YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Happy New Year JK Beauty and Wellbeing Friends!
Well, the festivities are truly over and we are nearly at the end of the first month of the year. New resolutions were made and if you’re like me you would have started with positive acceleration along with some optimism! Talking about resolutions and aspirations; a common one that a number of us are pretty familiar with is weight loss. So you may say “I want to drop a stone or drop down a size”. However you put it, this journey of weight loss usually includes monitoring of diet and regular exercise.
You are what you eat
In our modern society where Obesity is on the increase, the foods we consume matters! “Repeat it with me, “What you eat matters”! In fact recent research shows that Obesity stemming from bad eating habits is now on par with smoking. Chief Executive of NHS England says that “Obesity is the new smoking” and it is certainly a subject that is making waves in UK’s health care system.
UK Public Health estimates that two thirds of adults and a quarter of children between the ages of 2 years and 10 years are either overweight or obese. It is said that obese children are more likely to become obese adults!
Obese and Malnourished!
Needless to say it is inevitable that this increase in obesity is sure to continue to have a big impact on our health services; creating more risks of developing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders, cancers, anxiety and depression; The list goes on! So we have an epidemic on our hands! Once again l say that “what you eat matters”!
WHY DOES WHAT YOU EAT MATTER?
Well the main purpose of food is to fuel our bodies and for us to get the right levels of nutritional content, which causes the body to function at its best. Of course it is also for our enjoyment; however our enjoyment should not be at the detriment of our health.
Fuel your body with the right balance
IS IT ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS AND COUNTING THE CALORIES?
It is recognised that weight loss has its place however it’s of no value when it is achieved through unhealthy eating practises. Some can choose to consume chocolate and drink fizzy drinks for every meal and achieve weight loss. Others can eat all the junk foods under the sun provided they do the calorie count and also achieve weight loss. In extreme cases there are those that apply the crash course system which is to drink liquids only to achieve rapid weight loss.
Whichever way you look at it l think we can all agree that these are not the best practices for good healthy nutrition.
DOES NUTRITION CONTENT MATTER?
A lot of us although looking well fed and even Obese are actually Malnourished. The reason is the foods we eat are not giving us the nutrition we need to keep us healthy and our organs / body functioning well.
Like a car needs fuel and engine oil etc to move and function as a useful car and the purpose it’s made for, so do our bodies need the right levels of nutrition to function well. Over time if the body does not get the nutrition it needs, it starts to develop ill health and various diseases. Much of the diseases we see today are as a result of the foods we eat. Regular consumption of high fat, high sugar and high sodium foods has negative impact on our bodies.
The Eat Well Plate!
NOW THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT NUTRITIONAL CONTENT MATTERS, WHAT DO WE DO TO ENSURE WE HAVE THIS?
1) Ensure your meals are well balanced
2) Eat lean meats (preferably organic)
3) Add more vegetables to your diet (preferably organic)
4) Use Fruits as a good replacement to sugary deserts (preferably organic)
5) Whole grain breads (preferable option)
6) Focus on eating the right portions of food
7) All the above coupled with some regular exercise. 80% is about good diet management and 20% exercise.
We hope that this article has been useful information for you that you can start to apply now and encourage changes in your life
Till next time ——–Live Well——-
By: Jacqueline Kessie (JK Beauty and Wellbeing Services)
