Foods Categories

There are only two categories of foods: whole foods and processed foods. A healthy balanced diet should be primarily whole foods with restricted consumption of processed foods. There are numerous ways to differentiate between these two.

PROCESSED FOODS
Generally speaking, processed foods are produced using manufacturing methods to transform raw ingredients into neatly packaged goods, which have a longer shelf life. Some of the artificial ingredients used include MSG, flavors, preservatives, hydrogenated oil, fillers, and artificial sweeteners. Usually, consumers can prepare them quickly allowing immediate intake. Disappointingly, they don’t offer much in nutritional value. Most likely, it's processed food if it's wrapped in several layers of plastic, cardboard, and/or foil, and it didn't exist until after 1903 when the hydrogenation process was invented. In addition to being excessively advertised, this food category is well funded by government subsidies. These foodstuffs are located on the shelves of the inside middle aisles in grocery stores. Examples of processed foods include sodas, cereals, and crackers.

WHOLE FOODS
On the other hand, whole foods are grown in orchards, gardens, or greenhouses, are unprocessed and unrefined, and have a shorter shelf life. These foods are authentically flavorful, have vibrant colors, and rich textures. Moreover, they are full of the micronutrient vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber. Typically, they require longer preparation times. In contrast, they receive very little media advertising, and are not well funded with government subsidies. When you are in grocery stores, these foods are mainly found on the store’s wall aisles to the sides and back of the store. Additionally, this food category can be found at farmers markets, and at fresh fruit and vegetable stands. Examples of whole foods include unpolished grains, fruits, and vegetables.

FOUR BASIC NUTRIENTS
The four essential basic nutrients are water, carbohydrates, fat, and protein. These four are the foundation of a healthy diet. In any case, all food is composed of various combinations of nutrients.

Carbohydrates supplying energy are found mostly in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, peas, and beans. They are converted into glucose providing energy for the body’s cells, the brain, and red blood cells, or stored for future use in the liver, or in body fat. Sixty percent of daily calories should come from mainly complex carbohydrates to provide the minimum recommended daily requirement of fiber.

Fats are the most concentrated source of body energy. Recently, too much negative attention has been focused upon fats. Fats are not an enemy and are needed throughout life to support growth and provide energy. Unfortunately, consuming excessive amounts of fat can contribute to many health problems.

Proteins are the building blocks making up body tissues, muscles, skin, and organs. When consumed, protein is broken down into amino acids providing the body with energy for various vital functions. Examples of good sources include meat, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Regrettably, health problems arise when you consume too much or too little of any nutrients. Instead, endeavor to consume a variety of foods to ensure you get a mix of nutrients. In summary, for a healthy well balanced diet make it a habit to choose unrefined whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, peas, beans, and whole-grains, as opposed to refined processed foods such as soft drink sodas, candy, cookies, and cakes.

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Debby Bolen

Fad Diets

The American Obesity Association reports approximately 127 million US adults are overweight, 60 million are obese, and 9 million are severely obese totaling over one-third of the adult American population. Consequently, fad diet plans and concoctions promising dramatic results have become popular. However, these magical shortcuts don’t offer long-term success, and some may even be dangerous to your health.

We have become such an instant society, with drive-thru windows, remote controls, and instant access communications including computers and cell phones, we now unrealistically expect instant results for every thing. Fad diets appeal to people because they promise quick and easy weight loss. These get-slim-quick schemes stand to make millions of dollars by keeping people confused and convincing them effective weight management is complex. The dieting fad industry takes advantage of people wanting to look and feel better, and who are willing to try anything if it helps them lose weight.

These dieting myths became popular because many of them work for a short period of time. When someone stops eating certain types of food or eats “special” combinations of foods, resulting in fewer calories being consumed, initially weight can be lost. Unfortunately, most of this weight lost is from water and lean muscle, not body fat. Understandably, most people can’t keep up with the demands of a diet strictly limiting their food choices or requiring them to eat the same foods over and over again, as with the nineties low-fat craze and the current low-carbohydrate craze.

Regrettably, people who use fad diets usually end up gaining back any weight lost and, many times, gain even more weight. Furthermore, recent research indicates this repeated "yo-yo" dieting may actually reduce one's life span. Many people will still prefer quick fix fad diets and pills instead of making long-term changes in their eating and exercising habits.

Currently there are very few controls or regulations informing and protecting the dieting consumer from these rip-offs. Without health risks being disclosed, weight loss "success" is vaguely defined using short-term results, and weight loss "failure” is always the consumer’s fault. The few regulations existing are rarely, or, at most, loosely enforced. Suffice to say: buyers beware.

The American Academy of Family Physicians warns to steer clear of diets or diet products:

• Claiming to help you lose weight very quickly (more than 1 or 2 pounds per week). Remember, it took time to gain unwanted weight and it will take time to lose it.
  
• Promising you can lose weight and keep it off without giving up "fatty" foods or exercising on a regular basis. If a diet plan or product sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  
• Basing claims on "before and after" photos.
  
• Offering testimonials from clients or "experts" in weight loss, science, or nutrition. Remember these people are probably being paid to advertise the diet plan or product.
  
• Drawing simple conclusions from complex medical research.
  
• Limiting your food choices and not encouraging you about balanced nutrition by eating a variety of foods.
  
• Requiring you to spend a lot of money on things like seminars, pills, or prepackaged meals in order for their plan to work.

These scams focusing on one element encourages people to ignore the complete picture of health and proper weight management. In conclusion, there is regrettably no magical secret key to weight loss making it easy and practically effortless to lose weight.

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Whole Foods

In April 2007, Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, reported after examining 31 weight-loss studies they found long-term dieting doesn't work in keeping off pounds.

http://www.wuphysicians.wustl.edu/newsArchive.asp?ID=557


Processed foods contain artificial chemicals for flavor, color, sweetness, and longer shelf life. Unfortunately, these chemicals accumulate in our bodies causing them to become locked into fat-storing mode.

Better choices are whole foods: fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and berries.

Tired of "weight loss" programs?

Are you tired of "weight loss" programs where you unfortunately quickly find those pounds you thought you lost? If you're like most people, you've tried it all but nothing seems to work.

There are only 2 categories of food: Whole food or Processed Food. Man-made Carbs cause your "Internal Machinery" to wear out, but Natural Carbs don't. Processed, sugar laden foods and drinks contain more calories than your body needs. Processed foods confuse your metabolism to lock into fat-storing mode.

Non-profit health organizations tell us to eat more fruits and vegetables. Choose healthier foods. Eat healthy and feel the difference.

Leave the fads behind and learn to embrace the truth!