I'm already regular, but I will be taking a close look at the ingredients of these two new yogurts.

I was sent the strawberry variety and the taste has a very sweet, strawberry flavor with a thick and creamy texture. I did notice a slight, almost gritty texture at the finish of each bite. On the ingredients list is milk protein concentrate, so it's probably this that is causing the grit.

This isn't Greek yogurt in the traditional sense as it's thickened with food starches and carrageenan as well as being supplemented with extra whey protein. The sugar content of Activia® Greek Yogurt is very high with 29 grams of sugar/6oz container. This is the same as eating about 7 teaspoons of sugar.

Greek Activia® is fat-free, but contains a few ingredients such as sodium citrate, potassium sorbate, and malic acid for preserving and tartness. While these chemicals are generally safe, are they necessary in yogurt? The usual natural yogurt that I eat has none of these.

I was sent the blackberry/rasberry flavor of this variety and it had a sweet, but nice berry flavor with the texture being very smooth. This one wasn't as sweet as the Greek, but still clocked in at 23 grams of sugar/6oz container, which is like eating just under 6 teaspoons of sugar.

The French has 6 grams of fat and is thickened with food starches and pectin. It contains artificial flavors and the preservatives; sodium citrate and calcium citrate. Which again, don't really need to be in yogurt.

Dannon Activia®'s number one health claim is the regulation of the digestive tract by consuming their product. Three active cultures are included in Activia®. The first two; L. Bulgaricus and S. Thermophilus are found in most yogurts. The third, Bifidobacterium Lactus is what they have trademarked Bifidus Regularis®. This is just a sub-species of B. Lactus, which is also found in many yogurts and food products. There is no evidence to support that Dannon's sub-species is any better than B. Lactus in regards to probiotic effect.

As I sit here typing with my heart beating fast from all the sugar I just ate, I really question the need for 7 teaspoons of sugar in a small tub of yogurt. Do people really need yogurt to be that sweet? It would be hard to find anyone that would sit down and eat 7 teaspoons of sugar back to back, so why then would someone do it disguised in 6 ounces of yogurt? This is almost as much sugar as a regular Snickers candy bar (30 grams).

Dannon, you could have two nice products here if you would cut down on the sugar and preservatives. I can't recommend either product as a healthy choice. People would be better off choosing an all natural, plain yogurt and mixing in their own fresh fruit.

If you don't believe me and want to try Activia® for yourself, they are giving free coupons via facebook.

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