DAMMAM: People should avoid energy drinks because they have a direct adverse effect on the heart, according to Maryam Abdullah Al-Yusuf, a therapeutic dietician at Saud Al-Babtain Center. “The high caffeine content in these drinks could lead to a sudden and sharp rise in blood pressure making them more harmful to the heart than salt, tea and coffee.” She said there are misconceptions about certain other foods, including the belief that using olive oil for frying makes food healthier. “It is known that olive oil is one of the healthy vegetable oils that raise the level of good cholesterol (HDL), but it is not advisable to use it for frying because it burns fast and becomes hydrogenated rapidly, hence converting it to a chemically poisonous substance. Actually, it is better to take three spoons of fresh olive oil by splashing it on salad or spreading it lightly on foods.” Al-Yusuf said it was important to increase the level of nutrition information for women, as they are the ones who prepare meals for the family, particularly breakfast, as it is the most important meal and ought to be the healthiest for the family. This is in addition to healthy ways of cooking.” She drew attention to methods for changing unhealthy meals by replacing the harmful ingredients. This includes replacing mayonnaise with low-fat yoghurt; using natural honey or date syrup (Dibs) or low-calorie sugar instead of sugar to prepare sweets; replacing manufactured pastes (such as tomato paste) with healthy homemade pastes, which can be prepared with yoghurt, lemon and soya sauce that give good harmless flavors. Al-Yusuf rejected the belief that dieting requires reducing the intake of carbohydrates like bread and macaroni or cutting them out completely. What is required is to replace several ingredients with others that are healthy for the heart, like choosing carbohydrate products that contain bran, wheat and fiber that help to reduce weight and obesity, which lead to heart disease. Al-Yusuf said there was no relationship between drinking water before having breakfast and burning fat to prevent obesity. She said drinking water early before breakfast encourages the intestines to get rid of contents like leftover food and the like and helps to prevent constipation. However, it has no role to play in burning fat that has accumulated in the body. She added that green tea helps only to stimulate the metabolism and digestion and does not burn fat in the body.
