In the past five years I’ve seen a trend appearing I really abhor, people addicted to high fat, chemically laden fast food, and junk food. It’s a very sad situation. This article is not solely about fast food and/or junk food, so please, read on...
First off, I want those who suffer from any addiction to know I have great compassion
and understanding.
Addiction is real folks. It’s a trap one feels they cannot escape. It’s a false reality. A deathtrap. It keeps one from reaching their full potential, and ruins relationships and jobs. It’s a financial drain. It’s an emotional and mental drain. It’s a living hell although the sufferer will refuse to acknowledge it as such. It is a vice.
Listen, this is far more common than people realize. Any time you have a situation where one wants to change something in their life and the struggle goes on for years, decades, or life (yes, many go to the grave as a direct result), there is addiction involved.
The alcoholic, drug user, drug abuser, hell, it could even be your neighbor next door abusing over the counter drugs. It can be a work-a-holic, game-a-holic, text-a-holic, shop-a-holic. It can be a dysfunctional relationship where the people involved have grown so used to the dysfunction (addiction), that they know not how to handle a healthy relationship and will many times sabotage it themselves, so they can feel ‘normal’ again. It is spending money, gambling. You must realize with the rate pornography has grown and continues to, surely there are people you know who are addicted to it, you just don’t know it.
Do not be fooled, the anorexic, perfectionist, etc., are just as much addicted to their behavior as an alcoholic. So please, understand, addiction lies everywhere, it’s just that some addictions lead to death quicker than others, affects more people than others, and some are considered to be ‘healthier’ than others, and indeed they are.
People hide their addictions, they protect them, they guard them and smooth over them like wax on a corvette. The addiction will be denied over and over and over again. I mention this because addiction lies at the root of people who just can’t seem to get away from fast food, junk food, soda, chocolate, etc.
I will save an addiction article for another time. The point I want to make here to be aware and beware of the habits that start addiction in the first place:
1. Beingbornanaddict(sugar,alcohol,drugs,tobacco,etc.)Thisisrealfolks,andone of the hardest to overcome because the baby is literally born with the craving for substance (abuse), and know’s it not, many times until adulthood, at which time they feel it’s hopeless to try and change it, however, it can be changed with much fortitude on every level: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. So, one must first really begin strengthening themselves from within, and with materials from without and start educating themselves on health, addiction, hormones, and the effect of chemicals on the brain and human body. They must read and meet many people, watch on youtube, etc., success stories.
2. Consuming anything such as sugar, alcohol (remember, sugar and alcohol are one and the same as far as your body goes), chocolate and fast food can surely become an addiction if one makes it a ‘habit’. Now, if one has it once a month as a habit, it would be hard for an addiction to kick in, however, if one has it a few times a week, the risk for addiction begins to multiply. When one has it daily, there is a sure breeding ground for lifelong addiction. Why? Because these items all have detrimental biologic effects on hormones, and the delicate chemical balance within both the brain and body.
3. Hanging with people who are already addicted and encourage you to partake stating it’s totally cool, and it won’t hurt you.... they ‘know’, because they’ve been doing it for weeks, years. etc.... right?
4. Another main starter of addiction, and perhaps, the ultimate one is emotions. Individuals are faced with a situation they perceive as a challenge, saddening, hurtful, peer pressure, etc., as any number of emotions or one’s perception of a situation can lead to the makings of an addiction.
Addiction is real folks. It’s a trap one feels they cannot escape. It’s a false reality. A deathtrap. It keeps one from reaching their full potential, and ruins relationships and jobs. It’s a financial drain. It’s an emotional and mental drain. It’s a living hell although the sufferer will refuse to acknowledge it as such. It is a vice.
Listen, this is far more common than people realize. Any time you have a situation where one wants to change something in their life and the struggle goes on for years, decades, or life (yes, many go to the grave as a direct result), there is addiction involved.
