Hello my wellness friends. I wanted to do a brief post on ingredients. All food is not created equal.

I was standing in my office break room a few weeks ago talking with a coworker. They had done the Biggest Loser contest at work with me before and tried Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers. They lost weight and gained weight. I asked what they were eating for lunch. They showed me a frozen dinner. Problem number 1. I have investigated the ingredients in most box meals and it’s disturbing to not be able to pronounce some of the ingredients.

Even if you cut back on your caloric intake, you are doing your body a grave injustice by feeding it processed food. It will not run as efficiently. Just as vehicles are designed to run on certain types of fuel, your body needs a certain type of fuel. Water won’t work in your gas tank (of your vehicle). Chemical laden food will not help your body burn fat. It taxes your liver. It slows you down and increases food cravings. Your body does not recognize it as food.

If you want your body to burn fat more efficiently. If you want to feel better. If you want clearer skin. If you want your hormones to stay balanced, then please minimize or forego processed foods. Look at the ingredients. Do you know what they are? Look them up? If it isn’t found naturally in nature (example fructose (sugar), then think about whether eating it is a good idea.

Good choices:

Eggs
Lean meats
Seeds
Nuts
All fruit (some are high in sugar so watch your intake)
All veggies
Quinoa
Sweet potatoes
Natural Peanut Butter
Almond Milk
Rice Milk
Low fat, hormone free dairy (in moderation)
Beans and legumes
Ezekiel bread
Fish
Shellfish

And drink plenty of water!!!!

I would eat breads and grains in moderation. Bread causes blood sugar spikes, whole wheat worse than white bread. I would also bypass large consumption of crackers, canned soups, and fried foods just for sodium content and fat. Excess sodium not only causes you to retain water, it increases the amount of cortisol in your system. It’s the stress hormone. It tells your body to store fat on your belly…yikes (Source: Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Micheals).

Well, that’s all folks. Keep up the good work! You can do this. I’m cheering for you! 😀

Xoxo,

Erin