Last Updated on February 6, 2015.
Proper Health = What You Eat, What You Drink, What You Do, and What You Think
When the New Year comes around, most people have the same New Year’s Resolution, which is to “lose weight and get in shape.” The first thing they do is either join a gym, start some fad diet, or look for some kind of weight loss pill. The motivation to start is there, the desire to be healthy and look good is there, but the results never come, or they come and then go away fast. Why is that? Is it them? Is it the diet or workout? Is it some misalignment with the stars that is changing our body’s biology?
1/3 of all Women and ¼ of all Men in the US are on a diet. – Colorado University
The answer is that most people look at health either from the wrong perspective or not completely. True health isn’t just diet, isn’t just exercise, isn’t just mindset, it’s ALL of it. Proper health derives from what you Eat, Drink, Do, and Think!
We are going to break down each of these 4 parts to get a proper understanding of how each affects our body for better or worse and a game plan to make sure this year’s resolution of getting IN shape will be the last one.
Part 1 – What You Eat
Before we can focus on what to put into the body, we must first understand what the body wants to do. For thousands of years, our ancestors searched out foods with fats and sugars as a survival tactic since they never knew when their next meal was coming. This way a defense mechanism against famine and starvation. Hamburgers, milkshakes, etc. send signals to the brain to get that and store it for safety. Our bodies are biologically adapted to search out fats and sugars to store up for winter, but nowadays, the “winter” never comes. We have a lot of FEAST, but no FAMINE.
In order to “satisfy” the body to a point that it won’t need to store up so much fat is to give your cells the right nutrients to survive and perform. If your cells aren’t getting nourished, then your body will stay hungry and want more food. Sugars and breads trick your body to think it’s getting nourished, but it’s not. As a result, people will keep eating more to get satisfied, but it will never come from those bad foods. People are OVERFED, but STARVING to death.
68% of US Adults are Overweight or Obese – Journal of the American Medical Association
The biggest reason for obesity is addiction. If I say the words to you “Nicotine, Alcohol, and Cocaine” I’m sure you immediately think addictive and dangerous. Almost everyone would agree that alcohol and cigarettes are addicting and can lead to health problems and possibly death. The way that cigarettes are addictive is the same way as food, we just haven’t accepted that as a society yet.
MSG is an ingredient in most foods and can be hidden behind over 50 different names. MSG not only makes your want to eat more, but it also activates the fat programs in your brain to produce more fat. In fact, when scientists want to study the effects of obesity on the body, they make mice fat by feeding them MSG. It is a well-known and accepted practice in the industry and everyone knows MSG will make you obese. But then why is it in 80% of ours foods?
MSG and free glutamates are used to enhance flavor in about 80% of all processed foods. – Raymond Francis M.Sc. MIT
Another ingredient that leads to food addiction is sugar. Sugar does more than just make you like certain foods, it does numerous chemical changes to the brain. Sugar induces beta endorphins in the brain and that’s a “feel good” natural opiate, morphine-like substance. That is why when we are depressed, we want to eat “comfort food”.
Also, when too much sugar is eaten, it sends your sugar levels sky high. That causes your pancreas to raise insulin so you won’t die. The insulin is a fat producing hormone, and whatever isn’t burned off as energy is stored as fat cells to use later. The problem is there is no later. It’s not fat that makes people fat, it’s sugar.
In the US, the average person consumes 150 lbs of sugar per year, which is 22 teaspoons per day
So now that the problem is identified, how do you solve it? First thing is getting the correct mindset. Having the thought process of “I want that but I CANT have it” will only make you desire it more because people want what they can’t have. Instead, change your thought process to “I CAN have it but I don’t want it.” This will empower you that you have full control over your body and actions.
Second is actually implementing those thoughts. Rather than trying to just eliminate the bad foods, focus on adding in the good foods to your daily diet. This will eventually push out the bad foods since you will be full from the good foods that you won’t need to eat the bad. Over time your body will become accustomed to the good foods that it will not crave the bad.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Remember that it is a process. It will not be changed overnight. There will be ups and downs during the journey, but you will be able to reach your goals as long as you don’t give up.
Here are some quick examples of some foods to eat:
Proteins:
Egg Whites
Chicken – White meat, skinless and boneless
Fish – Contains good fats
Quinoa
Chia Seeds
Carbohydrates:
Oatmeal – Slow cooked or “old fashioned”
Brown Rice
Whole Grain Bread
Sweet Potatoes/Yams
Spinach/Broccoli/Kale
If you want full nutritional counselling on your diet then call Tiger Schulmann’s MMA in Cherry Hill, NJ (856-320-4597) or register online to talk about a FREE Introductory class.
Stay tuned for Part 2 – What to Drink
**Some information and statistics from the documentary “Hungry Can Change”**