The alcoholic, drug user, drug abuser, hell, it could even be your neighbor next door abusing over the counter drugs. It can be a work-a-holic, game-a-holic, text-a-holic, shop-a-holic. It can be a dysfunctional relationship where the people involved have grown so used to the dysfunction (addiction), that they know not how to handle a healthy relationship and will many times sabotage it themselves, so they can feel ‘normal’ again. It is spending money, gambling. You must realize with the rate pornography has grown and continues to, surely there are people you know who are addicted to it, you just don’t know it.
Do not be fooled, the anorexic, perfectionist, etc., are just as much addicted to their behavior as an alcoholic. So please, understand, addiction lies everywhere, it’s just that some addictions lead to death quicker than others, affects more people than others, and some are considered to be ‘healthier’ than others, and indeed they are.
People hide their addictions, they protect them, they guard them and smooth over them like wax on a corvette. The addiction will be denied over and over and over again. I mention this because addiction lies at the root of people who just can’t seem to get away from fast food, junk food, soda, chocolate, etc.
I will save an addiction article for another time. The point I want to make here to be aware and beware of the habits that start addiction in the first place:
1. Beingbornanaddict(sugar,alcohol,drugs,tobacco,etc.)Thisisrealfolks,andone of the hardest to overcome because the baby is literally born with the craving for substance (abuse), and know’s it not, many times until adulthood, at which time they feel it’s hopeless to try and change it, however, it can be changed with much fortitude on every level: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. So, one must first really begin strengthening themselves from within, and with materials from without and start educating themselves on health, addiction, hormones, and the effect of chemicals on the brain and human body. They must read and meet many people, watch on youtube, etc., success stories.
2. Consuming anything such as sugar, alcohol (remember, sugar and alcohol are one and the same as far as your body goes), chocolate and fast food can surely become an addiction if one makes it a ‘habit’. Now, if one has it once a month as a habit, it would be hard for an addiction to kick in, however, if one has it a few times a week, the risk for addiction begins to multiply. When one has it daily, there is a sure breeding ground for lifelong addiction. Why? Because these items all have detrimental biologic effects on hormones, and the delicate chemical balance within both the brain and body.
3. Hanging with people who are already addicted and encourage you to partake stating it’s totally cool, and it won’t hurt you.... they ‘know’, because they’ve been doing it for weeks, years. etc.... right?
4. Another main starter of addiction, and perhaps, the ultimate one is emotions. Individuals are faced with a situation they perceive as a challenge, saddening, hurtful, peer pressure, etc., as any number of emotions or one’s perception of a situation can lead to the makings of an addiction.
-
Let’s take a look at caffeine. Now, the following are stats based on
coffee, however, you can just as easily put Mountain Dew in there,
Red Bull, 5 Hour Energy, Crystal Light ‘Energy’, Arizona Tea, and any
other product that contains caffeine.
Stats To Know About Caffeine (healthresearchfunding.org)
To better understand the rise in popularity of caffeine and products that contain caffeine, consider some surprising and even shocking statistics. These better demonstrate the country’s love affair with the substance and show how popular it has been in times past as well as today, and how it affects a person’s overall health.
1. At least 68 million Americans drink three cups of coffee every single day.
2. Some 30 million Americans drink five or more cups of coffee every single day.
3. Over 21 million Americans drink six or more cups of coffee every day.
4. Too much caffeine can produce mood swings, insomnia, increased tension in the muscles, and also impair your digestion and nutrition absorption.
5. Caffeine is thought to reduce or restrict blood circulation to the brain; it also raises blood pressure and accelerates the heart rate to unnatural levels.
6. A controversial study released in 1998 by the National Institute for Environmental and Health Sciences claimed that women who consumed at least one cup of coffee per day were half as likely to become pregnant than women who did not drink coffee. The study also concluded that women who drank coffee while pregnant were 17% more likely to have their newborn die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. A study in New Zealand discredited the connection between low doses of caffeine and SIDS, butit did conclude that consuming 400mg of caffeine every day while pregnant may increase this risk due to the baby’s sudden withdrawal of caffeine after being born, leading to respiratory distress.
