Hello Hello!!
I know it can be confusing out there, trying to live a healthy and satisfying life. There is just so much conflicting information and it can be a little difficult to navigate through it all. I'm going to go through the top 4 foods that lead to less healthy results.
I just want to give a quick little disclaimer: some people will completely disagree with what I have to say here, and that's a-ok with me. This advice I'm giving you is based on my education, research and personal experience. I feel pretty strongly about what I'm saying, but I am completely comfortable with differing opinions. I don't want anyone to take my word as absolute truth, but I do want you to read this and let it inspire you to do some research and thinking of your own. :)
Top 4 Foods to Avoid:
1) Processed Sugar/White Flour.
Why? Because it's the ultra concentrated, nutritive stripped version of it's original, more natural self. These highly processed food-like items are the #1 contributor to unwanted weight gain. They cause your blood sugar to spike, resulting in crankiness, fatigue and the desire to eat even more. Why do they make you want to eat even more? Because your body didn't get the nutrients it needs, so your brain will tell you to put something more into your body-you need certain healthy, naturally occurring nutrients to be healthy, so your body is going to be continually hungry until you give it what it needs. This is, in my opinion, the biggest contributor to our country's obesity epidemic. Crowd out the white, processed sugar and other white stuff and you'll more than likely see yourself lose some unwanted weight right away.
Also in this category: (sorry, soda lovers) high fructose corn syrup
2) Alcohol.
Why? It's similar to the white sugar above. It's a whole bunch of empty calories that your body, more than likely, will not need to use, and therefore will store as extra fuel to use later. It also wreaks havoc on your poor liver, which is the organ that filters and cleans your blood. You need this to be working properly-not only does it keep things sparkly and clean, but it metabolizes chemicals and drugs (hello alcohol), and produces bile, which is a pretty big player in the digestive process. Not only for these reasons, but alcohol can also lead to some pretty awful decisions and embarrassing behaviors...right?
3) Artificial Sweeteners.
Why? Oh boy, where do I begin....artificial sweeteners began their infiltrating little journey into our food system as a pesticide to kill ants. Ever spray some Raid on some unwanted little creepy crawly creature? Yeah. That or something very similar is what's in your diet soda, your barbecue sauce, pretend maple syrup, your pink, yellow or blue coffee sweetener, frozen foods, yogurts and even baby foods. Would you like to know about some of the side effects? Here we go....hallucinations, brain seizures, skin rashes, panic, anxiety, headaches, diarrhea, bladder issues, stomach pain, and of course, cancer. Why so many awful side effects? Because our bodies don't want ingredients in them that are so chemically engineered and manipulated, and in at least some cases, designed to kill.
Some alternatives to sweeten your life: stevia in the raw, honey, real maple syrup and agave nectar. It does take a little bit of adjusting for your taste buds, but honestly, after a week or two, you will be just as satisfied, if not more so, than when you were using artificial sweeteners or white sugar.
4) Animal Products.
Why? Well, our bodies aren't actually designed to properly eat and digest meat. Our teeth are meant for chomping plant items. We lack the canines to rip and tear, like our carnivorous friends-tigers, lions, etc. We also lack the digestive enzymes to break down and and absorb the nutrients that animal products contain. We don't NEED to eat animal products to survive and thrive. If people make the choice to do so, because they enjoy the flavor, texture, or the full feeling that meat provides, then that's something else altogether. I also have a hard time with factory farming. Innocent animals that experience a host of emotions such as fear, joy and pain are brutally tortured, forced to live in very unnatural conditions and then killed very inhumanely. I can't support that in any way, shape or form myself. Another awful side effect of factory farming is the immense contribution to global warming that producing the amount of meat our country demands. If you do a little research on this, you'll likely be completely surprised to see that factory farming contributes more greenhouse gases than cars, SUV's, planes and ships together! Pretty crazy.
As another option, you can obtain your animal products from locally raised, humanely treated animals and while that's better, it still isn't necessary. Animal products can cause inflammation, lead to heart disease, cancers, clogged arteries, stroke, heart attack...and the list goes on, but I think you get the point. And, while presenting these ideas that I'm pretty passionate about, I still want you to make up your own mind, so I'll stop here.
I hope this post was helpful to you, and taught you something new.
I want to take a moment and point out that I used the term 'crowd out' rather than eliminate or avoid.
I think it's best to replace these unwanted items with others that are better for you. This way, you feel less restricted and more satisfied. For example, if you're eating more whole grains and leafy greens, you'll be less likely to even notice that you're eating less animal products because your body will be satisfied with the amount of nutrients it's receiving.
Oh, and it's perfectly ok to indulge here and there. Don't completely deprive yourself of the things you enjoy. Want a glass of wine? Have one, just do it mindfully and intentionally. Same goes for chocolate cake. :) You don't have to live a strict, unpleasant life just for the sake of good health. Part of the joy of being alive is to have fun and enjoy the things that taste amazing.
There are lots of ways to ease the transition to a healthier life, and I can help you. Contact me to schedule a free session to find out how.
Until then, enjoy your day and be proud of the healthy choices you're making for yourself!
~Cozetta
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