A Weigh In From The Experts
I had a patient share this great article with me via email and have to say it was a great read for anyone looking at low carb diet as an option. The article highlights continued research which supports avoiding sugar and processed foods specifically processed sugars and carbohydrates. This article is reflections and include exerts from the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Below are a few good quotes from the article.
"the myth that exercise is the key to weight loss-and to health- is erroneous and pervasive, and it must end."
"we need a basic reboot of our understanding of health, which has to involve the food industry's powerful PR "machinery," since that was part of the problem to begin with."
"The major point the team makes- which they say the public doesn't really understand-is that exercise in and of itself doesn't really lead to weight loss. It may lead to a number of excellent health benefits, but weight loss-if you're not also restricting calories is not one of them. "Regular physical activity reduces risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some cancers by at least 30%. They write. "However, physical activity does not promote weight loss."
This is a particularly interesting section that was pulled from the article because the evidence is so overwhelmingly in support of this fact but it not well understood by the public. If you ask most people how to lose weight you will just about always hear exercise of some form then second some form of diet. We need to shift this thought to diet lead to weight loss and exercise of some form is helpful.
"in the last 30 years, exercise has stayed about the same, while overweight and obesity has skyrocketed."
Here is an interesting stat: According to the Lancet global disease reports
"poor diet now generates more disease than physical inactivity, alcohol, and smoking combined."
For those of you who say well I'm not overweight so this kind of information does not pertain to me....think again. Just because you're not struggling with weight doesn't mean you're body is in good health. Your body is a direct reflection of what you put into it. If you put in processed food garbage then your body will eventually feel the side effects even if it’s just internally. The internal side effects that go unseen are actually the most dangerous.
"Up to 40% of those with a normal body mass index (BMI) will harbour metabolic abnormalities typically associated with obesity, which include hypertension, dyslipidaemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease."
One point that was particularly great to see was this one which supports a previous post relating the food industry to the tobacco industry.
"members of the public are drowned by an unhelpful message about maintaining a 'healthy weight' through calorie counting," the team write, "and many still wrongly believe that obesity is entirely due to lack of exercise. This false perception is rooted in the Food Industry's Public Relations machinery, which uses tactics similar to those of big tobacco."
Ok I know its a bit repetitive but I want everyone to fully understand what is happening in the world of diet, specifically what needs to be updated. WE AS A NATION NEED TO STAND UP AND DEMAND FOR A CHANGE IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY, NATIONAL FOOD SUBSIDY PROGRAM, AND NATIONAL NUTRITION/FOOD GUIDELINES. IT IS TIME TO SET NEW STANDARDS FOR HEART HEALTH, DIABETES CARE, AND DISEASE PREVENTION. IF WE START EATING GROWING A VARIETY OF FOODS, EATING A VARIETY OF FOODS, TURN BACK TIME TO SMALL FARMING OPERATIONS WITH MORE DIVERSITY, AND FINALLY COOKING AT HOME NO MORE PROCESSED FOOD CRAP; THE NATIONAL HEALTH CRISES WOULD BE STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS.
This can happen but only if we stand up as one voice and demand for changes. Think about how much we can change with just boycotting these foods. No more buying the crap, let it sit on the shelves until these massive companies see losses in their profits, hit them where it hurts.
I hope you all have enjoyed the article and feel inspired to step up and make a change. Here is post that I want you copy and paste on your Facebook page for your friends and family to share on Facebook other forms of social media. We have to get the word out, processed foods need to go.
Take the Health Transitions Clinic challenge: One Month eating whole food no processed junk
Avoids:
Beers and other alcohol, soft drinks, sport drinks, fruit and vegetable juices
cookies, cakes, candies, chocolates, candies, doughnuts, licorice, hard candy, ice cream, pastaries
potato chips, doritos, rice cakes, pita chips, corn chips, pretzels, pop corn
cereals, breads, pizza, potato, rice, corn, bananas
Foods to eat:
vegetables, fruits (berries, apples, pears, peaches; in moderation), meats, legumes, cheese, fats