7. It’s believed that some 3 out of 4 regular caffeine users are actually addicted to the
substance.
8. After addiction, withdrawal from the use of caffeine can cause mood swings and irritability, similar to the symptoms of withdrawing from a narcotic or alcohol.
9. Consuming as little as 200mg of caffeine every day can lead to addiction and altered chemistry in the brain. Another 100mg per day can lead to increased anxiety, panic disorders, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat, flushed skin, depression, and even slurred speech.
10. Five grams of caffeine can be fatal. This is the equivalent of some 30-40 cups of regular coffee.
11. Some 50% of people who quit using caffeine experience severe headaches which typically last between 2 and 9 days. Half of people who quit also stated that they had difficulty avoiding the use of caffeine permanently.
12. Caffeine is a not a regulated substance so manufacturers are not legally required to label their products with caffeine content. Many studies suggest that caffeine is the most widely used stimulant in the world.
13. The substance is derived from over 60 various types of plants around the world. 14. Many experts believe caffeine to be a diuretic, meaning it causes the body to lose fluids. Some turn to caffeine to help them lose water weight, while some experts caution against its use so as to avoid dehydration.
15. Some believe that regular caffeine intake can help to ward off Parkinson’s disease and certain forms of cancer, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
16. Some studies have shown long-term benefits to treating preterm infants with a caffeine substance.
17. In low doses, caffeine has been shown to improve one’s cognitive functions, increasing alertness.
18. Overdoses of caffeine can cause manic episodes, panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, disorientation, and the lowering of one’s inhibitions.
19. Many caffeine users don’t realize that it is actually added to drinks like colas and other sodas. It is suggested by some that this is done because caffeine is addicting, the way cigarette manufacturers add addictive substances in order to keep their customer base.
20. The effects of caffeine on a person’s system can usually be felt within minutes of consuming it. Its peak effectiveness typically takes around 30 minutes, and the substance requires three to six hours to leave the body. This is one reason it’s often recommended that a person stop drinking caffeinated beverages in the afternoon, so the body has time to flush it out of the system before trying to fall asleep at night.
8. After addiction, withdrawal from the use of caffeine can cause mood swings and irritability, similar to the symptoms of withdrawing from a narcotic or alcohol.
9. Consuming as little as 200mg of caffeine every day can lead to addiction and altered chemistry in the brain. Another 100mg per day can lead to increased anxiety, panic disorders, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat, flushed skin, depression, and even slurred speech.
10. Five grams of caffeine can be fatal. This is the equivalent of some 30-40 cups of regular coffee.
11. Some 50% of people who quit using caffeine experience severe headaches which typically last between 2 and 9 days. Half of people who quit also stated that they had difficulty avoiding the use of caffeine permanently.
12. Caffeine is a not a regulated substance so manufacturers are not legally required to label their products with caffeine content. Many studies suggest that caffeine is the most widely used stimulant in the world.
13. The substance is derived from over 60 various types of plants around the world. 14. Many experts believe caffeine to be a diuretic, meaning it causes the body to lose fluids. Some turn to caffeine to help them lose water weight, while some experts caution against its use so as to avoid dehydration.
15. Some believe that regular caffeine intake can help to ward off Parkinson’s disease and certain forms of cancer, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
16. Some studies have shown long-term benefits to treating preterm infants with a caffeine substance.
17. In low doses, caffeine has been shown to improve one’s cognitive functions, increasing alertness.
18. Overdoses of caffeine can cause manic episodes, panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, disorientation, and the lowering of one’s inhibitions.
19. Many caffeine users don’t realize that it is actually added to drinks like colas and other sodas. It is suggested by some that this is done because caffeine is addicting, the way cigarette manufacturers add addictive substances in order to keep their customer base.
