Anyone else seen those highly annoying commercials with the lady walking in the farm, corn stalks blowing in the breeze, as she's saying that high fructose corn syup is A-okay for her and her family (innocent children having a picnic in the background)? There are few things in life that have ruffled my feathers as much as those commercials because High Fructose Corn Syrup, aka corn sugar as you can now find it on food labels, is NOT, I repeat, NOT good for us, nor our waistline.
When we eat the right foods, our hormones function properly. Triggers are sent to the brain to signal that we've had enough to eat and we are thereby full. When we eat the wrong foods, like simple sugars in processed foods, our bodies go haywire hormonally, and that ends up in one result... a new pair of larger sized pants, my friends.
Fructose found in HFCS, a sweetener in many processed foods, isn't seen by the brain as regular food so it doesn't see HCFS as excess calories or fat. Therefore, we don't turn off the "full" signal and continue eating, which leads to excess calories and weight gain.
As Americans we consume more than 63lbs of fructose per year! that's 128,000 calories and a huge contributor to weight gain!
Stop the madness now! When looking at food labels beware of the following as ingredients, but especially as one of the first 5:
1. Simple sugars- fructose, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, corn sugar, dextrose, maltose, sucralose, aspartame, saccharin.
2. Enriched/bleached or refined flours- these have been stripped of all nutrients and are processed just the same as sugars.
Common HFCS culprits include, but are not limited to: Fat free foods, such as salad dressings, ketchup, mustard, honey mustards, barbecue sauce, granola bars, cereal bars, cookies, chips, and other pre-packaged snack foods.
Know what doesn't have HFCS?? Fresh fruits and veggies :)
Showing posts with label Foods to Avoid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foods to Avoid. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Eating on the Job
One of the biggest excuses I hear from clients is that they just didn't have time to eat healthy and had no other possible choice but to hit up the drive-thru window. I hear ya folks! So much of eating healthy IS being prepared and having the right foods on hand BUT you also don't have to order the Big Mac with Fries either.
Ever since the documentary Super Size Me came out, I'll have to hand it to the Golden Arches for vastly improving their menu. For the most part the Grilled Chicken Salad with a vinaigrette based dressing is going to be the best choice at any fast food spot. Second would be some form of grilled chicken strips (watch the dipping sauces), followed by the grilled chicken sandwich on a wheat bun sans the mayo. Where's the beef you say? Aside from being astronomically high in saturated and trans fats, most beef and fried foods are laden with MSG, or monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer that has also been linked to adverse side effects.
My philosophy is to take preemptive action and avoid foods/food products that are lacking long term scientific evidence and could be potentially cancer causing. In other words- it ain't worth the risk! Sodium nitrates are another one of those controversial food additives that may lead to heart disease.
As for the I-can't-even-use-the-bathroom-nevermind-go-eat excuse while at work, I have just the solution! Make like a school-child and pack your very own lunch box! Hell, you can even store snacks at your desk! My snacks of choice are Fage 0% Greek yogurt, Laughing Cow cheese wedges, fruit (of course), 100 calorie packs of unsalted almonds or other nut mixes, Luna bars, Lara bars (watch the calories/fat), and Frigo Heads String Cheese. Rule #76- No excuses, eat like a champion.
Ever since the documentary Super Size Me came out, I'll have to hand it to the Golden Arches for vastly improving their menu. For the most part the Grilled Chicken Salad with a vinaigrette based dressing is going to be the best choice at any fast food spot. Second would be some form of grilled chicken strips (watch the dipping sauces), followed by the grilled chicken sandwich on a wheat bun sans the mayo. Where's the beef you say? Aside from being astronomically high in saturated and trans fats, most beef and fried foods are laden with MSG, or monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer that has also been linked to adverse side effects.
My philosophy is to take preemptive action and avoid foods/food products that are lacking long term scientific evidence and could be potentially cancer causing. In other words- it ain't worth the risk! Sodium nitrates are another one of those controversial food additives that may lead to heart disease.
As for the I-can't-even-use-the-bathroom-nevermind-go-eat excuse while at work, I have just the solution! Make like a school-child and pack your very own lunch box! Hell, you can even store snacks at your desk! My snacks of choice are Fage 0% Greek yogurt, Laughing Cow cheese wedges, fruit (of course), 100 calorie packs of unsalted almonds or other nut mixes, Luna bars, Lara bars (watch the calories/fat), and Frigo Heads String Cheese. Rule #76- No excuses, eat like a champion.
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