SoFAS - What is that?

SoFAS - A shortcut acronym used by the nutrition community when referring to Solid Fats; Added Sugars. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Committee Report strongly implicated foods that are high in SoFAS to increased levels of obesity in both adults and children. In the strongest statement so far by a dietary guidelines committee, the 2010 report recommends that Americans "significantly reduce intake of foods containing addedsugars and solid fats because these dietary components contribute excess calories and few, if any, nutrients." That is a strong statement! The statement that immediate follows while addressing refers back to lowering intake of foods containing fat and sugar. Read what it says, "...reduce sodium intake and lower intake of refined grains, especially refined grains that are coupled with added sugar, solid fat and sodium."

Previous committees had trouble even recommending that people reduce the sugar and fat levels of their diets. The resistance came from political entities that represented those parts of the food industry that represented sugar or foods that contained high levels of sugar.

In the next section of the report where the a Healthful Total Diet is discussed the committee begins by reviewing with the reader that obesity occurs when energy (calorie) intake exceeds energy expenditure. The research tells us that levels of physical activity in US adults have remained stable since 1990. Therefore we must deduce that increased calorie intake is the primary cause of the obesity problem. That is where we need to focus.

Top food sources of energy as reported by NHANES are:

• Grain-based desserts (cakes, cookies, doughnuts, pies, crisps, cobblers and granola bars)
• Yeast breads (primarily due to the amount eaten not energy density of one serving)
• Mixed dishes

• Soda and similar drinks
• Pizza

Grain based desserts are sources of solid fat and added sugar and sodium. The other four contain sugar, solid fat(s), sodium or all three.

What am I saying? Eliminate all these foods from the diet for the sake of health - absolutely not. I enjoy a good cookie as much as anyone. However, I will tell you that I get as much satisfaction from an oatmeal raisin cookies as I do from a chocolate chunk. The oatmeal raisin gives me more nutrients from the whole grain oatmeal and raisins for the same amount of calories. I will also tell you that I don't "waste" calories on foods just because they are there, available and free for the taking. I'm fussy about the calories I consume - they need to be worth it!! Enjoy your food. It gives pleasure to your life. Just remember that you receive the most pleasure out of the first two and last bites. You can save a lot of calories by limiting yourself to those three bites!!!

Happy, Healthy Eating!

Marcia