20. The effects of caffeine on a person’s system can usually be felt within minutes of consuming it. Its peak effectiveness typically takes around 30 minutes, and the substance requires three to six hours to leave the body. This is one reason it’s often recommended that a person stop drinking caffeinated beverages in the afternoon, so the body has time to flush it out of the system before trying to fall asleep at night.
TIGHT BODY BOOT CAMP JULY 16, 2017 4
21. Decaffeinated beverages may actually still contain trace amounts of caffeine. If
caffeine occurs naturally in a substance such as coffee, it is treated with chemical that
draw out large amounts of that caffeine but they may not be completely devoid of the
substance.
22. Energy drinks are those with high volumes of caffeine; Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the U.S., and in 2012 its sales were estimated at well over $2 trillion. Monster, the next most popular energy drink in the U.S., saw sales of around $1.27 trillion in that same year.
23. It’s estimated that the sales of energy drinks in the U.S. will reach well over $27 trillion by the year 2017.
24. Some 5% of adults consume 5-7 energy drinks every month. Over 2% of adults consume at least 10 energy drinks every month.
25. The brand 5-Hour Energy has 69mg of caffeine per serving; a shot of espresso has approximately 51mg, and a typical drip coffee has about 18mg per cup. Brewed tea has around 5mg per cup.
Eye opening, right? It might as well be chocolate, chocolate produces the rush, high, and so forth, as well.
There are more ways to become addicted, but those are some of the most rampant. I will do an article on caffeine in the near future, as well, it is highly addictive.
Let’s move on...
Have you seen the movie, “Super Size Me”? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. It’s an eye opener to the effects of fast food (what I prefer to refer to as dead food), on the human body. A man by the name of Morgan Spurlock decided to take it upon himself, and perform an experiment of the effects of fast food on the body, McDonald’s, in particular. He begins by going to his physician, getting his health stats, and used them as a baseline throughout the movie, as he challenged himself to eat nothing but McDonald’s for 30 days. It’s a low budget film, but gets its point across, sometimes in rather vulgar, but truthful ways.
Most people don’t eat McDonald's fare for every meal everyday, but many do patronize it everyday. Let’s face it, with all the ‘food’ stuffs that are currently classified as food, but rather are dead foods (meaning, they have been adulterated, processed, refined, and had things added to them to keep them stable for a shelf life of several years). LIve foods are rich in enzymes, rich in flavor, easy to digest, and will quickly spoil if not eaten, and/or stored properly.
LIVE foods FEED the body. DEAD foods tend to deplete, and in many instances, lower the vitality of the body.
22. Energy drinks are those with high volumes of caffeine; Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the U.S., and in 2012 its sales were estimated at well over $2 trillion. Monster, the next most popular energy drink in the U.S., saw sales of around $1.27 trillion in that same year.
23. It’s estimated that the sales of energy drinks in the U.S. will reach well over $27 trillion by the year 2017.
24. Some 5% of adults consume 5-7 energy drinks every month. Over 2% of adults consume at least 10 energy drinks every month.
25. The brand 5-Hour Energy has 69mg of caffeine per serving; a shot of espresso has approximately 51mg, and a typical drip coffee has about 18mg per cup. Brewed tea has around 5mg per cup.
Eye opening, right? It might as well be chocolate, chocolate produces the rush, high, and so forth, as well.
There are more ways to become addicted, but those are some of the most rampant. I will do an article on caffeine in the near future, as well, it is highly addictive.
Let’s move on...
Have you seen the movie, “Super Size Me”? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. It’s an eye opener to the effects of fast food (what I prefer to refer to as dead food), on the human body. A man by the name of Morgan Spurlock decided to take it upon himself, and perform an experiment of the effects of fast food on the body, McDonald’s, in particular. He begins by going to his physician, getting his health stats, and used them as a baseline throughout the movie, as he challenged himself to eat nothing but McDonald’s for 30 days. It’s a low budget film, but gets its point across, sometimes in rather vulgar, but truthful ways.
