Sunday, January 02, 2005

Why are more people overweight these days!

Have you noticed that more and more people are gaining weight easily these days?

What’s up with that!

We DO NOT believe that people are just gluttons. There has to be more to it. We’ve read that as many as 60 to 70% of the population is over weight, 35% are obese. The population in general is probably more sedentary than in the past, even though every time you turn on the TV there is an advertisement for an exercise video. And with all of the TV stations at our disposal, I’m sure people are exercising less and watching television more often.

Yep that’s part of it!

Then of course there’s fast food! Lets examine this more closely.

American corporations are notorious for pulling out 99% of the nutrients in food. Could it be that we’re just hungry! Could it be that we are eating more and more to satisfy what the body needs, only to find that the nutrients are not there. Could this lack of nutrients cause us to unconsciously eat even more?

We’ve written about MSG before! It’s in a majority of fast foods and boxed foods. Eating foods containing MSG causes us to crave more of these same foods but leaves us feeling unnourished.

The high SALT content in these foods also causes food cravings. Refined salt (normal table salt) is striped of its valuable nutrients and is 95% Sodium Chloride. When we eat refined salt our bodies expect to receive the 21 essential minerals and other lesser elements found in SEA SALT. Since these elements are not present our bodies crave more food.

Even if we ate right from the garden, can we guarantee that the nutrients were in the soil to begin with? It takes 76 nutrients daily to maintain health. Are these nutrients in the soil? Can the body rely on phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium (most often used in fertilizers found on factory farms) for perfect health?

Oh…and what about the amount of sugar we consume. Refined carbohydrates can be found in processed foods that are high in sugar. Refined sugar and these high glycemic foods cause a surge in blood sugar, which is then stored in the muscle and if not used, turn to fat.

Fruits, vegetables and whole grains do not cause a spike in blood sugar.

Often you hear people talking about cutting out carbs, assuming that a carb is a carb is a carb!But all carbohydrates are not the same. It’s the processed foods (refined carbohydrates) and simple sugars that are the problem. We need to be reducing our intake of white bread, fast foods, boxed foods, and pasta.

Changing our eating habits, to include smaller more frequent meals that include fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish is a start. Adding exercise, clean water (at least 8 cups a day), and appropriate sleep (going to bed late has been connected to weight gain as those who go to bed late, eat later) is also important.

We must take back the control that we have given away. We can no longer believe that because a certain food is on the shelf at the store, or that a food additive is included in a box or can that it is ok to eat.

Although we have not known the devastating effects of these FAKE FOODS in the past, we now must become informed consumers. YOU HAVE NOW BEEN WARNED! No seriously. We are paying for it (in a BIG WAY… PUN INTENDED) when we eat these foods without consideration for what they do, within the body!


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