Reduce Calories in the New Year
You are probably well aware of the Super-Size-Me trap at fast food restaurants, but it may not occur to you that eating at sit-down restaurants will also lead to consuming inferior food, and far more calories, than eating at home.
Restaurant meals can be highly deceptive, not only due to the fact that you don’t really know what’s in that meal, but you may also overindulge, eating more than your fill. Research shows that it actually takes you longer to reach fullness when you’re served a larger than normal portion of food.
Additionally, when the plate comes stacked to the hilt, many have trouble leaving food on their plates. In one survey, 67 percent of participants said that they finish their entrees when eating out all or most of the time. Most restaurants serve very large portions, it’s no wonder we are having weight problems in the U.S.
American meal portions have steadily increased, and our waistlines have expanded accordingly.
Back in 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accurately concluded that carbohydrates are the reason why Americans, men and women have been gaining weight.
Meanwhile, obesity rates jumped from 14.5 percent of U.S. adults in 1971, to 30.9 percent in 2000.
Previous research linked this increase to a greater intake of salty snacks, pizza and other fast foods — in other words, a greater intake of carbohydrates, mainly in the form of refined grains.
Fast-forward eight years, and today, the average American consumes a whopping 3,770 calories a day, is 10 pounds overweight, and our adult obesity rate is over 65 percent!
Apparently, excessive carbohydrate consumption is showing no signs of slowing down.
According to a representative from the American Dietetic Association;, restaurant meals average between 1000 and 1500 calories a meal.
But one of the often ignored MAJOR culprits boosting calorie intake today is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), in the form of soda. It is the number one source of calories in the American diet today. In fact, the average American gets an astounding one –fourth of its calories from soda.
What’s the Answer?
At the end of the day, your consumption of carbohydrates, whether in the form of (all) refined grains, sugars, or high fructose corn syrup, will determine whether or not you’re able to manage your weight and maintain optimal health.
Cutting out or severely limiting all three can be the U-turn you’ve been looking for if you are currently overweight and/or your health is suffering.
Keep in mind that if you choose to rely on restaurant food for most of your meals, you are likely slashing decades from your lifespan and increasing the likelihood of having to rely on expensive and potentially toxic drugs to treat the symptoms that will result from not eating healthy.
So you either pay now or wind up paying later, at which point it will typically be far more painful and expensive.
The real remedy is to return to your kitchen and embrace good old-fashioned home cooking.
An impressive New Years commitment would be to strive for a diet of 90 percent non-processed food and only 10 percent from other sources.
Not only will you enjoy numerous health benefits, but you will save a good amount of cash as well.
Yes, it takes more time and energy to follow an individualize plan than to eat fast food, but doing so could:
• Add years to your lifespan
• Give you more energy than you know what to do with
• Help you avoid cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis
Like many people, I have very little “free time” in my life, but still I am committed to preparing over 90 percent of my meals in order to preserve my health. It is a commitment, a truly important one, and it CAN be done. Join me!