Most people don’t eat McDonald's fare for every meal everyday, but many do patronize it everyday. Let’s face it, with all the ‘food’ stuffs that are currently classified as food, but rather are dead foods (meaning, they have been adulterated, processed, refined, and had things added to them to keep them stable for a shelf life of several years). LIve foods are rich in enzymes, rich in flavor, easy to digest, and will quickly spoil if not eaten, and/or stored properly.
LIVE foods FEED the body. DEAD foods tend to deplete, and in many instances, lower the vitality of the body.
Turns out, this man becomes ill, overweight, lethargic, gets high blood pressure, and
experiences several other discomforts. You see, food fare such as McDonald's, or
candy bars, ice cream, or anything with a high unhealthy fat ratio and added chemicals,
will leave the immune system, circulatory system, and brain feeling groggy. The cells in
our system that fight disease now must work through sludgy blood to get to where they
need to be, transit time is slowed tremendously.
Some people have performed this experiment on their own. They ate clean (live fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, lean proteins, and no mucus forming foods), for an entire week. Then they hit their cardio first thing in the morning hard, say the stairs. They made note of the highest level they could maintain for 1 minute, and the highest level they could maintain for 30 seconds. They waited one week to fully recover from their max levels on the stairs. Then, they ate one day of mucus forming foods and high fat/chemcial ‘foods’: cheese, boxed cereals, pasta, eggs, ice cream before, candy bar, and called it a day. They woke and tried to perform the same cardio they did a week prior, at the same levels, at the same time of day. The result? They couldn’t hardly breathe, let alone keep the pace they had previously enjoyed just a few days prior. Of course, I don’t suggest anyone try this without the approval of your doctor, it could be risky.
In fact, studies have shown that having either a meal with a large amount of unhealthy fats, or even an unusually large meal (such as one would have at Thanksgiving), quadrupled the chance of having a heart attack within the next two hours!!!!!
The reason for this is because cardiac output of blood is increased and diverted to the intestinal circulation to aid with the overwhelming task of digestion, which can take as long as six hours, or more, leaving other organs, including the heart and brain, relatively deprived. As described earlier, circulation in general becomes less efficient.
WHAT OTHER EFFECTS DOES UNHEALTHY FATS AND/OR OVEREATING CAUSE?
- The body is forced to work harder than it needs to.
- Increases the risk of:
- High Blood pressure
- High ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglycerides - Heart disease and stroke
- Gallbladder disease and gallstones
- Fatty liver
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Diabetes - Type II
- Cancer
Some people have performed this experiment on their own. They ate clean (live fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, lean proteins, and no mucus forming foods), for an entire week. Then they hit their cardio first thing in the morning hard, say the stairs. They made note of the highest level they could maintain for 1 minute, and the highest level they could maintain for 30 seconds. They waited one week to fully recover from their max levels on the stairs. Then, they ate one day of mucus forming foods and high fat/chemcial ‘foods’: cheese, boxed cereals, pasta, eggs, ice cream before, candy bar, and called it a day. They woke and tried to perform the same cardio they did a week prior, at the same levels, at the same time of day. The result? They couldn’t hardly breathe, let alone keep the pace they had previously enjoyed just a few days prior. Of course, I don’t suggest anyone try this without the approval of your doctor, it could be risky.
In fact, studies have shown that having either a meal with a large amount of unhealthy fats, or even an unusually large meal (such as one would have at Thanksgiving), quadrupled the chance of having a heart attack within the next two hours!!!!!
The reason for this is because cardiac output of blood is increased and diverted to the intestinal circulation to aid with the overwhelming task of digestion, which can take as long as six hours, or more, leaving other organs, including the heart and brain, relatively deprived. As described earlier, circulation in general becomes less efficient.
