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For this post, I decided to concentrate on healthy nutrition after watching a video published by One America News Network (OANN) featuring an interview with Dr. Pierre Kory in which he states that donuts and potato chips can be as addictive as Cocaine. They discuss the obesity epidemic and withdrawal symptoms when quitting junk food / processed foods and why it's happening. Working long hours, people tend to turn to a quick fix like hamburger, fries and pop or a TV dinner you can heat up in the microwave oven in 3 minutes or so. Rarely do people look at or even care about the ingredients within.
We've all been asked when ordering at the drive-thru, 'Would you like cheese on that?'. According to the FDA, those cheese slices must contain at least 51% real cheese. I can't help but wonder what makes up the other 49%. As for the sugar content in your soda pop? According to LiveStrong.com, a 12 ounce Coke has 39 grams of sugar equal to about 9.75 teaspoons while Mountain Dew, Mug Cream Soda and Fanta Orange all have over 11 teaspoons of sugar.
Then, there's the french fries soaked in vegetable oil. The potatoes themselves aren't bad. In fact, potatoes are a staple food in many countries. I've always loved to nibble on fries and never paid attention to the oils used to fry them. That is, until now. Vegetable oil is a fairly new invention and supermarkets are now flooded with all types of so-called vegetable oils. The more I learn about these oils, the clearer it becomes to avoid most of them at all cost as they can be toxic to the human body. There are a few that have a good track record, such as extra virgin olive oil but corn oil on the other hand, fails the test. HealthLine.com suggests olive and avocado oil but flax and palm oils are a big no-no.
The real reason I'm bringing all this up is that I am a self-admitted potato chip addict. I've been eating chips since I was a kid and chowing down on a full 'family bag' till the bag was empty was common. Once you eat one, you can't stop because it tastes so good and salty. Well, about two months ago, after educating myself on the dangers of vegetable oils, I decided to cut potato chips from my diet, cold turkey.
In the last few years, I had gained a bit of weight, some 20 pounds above my normal weight. 'They' say this is normal because we slow down as we age. Don't believe it! I was always slim and fairly fit and it concerned me that I was adding these unwanted extra pounds and I decided it was time to make a radical change to my diet. Not only did I quit potato chips but also processed cheese, regular table salt and soda pops as well as cookies, donuts and chocolate bars and focused on snacking on other more nutritious items like bananas, apples and mixed nuts.
I still crave a good hamburger but now I pass on the extra cheese and bacon as well as the fries (with associated vegetable oil) and the soda pop. You'd be surprised how filling a single hamburger really is, especially when tomato, lettuce, onions and pickles are added which would make for a healthy meal. I now choose water as a side drink which helps foods break down in the gut. Sugary pops do the opposite. Part of the trick is to eat less per serving / meal.
After just two months, I've shed about 12 pounds. I didn't work out any harder. I wasn't on any hunger strike by any means. I simply avoided fatty and sugary foods and focused on healthy eating such as oatmeal in the morning, soups / salads for lunch and dinners consisting of a healthy portions of beef / chicken bought from local farms along with veggies and greens.
I'm starting to see my 'six-pack' return again after a multi-year hiatus caused by a thin layer of belly fat that for a long time I believed was just bloating. Which brings me to the point of bloating. It's all but disappeared and I believe it's specifically because I made the conscious decision to alter my eating habits for the better. My bowel movements have improved dramatically as well. It's obvious that eating healthy brings about incredible benefits all around.
In the first paragraph of this post, I mention 'withdrawal symptoms' when quitting junk foods. Well, I can tell you it's real. During these two months of really focusing on avoiding junk foods, I've felt what I can only describe as lethargic. Like a smoker craving a cigarette, I found myself craving a good bag of chips but did my best to fight off those urges. It's a weird feeling to just let it all go the way I did but I'm relieved I finally passed the point where the cravings have dissipated or gone altogether.
Now I'm learning to appreciate the many flavors that come with eating healthy foods and how delicious natural foods really are. While I'm quite aware that most people work long hours and have little time for cooking and the cleaning that follows, there are now healthy choices such as Hello Fresh, where meal kits can be delivered to your door on a regular schedule with each meal costing less than $10 (CND). According to MoneyGeek.com, the average cost of a hamburger, fries and pop as of May, 2023 average $12 to over $15 in the U.S.A.. For once, we're seeing healthy meals costing less than junk food meals.
It really is a matter of personal choice. There's no denying that obesity has exploded over the last 50 years or so and beyond. With that, we've seen the rise of cancers, chronic illnesses and other disorders associated with weight gain. This is no accident. With the proliferation of all sorts of processed junk foods high in salts, sugars and toxic oils, it's not much of a surprise obesity is now an epidemic. Heck, they're even putting wood chips in their so-called foods. I don't think you'll die from eating wood chips but no thanks, I'll pass on that too!
I encourage everyone to focus on their eating habits and to pay close attention to what is listed as ingredients. If you see Modified 'this' and hydrogenated 'that' or long words that are too difficult to pronounce, you would be wise to avoid such foods. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you for doing so.
Peace and love to everyone!
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