Have you ever wondered if the items lingering in your pantry could be the very thing that's leading unwanted body fat? This article will identify the top 5 common foods that lead to obesity or unwanted body fat and provide a few healthier alternatives for you.
1.) Go without Added sugars- Over consumption of too much sugar leads to unwanted body fat. It's true, you're waist size gets larger by eating these insulin hormones, which will hinder your dreams for a slimmer body. When the sugar rises in your blood, it causes insulin to be released. Making your body produce an increase amount. The sugar is used in the fat cells to make even more storage for fat. When eating these simple refined carbohydrates or high sugary type foods you'll experience both highs & lows in energy levels.
Americans on average are consuming 2-3lbs of sugar per week and more than 20 teaspoons per day. It's so easy to consume too much sugar. Add a bowl of a cartoon character cereal, 8oz of a fruit yogurt and one scoop of ice cream and the sugar consumption will eclipse well over 20 teaspoons. Sugar also comes in many different forms; sucrose, sucralose, dextrose, corn syrup, brown, white, honey, fructose, beet, dextrose, molasses and maltose, glucose or fructose. These are found in a plethora of foods and condiments like cereals, breads, soups, microwavable meals, processed (canned) spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, ketchup and mayonnaise etc.
Remember this, added sugars equals adding empty calories without any nutrients, minerals or vitamins.
Healthier Alternative: Eliminate sugars completely! You crave sugar, solely because you eat sugar. If you absolutely cannot cut out sugar, try reading the food labels and limit your sugar intake to no more than 4-8 teaspoons per day. Look for better options or sugar substitutes like sugar free or low sugar contents. It may be difficult at first, as a small sized candy bar contains about 10 grams of sugar. Or a small 100% juice has about 15grams (4 teaspoons of sugar). However, you need to make better choices in the sugars you're taking in.
2.) Processed Foods-The list is far too long. For the most part, anything that is pre-packaged, tinned, baked or if you read the ingredients and has words you can't pronounce it's most likely processed. These are also the foods that are typically found in the middle of the isle's at grocery stores and are stored in your pantry. Due to their long shelf lives, you should look to avoid them at all cost. They contain chemicals, preservatives, additives, which are not good for the body. Think of it this way, if they're able to stay around long the shelves, they'll probably hang around in your body for a while too. These foods are linked to obesity and or gaining unwanted body fat.
Healthier Alternative: Choose only wholesome natural foods such as fresh meat, fruits and vegetables. Also, when shopping for food, you can shop only the perimeter instead of fishing for the stuff down the isles.
3.) Get rid of the All the white stuff (e.g. chips, potato, rice, breads, pastas, tortillas, flour etc.) Even if foods says, "Enriched". Food manufactures can be tricky. You see the word "enriched" and can easily think it is actually good for you. Yet, very few vitamins if any are found in these foods, actually more of the vitamins are stripped away and with only a very few added back to the food.
Healthier Alternative: Exchange All the White Stuff with Brown (Or better yet, go green!) Baking/cooking with flour also puts toxins in your body. Try exchanging flour for protein powder (protein cookies instead of regular cookies). Very few people know that protein powder can be a great cooking or baking substitute. Be sure to eat more whole grain alternatives for any starch that is stored in the pantry/cupboards. Whole grains are rich in fiber and contain more vitamins and minerals. This means they foods don't have the negative impact blood sugar levels compared to the white counterparts. If you want to be a true nutritional guru, take it a step further, replace all the brown with green in the form of green veggies (e.g. spinach tortilla, naked burgers, and or naked hot dogs - simply without the buns etc.). A safer selection for chips can be Natural Baked Chips.
4.) Avoid Empty Liquid Calories-Ditch all sodas, fruit juices, coffee, energy drinks, hot chocolate, sports drinks, fizzy drinks and even alcohol. These empty calories offer you no nutritional value, they only lead to dehydration and do not fill you up. Some of these drinks mentioned contain high fructose corn syrup, which will slow down your fat burning process greatly.
Healthier Alternative: Replace these empty liquid calories with water and other healthier drinks like milk. Exchanging other drinks for water is easier than you think. A good place to start is drinking a 16oz glass of water as soon as you wake up. This helps your body stay hydrated and sneak in water in between meals, when you're more focused on food.
When you stop drinking these empty liquid calories for an extended period, you'll soon discover it's easy to be without them. This helps you consume less sugar and save up to hundreds of calories in your diet, you'll drop a few pounds too.
5.) Choose green over gold-When talking about gold, I'm referring to cheese. The cheeses most people place on their salads, eggs, chips, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizzas, quesadillas, or even loaded baked potatoes. Cheese, when taken in moderation is a superfood, but the problem is it's very easy to overeat. Especially when including refined carbohydrates such as like white chips & pizza.
Healthier Alternative: Exchange Gold for Green: Select guacamole over cheese for your salads and chips. Guacamole is considered a good type of fat because it's low in saturated fat and high in heart healthy monounsaturated fats. Guacomole also has a good amount of fiber that will help fill you up fast and prevent overeating.
Obesity here in United States and more specifically Atlanta, Ga is an epidemic. "The last time I checked Georgia was in the top 15 as being one of the fattest states. It's spread to our children and youth who are experiencing and going through serious health issues (e.g. high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and in masses) like never before," says Manento.
There are multiple reasons as to why the problem is widespread. So who's responsible for obesity or this weight gain? Could we say it's the jobs? Spouse? Busy lifestyle? The medical community? The media? Food Producers? The Government?
Of course we can't say any of those are responsible, ultimately it's up to the individuals. We have to own up and take responsibility. It's not any of the aforementioned obligation to make sure you stay, get or be healthy. It's you who is responsible your own health. When people stop placing the blame on others, putting things off and taking action, we'll make great strides in this fight against this obesity epidemic.
Benson Manento, owner of Hotlanta Bodies Fit Camp is an internationally renowned fitness boot camp Instructor and real world fat loss expert. For a free 1-week trial to his Atlanta boot camp to experience the best personal training in Atlanta please visit http://www.hotlantabodiesfitcamp.com To book him for his complimentary Lunch & Learn Seminar The Biggest Lies & Myths of Weight loss at your local Atlanta company, club, or organization please contact him via email at hotlantabodiesfitcamp@gmail.com or by phone at 404-552-2569.
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