The adage, “You are what you eat” makes me laugh. Because when it comes to vegetables…Eating more of them won’t make you one. Many people forget how simple it is to eat “healthy” and end up being victims of heart disease, cancer, and other medical related problems. Those people that choose to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables are healthier, live longer, and best of all…never have to visit the doctor for health related issues.
The body is a smart tool. Many people have been able to ween off of pills and drugs because their body naturally corrected itself after eating fruits and vegetables for a few months. Wouldn’t you love to feel energized all day long? Would’t you love to be able to run around outside with your kids or grandkids without feeling winded from taking a few steps? I know most people would love to be more active but the truth of the matter is this: it “looks” too hard and seems like it would take too long for this type of diet and lifestyle change to occur. But this is a myth. That’s what these large food corporations want you to think. They want you to believe that processed, low-fat foods are good for you, but in reality, eating avocados (in moderation) IS GOOD FOR YOU and it’s LOADED with fat. Same goes with nuts and legumes; they have fat but they’re still great for you to consume.
Let’s talk a little bit about macronutrients (Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Fats). These are the building blocks of life. Your body needs these to function. Now, when it comes to gaining weight (since that’s what most people fear – hence the creation of “low fat” foods), many people believe that by eating less fat they won’t gain weight. This is UNTRUE. If you were to sit down and eat nothing but protein all-day-long (and your calories were over your daily required limit)…you would gain weight. If you ate carbs after carbs after carbs you would gain weight. Same with fat. It’s all about calories. In order to lose weight or gain weight, you must eat less or more than your body requires. To start, you need to know your BMI (body mass index). From there, you can calculate how many calories you’ll need to eat every day in order to lose weight, stay your current weight, or gain weight. When companies try to remove all the fat in foods, they generally replace it with sugar or sodium. This is NOT good. So the next time someone on TV says it’s “low fat” just remember that they’re just replacing that fat with sugar or salt and that it’s not healthy. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their only ingredients are themselves so you KNOW they’re healthy.
Check out this short video from the movie, Food Inc:
