One Meal at A Time: Don't Rush into Eating Healthy....

A great majority of us have been eating chemical -latent foods for as far back as we can remember; even at birth with baby formula. Let's face it guys. Rather physical or psychological, we are addicts-addicted to not so much as the food but perhaps the chemicals within or the thought of a nostalgic taste flirting with our palate. There is no doubt that this makes the "healthy eating" transition a challenge.


First we have to determine: what "eating healthy" is. Some would say eating healthy is eating natural sources of food. Some would also say that eating healthy is reducing the amount/types of food and drinks in which one takes in. For instance, you normally have three diet Cokes and one bagel per day. You now have two diet cokes and half of a bagel per day. The Center for Disease Control, (2016) says:

"Healthy eating is all about balance. You can enjoy your favorite foods even if they are high in calories, fat or added sugars. The key is eating them only once in a while, and balancing them out with healthier foods and more physical activity."

Regardless of who says what, the struggle is real. There is still a growing culture of research related to food addiction via the chemicals within but we have conditioned our bodies for years to tolerate the small traces of chemicals in all processed foods in particular. Pastries, artificially flavored juices, genetically modified foods all contain chemicals that do not have a homogeneous relationship with our bodies. Have you ever taken the time to look up the weird names in the ingredients of processed foods like yellow 5?

Yellow 5 (tartrazine). This is basically a coloring that is used in cosmetics and the pharmaceutical industry as well. It can cause allergic reactions such as asthma, hives, headaches, or insomnia (Drugs.com, 2016). There are many other chemicals in processed foods that render us dependent after prolonged usage. In an article by Mandy Oaklander, (2012), Ashley Gearhardt, PhD. is quoted stating sugar, salt, and fat are an "over-stimulating trifecta" that our bodies have not evolved to handle.

Think about how you feel if you don't have your three diet Cokes for a day or how you feel you don't have a cup of coffee to start your day and one during mid-day. Guilty! Organo Gold is my personal preference. Use this sponsor ID as a friend and personal reference of mine 10001761221. Again, is it psychological or physiological condition that gives you that feeling? Either way, WE MUST HAVE IT is the notion.  My advice to you is to take your time with making the transition to eating healthy. 

Let's face the fact that change is not easy for all people especially if you are used to doing something for years like eating what you want and when you want to eat it. When we want something sweet, we eat a pastry, ice cream, or something processed. How many people do you know who crave fruits or even vegetables? My guess is if we did, obesity would not be an epidemic. Proof: "78.6 million adults in America are obese" (CDC, 2015). Before I started eating healthy and craved something sweet it certainly was not fruit. It was a cookie! It's totally normal so don't feel as though you are alone. It takes time to train your mind-state and habits.

Typically it  takes about three weeks to form a new habit. Let's start with dinner. Trade one portion of something unhealthy for something healthy. Do this for about three weeks an
d add another healthy portion in place of something unhealthy. Do this for every portion on your dinner plate in this systematic form and you will have a healthy plate before you know it. Try the same with breakfast and lunch.

Example of Unhealthy Plate: Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and white bread.
Example of Healthy Plate: Baked chicken, sweet potato, wheat bread.

Keep in mind that portion size plays a role in healthy eating as well. Take the unhealthy plate example and reduce the portion sizes. This could help achieve weight loss but do keep in mind what the grease from the fried chicken and the insulin spike from mashed potatoes and white bread is doing to your overall health. It's always best to choose fresh vegetables, and fruits whenever possible. Eat a variety of proteins and grains, and stay away from fried foods. Even on my cheat- days I don't eat fried foods. I digress to say that cheat day does not mean eat junk- foods all day. Cheat -day is ONE MEAL in which you eat what you want. Funny Cheat Day Example

This is a much more relaxed method to the approach of eating healthy. Typically when one is over zealot in wanting to change their eating habits, they stop cold-turkey (no pun intended) with eating foods they are used to. This leads to wanting those foods again but this time with a vengeance. Again, I urge you to take-your- time with making the transition to eating healthy.   

So remember; don't rush into eating healthy. Try doing it one portion at a time for a time. If eating healthy to you is reducing your portion size or changing your choice of unhealthy foods to healthy foods, it's all relative. Eating disorders are real and are not to be taken lightly. If you feel you may be a victim of eating disorder, please do not hesitate to consult your physician.



As always, thank you for your time and for putting your health first.



Reference:
Center for Disease Control, (2015). Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Adult Obesity Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html Center for Disease Control, (2016). Eating Healthy For a Healthy Weight. Retrieved from:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/
Drugs.com, (2016). Tartrazine: What is it? Retrieved from: http://www.drugs.com/inactive/tartrazine-71.html
Oaklander, M. (2012). Prevention: 10 Most Addictive Foods: These Treats Many Have you Chemically Hooked. Retrieved from: http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/food-addiction-most-addictive-foods