7 food facts that may surprise you

March 15, 2012 7:28:53 AM PDT
Wouldn't it be handy if a trip to the grocery store came with a registered dietician? Eyewitness News took Alissa Rumsey from New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center to Fairway on East 86th Street to share some surprising food facts.

#1: "A lot of fruits and vegetables are at least 85% water," Rumsey said.

Eat more fruits and vegetables and you'll stay better hydrated.

"I try and drink eight glasses of water a day so that's good to know," said Cathy Novello, a shopper.

Eyewitness News asked Ana Chudnovskava, a shopper, if she liked to buy fresh or frozen? "Fresh, of course," she said.

Food fact #2: Fresh doesn't always mean better.

"The more days fruits and vegetables go after its picked, the more the nutrient content declines," Rumsey explained.

Try canned or frozen.

Food facts #3 and #4: Cookie and cakes labeled organic or non-fat often have the calories and sugar of regular varieties.

"Try the higher fat, more natural things like nuts and seeds," Rumsey suggested.

#5: Fish, a healthy choice. If you've been told to buy wild fish and avoid farm-raised varieties, here's news:

"A lot more farms, fish farms, are becoming more sustainable, more eco-friendly so it's possible to actually eat farm-raised fish in moderation and not get as much of the contamination," said Rumsey.

What about the current focus on Greek yogurt? What should you know about that? That's fact #6.

"It actually has less calcium than regular versions," Rumsey said.

But, Rumsey says it still has half the sodium of regular yogurt, and generally seven more grams of protein to fill you up.

Our final food fact #7: Gluten-free products, stocked for those allergic to wheat.

"But for the whole rest of the general population, it's really not necessary and by eating gluten-free products when you really don't need it, you could lose a lot of the vitamins and minerals and fiber as well," Rumsey said.

Get Eyewitness News Delivered

Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters | Text Alerts

Load Comments