Continuing on our discussion from the last article on cravings and the gut, we wanted to give some further education for you about how some of the simple choices we make can have a great impact on our weight, regardless of calories, fat, carbohydrates, etc. Unfortunately, the food we ate 30 years ago is vastly different than the food we eat now, though it may look exactly the same. Everything from chicken to corn and the products made from them are completely different in the way they are produced and the way that they affect your body. Check out the list below, and pay attention to HOW these items may be different than the used to be. Knowledge can be empowering. We should now be afraid of what we are learning, but become empowered by it. The more you learn, the better choices you can make for your body and for your family.
Antibiotics in Meat: When we look at meats in the store, conventional, organic, and pasture raised (when you can find it) all look about the same. While at face value, that is true, what you can’t see is the most concerning. In the late 1948’s scientists began experimenting with the use of antibiotics in animals to make them GAIN WEIGHT more quickly. What they found was that chickens gained almost double in size with the simple addition of these drugs. Unless they state otherwise, meats at the grocery store are still given these drugs to fatten them up quickly, but pay attention. Regulations are changing, so hopefully this will be something we will not have to worry about at some point. It has also been found that by the time the meats are sold in stores, most of the antibiotics are gone; however, trace amounts eaten on a regular basis may still make a difference. The average person now compared to the 40’s is not only heavier, but taller, signifying that this hidden addition to the diet has had an impact. Buying organic is always a safe bet to avoiding antibiotics in your meat.
Toxins in Farm Raised Fish: Farm raised fish also contain levels of antibiotics and toxins (like pcb’s) which can lead to weight gain in people as well as other conditions like cancer. The toxic concentrations in fish can be as high as 9 million times the amount in the water they are in which leads to the contamination that people then ingest. The best bet with fish is to always buy wild caught. Farm raised salmon are actually banned in many other countries, so buy wild caught or not at all for both your health and your weight. Yes, it is more expensive, but so is disease.
Roundup on our Crops: Roundup (which is especially sprayed on corn, soybeans, and wheat about 7-10 days before harvesting). Roundup silently affects our health, as well as our weight and has been linked to Alzheimers, weight gain, neurotransmitter disruption, auto immune disorders, as well as a variety of other diseases that are on a steep incline in incidence in the U.S. today. The disrupted gut bacteria causes not only diseases, but metabolic changes as well as altered serotonin levels which can cause carbohydrate cravings, headaches, trouble sleeping, and mood disorders. The simple solution is to buy organic whenever possible. The use of Roundup is prohibited in organic farming, so you can really avoid a myriad of issues by purchasing organic corn, wheat, and soy products……though for best health, fruits, vegetables, and farm raised proteins are best so eat these products minimally anyway. Roundup (glycophosphate) was also just determined by the World Health Organization to be “potentially carcinogenic.” Another reason to avoid it whenever possible.
Hormones and Antibiotics in our Dairy: The same basic guidelines that apply to meats apply to dairy. Dairy cows are given growth hormones to increase milk production. This in turn causes mastitis which causes a need for them to be treated with antibiotics. As we have discussed in earlier articles, antibiotics lead to weight gain in both animals and humans as well as leading the well known phenomenon of antibiotic resistance. Truly the best solution to this problem is to purchase only organic dairy. This applies to milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, etc.
Our goal remains to continue providing you with current, relevant information so that you can make the safe, informed food choices. We are not only concerned with your weight, but with your overall health and disease prevention. Knowledge can be overwhelming, so we continue to strive to bring you understandable steps that are easy to implement into your wellness lifestyle. Our hope is that you find this information empowering. With one step at a time, you can continue to make huge strides in your health and wellness.
STEP(S) FOR THIS WEEK:
- Read through the article above and commit to changing two of the foods that you eat on a daily basis. Maybe make one different cheese purchase, and buy organic bread (like Ezekial) instead of conventional. An easy switch is to purchase organic yogurt as the price is higher, but not as much as the price difference in meat. Keep the changes ones that fit into your budget, but also challenge yourself to examine the cost of prevention v/s treatment. Empower yourself with simple changes!