Cut the sugar

It seems to me that we live in a society where success - be it at work or socially - is measured by how you look.  Are you thin enough?  Is your hair beautifully luscious?  Are you wearing the right designer label?  Do you drive the right car?

We are constantly confronted with top models airbrushed to perfection and headlines screaming out the next best diet that promises miracles in half an hour with no suffering.  Women strive to be a size 0, while teenagers;  boys and girls alike are struggling with Anorexia and Bulimia just to be accepted.

And, of course, there is the other side of the coin... obese and over weight people are turning to dangerous operations such as gastric bands and gastric bypasses to lose weight quickly.  Childhood obesity is on the rise and children are being bullied about their weight.  Obese people have admitted to being socially outcast and I have even spoken to people who have suffered mobbing in their workplace because their boss didn't like "fat" people.

We judge people on their appearance.  We think we can form an opinion of someone just by what they look like.  Well you can’t.  For example, there are many reasons behind obesity, it isn’t just someone eating too much.  Some people have serious psychological problems, others have illnesses which lead them to put on weight such as hypothyroidism, others have to take medication that makes them gain weight…

Stats:

• 1/3 of adults worldwide are now overweight.  The number has QUADRUPLED since 1980 in the developing world.
• In the UK alone 64% of adults are classed as obese.
• A global explosion means that 1.46 billion adults across the globe are obese or over weight (this means they have a Body Mass Index of over 25).
• Obesity = greater risk of heart attacks, strokes, cancer, diabetes and other health related issues.
• At 70% North America has the highest percentage of overweight adults, but regions such as Australasia and Southern Latin America are catching up with 63%.
• North Africa, the Middle East and Latin America saw overweight and obesity rates increase to a level similar to Europe, around 53%.

So why is this happening?

I think a lot of the problem is down to lifestyle choices.  A poor diet and lack of exercise can lead to a whole host of health problems including weight gain, obesity,  and as I said before, heart attacks, cancer, strokes, diabetes, etc..

Then add on that we are constantly bombarded with publicity from fast food companies and soft drink companies who are just dying to sell as much of their product as they can, and promise to make our lives so much easier as we can just pick up the phone and magically a pizza will appear on our doorstep, or Chinese food, or Indian, or… and the list goes on.

ALL fast food, processed food, soft drinks, basically anything with an ingredient label is packed full of vast amounts of sugar and salt.  Both of which contribute vastly to weight gain.

This week, I was reading the press from the UK, on any given day there are various articles about diet, sugar, fat, etc., in fact this week on one day I saw these three headlines:

1. "The hell of giving up sugar (and why it's worth all the agony in the end)..."
2. "Rising obesity levels force NHS to spend extra 5.5 million pounds on adapting hospitals and buying specialist equipment to cope with overweight patients."
3. "Slap a 20% 'health tax' on fizzy drinks.  Experts call for action to slash UK sugar intake."

For years the government “health” bodies have been telling us that fat is the killer.  We have a vast range of low fat and no fat products on the market all meant to magically make us thin - but they don’t.  Ever since Senator George McGovern created the first ever dietary guidelines way back in 1977 we have had a health problem.  At the time saturated fat consumption from animal sources was at an all time high in the States and so were heart attacks.  It was therefore decided that heart attacks were being caused by the consumption of saturated fat.  So the US Government decided that we should all be using vegetable oils and margarines to lower the consumption of saturated animal fat (e.g: butter).  However health problems continued to increase - including heart attacks in a time when saturated fat consumption was at an all time low. 

As it turns out, vegetable margarines which were marketed as the healthy substitute for animal fat, are packed full of trans fats and far more dangerous to your health than eating butter.  One of my first ever posts on this blog was about trans fats… you can read it here.

However we are still on a low fat health kick.  All you have to do is walk around a supermarket and see just how many low fat products there are.  However, what you have to stop and think is that if you remove the fat from something you have to replace it with something else - otherwise it tastes pretty nasty!  So what do they replace it with?  SUGAR AND SALT.

We now know that the real killer is not fat at all and in fact our bodies need fat (in moderation), there are certain vitamins (A, D, E, and K) that are only soluble in the presence of fat.  But still our governments publish food pyramids and food plates that tell us to eat carbs and just a little bit of animal protein - because of the fat content.  Sugar and refined carbs are the real killer - so yes tax that sugar, make people healthier!

