For Your Health

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is a high-fat, high- protein, low-fiber, cholesterol-laden diet (essentially a meat/dairy-based diet), that has a profound, negative impact on our health. Never before have the consequences of our daily food choices been so significant or well-documented. Eating well is the key ingredient to any personal improvement and health maintenance plan.

So often, people fail to see the need to change their diet and lifestyle until a crisis arises. For many people, their primary motivation for finding an alternative to the SAD is that diet and lifestyle have caused them or their loved ones heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, arthritis or some other major diseases. Diet-related lifestyle diseases are the major cause of deaths.

Thankfully, the body has a built-in, marvelous propensity for health and there is a bounty of nutrient-rich foods to maintain radiant health, even into old age. There is a solution and it is as close as the center of your plate.

Changing your diet is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Making good food choices and dietary habits requires breaking old behavior patterns. The best recommendation for dietary change and improving health would be to begin with limiting and/or eliminating items that are not good for you. Limit or eliminate the following:

1. Refined white sugar and white flour. White sugar is totally devoid of any vitamins or minerals, contributes nothing in the way of nutrients and it actually depletes the body of nutrients. White flour promotes nutritional deficiencies and chronic disease.

2. Saturated fats, trans fats, chemical additives, genetically modified foods (GMO) and pre- packaged foods.

3. Any foods or groceries containing the following ingredients:

i.Sodium nitrite (found in pre-packaged meats)

ii.Monosodium glutamate (found in pre- packaged soups)

iii.Aspartame (an ingredient in some diet food and diet soda)

iv.Yeast extract (found in most snack foods)

v.High-fructose corn syrup (found in many packaged foods!)

4. Your intake of red meat, such as beef and pork. Not only do these have "bad" fat and cholesterol, they are also slow in digestive process and stay in your stomach for 2-3 days. Chicken, turkey, fish and beans are a better source of protein. Remember also; the average person eats far more protein than the recommended dietary amount.

5. Sodas or other soft drinks. If you read the nutrition labels on the back of the bottles, you'll be surprised at how much white sugar they contain - the equivalent of 10 tablespoons!

6. Fried food of any kind. And, do not use old oil to fry foods. The process of frying damages the oil quite fast. Experts say that damaged or old oil is poisonous to your system.

7. Read the ingredients list on your foodstuff. Replace products made with trans fats, like partially hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortening with those containing non-hydrogenated vegetable oils such as olive, safflower, palm and coconut oil. [Note: Olive and Safflower oils are recommended]

Take some time to review some of the available resources that are written by experts, regarding the nutritional values of the foods you are consuming. As you practice, study and experience eating right, you will be convinced of the importance of it.

Occasionally, there may be times you will break the rules to enjoy with your friends or family. Don't be a health fanatic, but be consistent in making the right food choices.

B Healthy