On a little island half way in between Guam and the Philippines there is a rampant epidemic affecting the inhabitants. This tiny island of approximately 8,200 people is not afflicted with famine or a deadly disease as you might think when talking about an epidemic... the islanders are dying at much earlier ages that at any other time in their history. They have alarmingly high rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Why?
Well, the people on this island used to make their living by farming, growing bananas and coconut and lots of fishing. They used to walk everywhere, eat fresh fruits and vegetables and had lots of daily activity.
Now, with the introduction of "western culture" and the destruction of their normal behavior, the islanders now drive to their computer jobs in mostly cramped offices and eat a diet of highly processed "prepared" foods imported from the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
As you can see, exporting the "American diet" of quick and easy processed food and lack of activity has taken a healthy and active island population, and turned it into a mini version of America, along with the associated rates of obesity and disease.
--It's What You Don't Eat
You see, when losing weight, we're not only talking about weight loss, we're also talking about better health. It's hard to lose weight without taking steps to increase your healthy habits... right?
One of the most important and effective ways to lose weight and get healthier is to avoid two groups of foods.
Both of these foods have been directly linked to deteriorating health and specifically weight gain and obesity. The unhealthy ingredients in these foods have steadily (and secretly) been used in greater amounts over the last 20 years... and we haven't known it. More importantly, we haven't known the hidden dangers of eating them.
The first group of foods to avoid are those that contain "Trans Fats".
Also know as TFA's or Trans Fatty Acids, they are found in partially hydrogenated oils... manufactured and unhealthy fats. They are a silent killer hidden in our food, and have been directly linked to the skyrocketing rates of obesity in both adults and children worldwide.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that banning trans fats from all foods would save at least 30,000 lives each year in the US alone. That's 82-274 needless deaths every day. The web site www.bantransfats.com shows an alarmingly clear statistical increase in obesity over the last 20 years as trans fats have become a growing part of our American diet.
The government has admitted that manufactured trans fats have no safe level for human consumption! That's zero. There is no safe level of consumption at all, but it's still in a large percentage of the products we eat every day.
In American, we spend 90% of our food budget on processed foods. The government reports that over 40% of foods found in an average grocery store contain trans fats. Most fast foods contain trans fats. Snacks, chips, candy bars, cookies, crackers, commercial baked goods, pastries and cakes... almost all processed foods contain trans fats.
In the example of the island population above, the effects of eating processed foods and lack of activity turned a healthy population into one with alarming rates of obesity and disease.
How can we avoid trans fats and their effects? What do we look out for?
1) Become a label reader.
Read the ingredient labels of foods you buy and look for "partially hydrogenated". If you see those words, avoid that food. Any food that contains "partially hydrogenated" anything is unhealthy and will negatively affect your weight loss program.
Some common foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils are:
-candy bars
-chips
-snacks
-commercially baked pastries
-processed foods
-most fast foods
-cookies
-cake mixes
-cereals
Bottom line, you can't lose weight and regularly eat foods containing partially hydrogenated oils.
2) Ask questions.
When eating out, ask if the foods you are ordering contain "partially hydrogenated oil" or "trans fats".
3) Look for alternatives.
The good news is that because of more media exposure about the dangers of "trans fats", companies are starting to replace "partially hydrogenated oils" with alternative ingredients and creating healthier versions of some of your favorite products.
Restaurants are starting to add more natural oils and are removing partially hydrogenated oils from their kitchens. Ask about it when eating out.
Try to get as many "whole" foods into your diet. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats and avoid processed, prepared and fast foods as much as possible.
Avoiding these hidden oils in the food you eat every day alone will make a significant impact on your health, and specifically in reaching your weight loss goals. Add a few lifestyle changes and imagine where you will be on your journey towards better health next month.
In Part 2 of this article, I'll cover the other secret additive in foods that no one talks about. This ingredient tricks your brain into thinking what you are eating is delicious and makes you want to continue to eat it, bypassing all your natural signals of feeling full and satisfied! It's also found in a large group of foods we eat every day.
Mark Idzik is a health coach with a national clientele who helps his clients feel better, get more energy, lose weight and make better health choices. Get his 37 free tips to guaranteed weight loss by visiting: http://www.everyday-weight-loss.com/?src=wyde#tips
tidy up service Glenview ..I had 14 weight/health-oriented newsletters in my inbox this morning.... Read More
World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More
Visualizing and Declarations are today's topics.Visualize what you want as... Read More
Have a conversation about gastric bypass surgery with just about... Read More
As the holidays approach, a frequent question from my clients... Read More
After patients have had gastric bypass surgery comes a very... Read More
The scourge of obesity has reached such gigantic proportions across... Read More
Obesity still remains one of the commonest avoidable causes of... Read More
Learning the jargon is part of the weight loss journey.... Read More
In twenty years of consistant exercising, maintaining a low percentage... Read More
Because the Internet allows so many millions of people to... Read More
New Medical Research shows high-intensity exercise can increase the body's... Read More
Ephedra has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of... Read More
Mistake 1: Not changing your calorie plan as you lose... Read More
Trash Your TV! is pleased to announce the easiest weight... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
Phentermine, like many other prescription drugs, works with chemicals called... Read More
Are you working hard in the gym 3 times a... Read More
Weight loss can be one of the most difficult things... Read More
Don't diet, just eat and lose weight!First, the following "diet"... Read More
Dieters have long searched for secret paths to easy weight... Read More
Not so resolved on that "New Year's Resolution" to be... Read More
negative calorie effect in foodsWhatever food we eat,... Read More
There have been endless numbers of fad diets over the... Read More
What is ephedra? Ephedra, which is also known as Ma... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..R...real foodE...exerciseS...spiritual stuff first and the other stuff secondU...ultimately, you... Read More
What is "too young" to begin a weight loss program... Read More
FINDING THE PERFECT DIETArriving at the Perfect Diet is no... Read More
With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of... Read More
One alternative method to traditional and tumescent liposuction is mesotherapy.... Read More
Have you ever decided to take a trip somewhere relatively... Read More
That's a pretty "in your face" statement, but really it's... Read More
More and more people are starting to recognize that they... Read More
Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose... Read More
Humanity is always in search of a wonder drug that... Read More
Yes, there is more to the Mediterranean than sun, beach... Read More
If you've been working out with weights for any length... Read More
Make sure you check out the meaning of many common... Read More
Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of... Read More
Considering the US Center for Disease Control's advice is a... Read More
The low carb diet craze has become extremely popular amongst... Read More
It's been called the world's oldest medicine, the miracle fat... Read More
Now I know you're always asking yourself questions.You know the... Read More
One of the most popular diets is the low carb... Read More
"Unless that apple tastes like the best apple you've ever... Read More
(Ailsa's Apple Crumble Diet)I'm Scottish, so it's not a big... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
The debate about whether supplements for weight loss are healthy... Read More
Are you weighted down with delusion, depression and on the... Read More
These days, most everyone has heard of low carb diets... Read More
Weight Loss |