An important link between weight gain and toxic overload in the body is the quality of the food we eat. Food is our energy source, and the more nutritional the food, the better the body will function. If we choose foods that are nutrient-rich, organic, and free of toxins, the body will receive and absorb the highest nutrient intake, allowing us to feel satisfied and full without empty calories, which cause us to eat more and more. Yet we are eating less and less of these healthy, nutrient-rich foods today.
The Standard American Diet (SAD) consists of highly processed and refined foods, including frozen foods, fast foods, and prepared foods that are canned, boxed, and processed to create “instant” varieties that are the least healthy for you. Restaurants, especially fast-food chains, and supermarkets are filled with foods high in fat, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, artificial flavors, pesticides, hormones, and preservatives, all of which contribute to the toxic overload in the body.
Let’s take a closer look at the Standard American Diet that so many of us eat. It typically includes lots of highly refined wheat products, such as white bread, crackers, bagels, pasta, and cereals, as well as other processed foods, such as potato chips and corn chips. Don’t forget the fatty meats like steaks, burgers, hot dogs, ribs, bacon, and pork chops. Now, top it all off with a large amount of saturated fat, hydrogenated oil, and processed vegetable oils, such as salad dressing, most cooking oils, and mayonnaise. It’s no wonder we have an epidemic of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis as well as many other degenerative diseases. Now, for dessert, we eat baked goods, such as cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, fudge, and brownies—and don’t forget the doughnuts and candy bars. In many ways, former generations were some of the healthiest people on the planet because many of these foods did not exist. But today, our lifestyle has become much too stressed and fast-paced to take time to eat healthy foods. However, we are supposed to eat in order to “feed” our body the nutrients it needs to maintain vitality and health.
It’s not just how much you’re eating that’s causing you to gain weight, it is also what you’re eating and what you’re body is being exposed to that causes a toxic overload in your body. Even though we are not technically starving like some people in other areas of the world, we are definitely malnourished. We eat a lot, but our nutritional deficiencies manifest themselves as “belly fat,” “thunder thighs,” “underarm bat wings,” “beer bellies,” and “cottage cheese behind.” Do any of these sound familiar?
JJ Smith (www.JJSmithOnline.com) is a nutritionist and certified weight-management specialist who has been featured on The Montel Williams Show, The Jamie Foxx Show and on the NBC, FOX, CBS and CW networks. Her advice has also been featured in the pages of Glamour, Essence, and Ladies Home Journal. Since reclaiming her health, losing weight, and discovering a “second youth” in her forties, bestselling author JJ Smith has become the voice of inspiration to women who want to lose weight, be healthy, and get their sexy back! JJ may be contacted by email at info@jjsmithonline.com and on Twitter: jjsmithonline and Facebook Page: RealTalkJJ