WHAT OTHER EFFECTS DOES UNHEALTHY FATS AND/OR OVEREATING CAUSE?
- The body is forced to work harder than it needs to.
- Increases the risk of:
- High Blood pressure
- High ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglycerides - Heart disease and stroke
- Gallbladder disease and gallstones
- Fatty liver
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Diabetes - Type II
- Cancer
- Sleep apnea
- Asthma
- Loss of sex drive/arousal
- Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem 5. Depression
- Obesity
- Other long term heal effects
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
Basically, eat clean, at least 80% of the time, ideally all the time. When holidays or other special occasions come around be sure to:
1. Eat clean prior to attending the event, this way you’re less likely to over do it.
2. Stay away from the small unhealthy finger foods. Look for a fresh vegetable tray. Skip the dressing.
3. Look for clean salads, or better yet, offer to bring one yourself.
4. Opt for a smaller plate if you’ve already had some munchies. Use a dessert plate for your dinner instead of the full size dinner plate.
5. Stay with modest portions on meats, and small portions on potatoes, stuffing and the like. Fill half your plate with fresh vegetables/salad.
5. Stay with water, tea, or other beverages low in sugar, if any.
6. Eat slowly, very slowly, enjoy the taste, enjoy the conversation. Enjoy the atmosphere.
7. Commit ahead of time, there will be no seconds.
8. Stick with a piece of fruit for dessert, or if you feel you just can't do without it, share a dessert.
Of course, the holidays and special events of our lives are meant to be enjoyed. I think we all have splurges every now and then, let’s just make mindful choices when we’re in these circumstances, and take responsibility for them. It’s when a splurge a day sets in that one not only suffers on every level of their being, but it leads to a long list of other negative outcomes of which I spoke previously.
Challenge yourself to bump things up a notch each week, or month if you have to, but make the effort to progress to a healthier you.
Have a great week!
- Loss of sex drive/arousal
- Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem 5. Depression
- Obesity
- Other long term heal effects
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
Basically, eat clean, at least 80% of the time, ideally all the time. When holidays or other special occasions come around be sure to:
1. Eat clean prior to attending the event, this way you’re less likely to over do it.
2. Stay away from the small unhealthy finger foods. Look for a fresh vegetable tray. Skip the dressing.
3. Look for clean salads, or better yet, offer to bring one yourself.
4. Opt for a smaller plate if you’ve already had some munchies. Use a dessert plate for your dinner instead of the full size dinner plate.
5. Stay with modest portions on meats, and small portions on potatoes, stuffing and the like. Fill half your plate with fresh vegetables/salad.
5. Stay with water, tea, or other beverages low in sugar, if any.
6. Eat slowly, very slowly, enjoy the taste, enjoy the conversation. Enjoy the atmosphere.
7. Commit ahead of time, there will be no seconds.
8. Stick with a piece of fruit for dessert, or if you feel you just can't do without it, share a dessert.
Of course, the holidays and special events of our lives are meant to be enjoyed. I think we all have splurges every now and then, let’s just make mindful choices when we’re in these circumstances, and take responsibility for them. It’s when a splurge a day sets in that one not only suffers on every level of their being, but it leads to a long list of other negative outcomes of which I spoke previously.
Challenge yourself to bump things up a notch each week, or month if you have to, but make the effort to progress to a healthier you.
Have a great week!
PS - For your entertainment and education I have included the link below,
‘The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States’, beware it is sure to amaze you, shock you, and perhaps sicken you:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20393387,00.html
NEED A MEAL PLAN? DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAVE AN EATING DISORDER?
Contact Jill at jillstightbody@gmail.com
‘The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States’, beware it is sure to amaze you, shock you, and perhaps sicken you:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20393387,00.html
NEED A MEAL PLAN? DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAVE AN EATING DISORDER?
Contact Jill at jillstightbody@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment