Here is a question for you: If you want to lose weight, you should eat low fat foods, right? Although most people would answer a resounding “YES!,” the real answer is actually no. In fact, let’s take that one step further by saying low fat foods should be absolutely avoided. Let me explain.

For years we have thought that it was the fat in foods that was hurting our waistlines and making us unhealthier than ever. However, if that were true, the increased consumption of low fat foods should be making our waistlines smaller and our health stronger. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Instead, we as a whole are getting more overweight and having higher incidences of disease than ever before. So what’s the problem with this thinking?

As it turns out, there are two ingredients that a lot of companies put in low fat foods that are really hurting our health. The first is sugar. Sugar is typically added to make the often bland and tasteless foods more pleasing to our palette. As Kerry Torrens, nutritional therapist, explains on BBC’s Good Food web page, this leads to blood sugar highs and lows, resulting in increased cravings and making it even harder to lose weight.

A second ingredient that a lot of low fat foods contain that isn’t the best for you is salt. Too much sodium can raise your blood pressure, which is bad for your heart. It also makes your body retain water in an effort to dilute the salt in your system, which means that you will probably bloat versus slim down.

Besides, some fat is actually good for you as your body needs it in order to function at optimal levels. The key is to choose “good” fats like olive oil, avocados, nuts, and coconut oil, all of which have been found to be beneficial. It is trans fats (found in a lot of processed foods) that should be eliminated as those have been found to be the most damaging.

If you’ve stopped eating low fat foods and feel better for it, please share your story in the comment section below. Who knows? You may just inspire someone else to do the same!