It is true. Low fat foods sometimes carry less calories than normally "fat food." However, low fat food also have less: fat-soluble vitamins, essential oils, proteins and some minerals. So, for the sake of a losing a few calories, your body goes on craving nutrition. And craving. And craving. As you stuff more and more low fat foods, you often never quite "fill up."

You will, however, often get sugar to replace that "high calorie fat." O.K. good enough, so you are eating less calories. But, now you are getting hit with a sugar rush. When pure sucrose enters the blood stream, the level of sugar shoots up and the adrenaline glands respond by putting the body into a state of emergency, which gives you a "high" feeling. The sugar races around inside of your body, triggering the release of insulin from your pancreas. The rush of insulin, drops the level of sugar in the body below 100 mg/dl and you feel tired. (Sort of like after a starchy meal in the afternoon.) Your body tries to get rid of the excess sugar by urinating or storing the sugar into fat cells in your body. While your body is trying to re-establish homeostasis or stabilize itself, it feels some fatigue. Your body is trying to raise your blood sugar level to normal by using the liver to convert glycogen into glucose. Most people try to get rid of this feeling of fatigue by getting another dose of sugar. And the cycle continues.

A typical low fat meal would be something like:

Apple juice, flavored, low-fat yogurt, processed cereal (eg. Rice Crispies ©) and a bran muffin.

Guess what? You just knocked back over 36 teaspoons of sugar. You probably feel pretty good during the meal, but tired soon afterwards. This is the low blood sugar taking place. So, now you better reach for a cup of coffee to boost your energy. Which, in turn, just adds to the roller coaster effect of low blood sugar. As an added insult the flavored, low-fat yogurt often has more calories than normal, plain yogurt. This so-called "meal" carries over 400 empty calories and (in 2008), costs about $4.50.

Now, add a bit of protein and fat to the meals and the energy levels will raise slower, but will be more consistent.

Try this for steadier supply of energy:

2 egg whites (or whole eggs)
Water or herbal tea
Oatmeal 1/2 cup
Butter, 1 TBS and cinnamon (for taste)

This normal fat meal delivers about 200 calories over 8 grams of protein, vitamins A, E, assorted B vitamins, minerals and the highly under-rated essential oils. Not to mention the cost of less than $1.00.

You not only have a steadier level of energy, you also have more vitamins and essential oils for building your skin and brain cells and protein to help you burn fat and sleep better!