减肥不应杜绝高热量食品 对健康不利

Around one in five of us start a diet at least once a month and more than a third shop for low-calorie food, according to a study. 据一项调查显示，每五人中就会有一个人在尝试在一个月之中开始节食减肥，而有超过三分之一的人会在购物的时候选择低卡路里的食物。

However, experts have warned that an obsession with calorie counting means many have cut out nutrient-rich foods.

尽管如此，健康专家们还是警告到，如果过于纠结食物的卡路里含量，这很可能会让我们误将不少营养丰富的食物排除在外。

Against a backdrop of rising obesity, 22 per cent of men and women begin a diet every few weeks while 36 per cent look for the least-fattening items in the supermarket.

在肥胖症越来越常见的大背景下，有百分之二十二的男性女性会每隔几周便进行节食减肥，有百分之三十六的人会在超市中特意选择卡路里数最低的食物。

Among women, 43 per cent regularly shop for low-calorie food despite 63 per cent believing there is too much pressure on them to slim down.

在女性群体中，有百分之四十的人会常规性的购买低卡的食品，有百分之六十三的人坦诚，到处都存在着各种压力逼迫自己赶快瘦下来。

But despite good intentions almost two-thirds eat sweets at least once a week, according to a study of 2,000 consumers carried out for Seven Seas vitamin supplements.

据一项服研究用维他命保健品调查，有三分之二的人每周至少会吃一顿甜食。

Half of mothers admitted their shopping basket is usually influenced by what their children like and three out of 10 reward a child’s good behaviour with an unhealthy treat.

有一半的母亲承认，在购物时篮子里装的通常都是孩子们喜欢的食物，有三成的母亲表示，孩子表现良好的话，会用一些不那么健康的食品作为奖励。

Overall, seven out of 10 people said they would like to improve their health but many admit they are too busy to do so.

总的说来，有七成的人表示有意改善自己的健康水平，不过有很多人又因为实在太忙而无法将之付诸实际。

A similar number think there are too many contradictory messages about which foods are healthy but 56 per cent would like to see vitamin and mineral content stated more clearly.

有数量相当的人感到现在有太多的信息是关于什么食物才是健康的，但不少却是自相矛盾的。有百分之五十六的人希望能在食品的包装上更加明确的标注维他命和矿物质的含量。

When it comes to fruit and vegetables, around 60 per cent of men and women eat the recommended five portions every day, meaning four out of 10 are missing out.

有六成的男性女性每天会摄入将近五成的水果和蔬菜，不过另外的四成却没有做到这一点。

Only a quarter of those aged 16 to 24 consume their five-a-day compared to almost three quarters of over-65s.

其中，年龄在16岁到24岁之间的人群中仅有四分之一做到了这一点，而65岁以上的人群中有四分之三的人会这样做。

Experts said a focus on dieting may be taking precedence over healthy eating.

专家们表示，人们对于节食的在意程度有时候甚至超过对于健康饮食的关注，这是本末倒置的。

Dr Emma Derbyshire, a nutritionist from Manchester Metropolitan University who contributed to the report, said: 'While magazines and TV schedules are full of celebrity chefs, food and recipes, our diets seem to be losing their balance with potentially-alarming consequences.

英国曼彻斯特城市大学的营养学家Emma Derbyshire博士说：“”尽管在电视和杂志上随处可见的都是些名厨佳肴和食物菜谱，不过似乎我们饮食平衡的缺失以及发展到了严重的地步。“

'It would seem that we are still struggling to grasp the concept of "good nutrition" and the reason why we eat food in the first place.

”看起来我们还是没有真正领会‘优质营养’的含义，也没有弄清我们为何要吃食物。“

'Though it is important to acknowledge calorie intake, this must not come at the expense of eating a balanced and varied diet, low in saturated fat but also rich in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.

”虽然关注卡路里的摄入是很重要的，但绝对不应以放弃饮食平衡和食物的多样性作为牺牲条件，应该做到吃到刚刚饱就好，低脂肪摄入，同时增加丰富的维生素、矿物质和必要的脂肪酸。“

'Often, processed, low-calorie food can contain high levels of sugar and additives, and so may not be as healthy as people think.'

”通常情况下，低卡路里食物可能会含有更多的糖和添加物，并不是人们所想象的那么健康。“