The term light is of English origin, although the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) accepts its use in our language. It is an adjective that is usually used to describe food or drink that has a reduced level of calories compared to another reference product .
For there to be a light food, therefore, another must be taken as a starting point, which must have the “normal” or usual amount of calories for that type of product . Thus, a cream cheese can be defined as light if it has fewer calories than conventional cream cheese.
Although it depends on each country, it is common for light products to have a calorie reduction of at least 25% compared to the reference product. The reduction percentage must be mentioned on the label so that the consumer knows what the characteristics of what they are purchasing are.
By presenting fewer calories , light food has less energy , since the calorie is precisely a unit of energy. This is usually achieved by reducing or substituting some component of the reference food: minimizing fats, replacing sugars with sweeteners, etc.
People who take great care of their diet and those who are willing to lose weight do not hesitate to opt for light foods. And these, in addition to the advantages already mentioned, allow you to enjoy benefits such as these:
-They help control diet.
-They become a great alternative to keep cholesterol, diabetes or overweight under control.
-They allow the fats ingested to be considerably reduced.
However, it should not be overlooked that, in the same way, light foods also have their disadvantages. Specifically, the most significant is that they "confuse." What we mean by this is the fact that they can make those who consume them believe that they do not gain weight. And that is false because, although they are low in fats and sugars, they have their corresponding caloric value.
Likewise, we must not overlook that we must also take into account that they are foods that have fewer nutrients. For this reason, if you abuse their consumption, what you will be doing is seriously endangering the nutritional balance of the body.
A light cigarette , meanwhile, is one that has a reduced nicotine and tar content compared to a regular cigarette. This name arose in the 1950s , when it was thought that the change would help make the product less harmful. Over time, it was realized that light cigarettes were still as harmful as regular cigarettes, since smokers tend to modify their habit to continue absorbing a high dose of nicotine.
In the same way, we cannot ignore that Light Blue is the name of a fragrance for women that belongs to the Dolce & Gabanna brand. It has been created by perfumer Olivier Cresp and is identified by being fresh and with certain floral and fruity nuances.