Refined sugar has no nutritional value, refined flour has no nutritional value, white rice has no nutritional value…  Sugar and salt do you NO good at all.  Stay natural and stay healthy.

I can help you improve your health.  If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com

This year's hottest superfoods

Everyday we know more and more about what foods are good for our bodies and, more importantly, what isn't.

To be honest, I really think that focusing on what ISN'T good for us is a lot easier than understanding what is... Mother Nature is such a generous provider that the list of what IS good for us is very very long.

But, maybe focusing on what ISN'T is too negative, so here is some food for thought... the 10 hottest NEW superfoods for this year.  Yes, food is fashionable and each year people are "discovering" foods that have always been there but just weren't on our radar, so if you like to try new healthy foods, here are some for you to try:

• Sesame seeds - nothing new here I hear you shout, but did you know that these tiny seeds that populate your hamburger bun are filled with essential minerals including manganese, copper, iron, phosphorus, and contain 20% of your daily zinc and calcium?  Eating sesame seeds has been shown to help lower bad cholesterol (LDL), reduce hypertension and stress and can also protect your liver.  You can add them to almost anything and sesame paste, also known as tahini, is one of the ingredients of hummus - delicious!
• Avocado oil - this fruit (yes, it is a fruit) is already known for being a great source of fibre, vitamins and protein.  It is thought that the humble avocado can help lower cholesterol and the risk of diabetes, stroke and coronary artery disease.  Avocado oil is high in lecithin, add it to your salad dressings, dips and marinades and reap the benefits of its healthy monounsaturated fats.  It is also safe as a cooking oil as it's smoke point is very high.
• Coffee - another one that isn't new, and it doesn't get much good press... until now!  New studies show that drinking black coffee in moderation may help prevent diabetes, certain cancers, and liver disease and can also be good for your heart.  Coffee is a great source of antioxidants, researchers at the University of Scranton said,

"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source.  Nothing else comes close," states Joe Vinson, Ph.D, the lead author of the study.

          However, never drink caffeine of any sort on an empty stomach.

• Beet juice.  Richly colored vegetables are very beneficial to your health, beets are a prime example.  Beet juice is a great source of inflammation-reducing antioxidants and blood flow-improving nitrates.  This powerful and healthy combination promotes brain health, lowers blood pressure, and is an excellent energy booster.
• Teff - have you ever heard of this?  I hadn't!  It's a gluten free cereal packed full of dietary fiber that can help with managing your blood sugar levels, weight control and colon health because 20-40% of it's carbs are resistant starches.  You can substitute teff flour in most baked goods.
• Canary seeds - another gluten free grain and contains more protein per ounce than most others.  Canary seeds are made suitable for human consumption by a de-hulling process that retains their nutrients.
• Beluga Lentils.  You've probably heard of red, green and brown lentils and this is another variety.  They have a rich black color so you'll be able to identify them.  Their color comes from high concentrations of anthocyanins that fight inflammation, cancer and heart disease.  
• Salsify - what?  This, believe it or not, is a root vegetable also known as "oyster plant" due to its taste when cooked.  It looks like a form of parsnip, but is low in calories, high in fiber and can be boiled, mashed and used in soups and stews, and it's rumored to help people maintain a healthy weight.
• Za'atar.  A spice blend of sumac seeds, thyme salt, and sesame seeds from the Middle East.

  

  Za'atar

   Za'atar can be sprinkled over a variety of foods including flatbread, yogurt, and chicken and gives a savory flavor.  What makes it even better is that it is known to reduce your risks of food borne illnesses.
• Shichimi Togarashi.  A Japanese spice blend rich in antioxidants is made up of chili powder, orange or tangerine peel, black and white sesame seeds, and seaweed.  It is thought that this spice blend contributes to lowering your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

So get sprinkling - among other things!  

I can help you improve your health.  If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com

It's not about being thin... it's about being healthy

In today's society it seems that if you aren't a size 0 then you are classed as fat.  Teenagers are faced on a daily basis with photos of skinny models and actors and they feel they have to look the same to be popular.  Fat people are bullied and openly shamed in public, many even admit to having few friends.  Others have admitted to having a "fat" friend because it makes them look more attractive.  To me this is a sorry world we live in.

Being skinny at all costs will damage your health just as much as being fat will.  Anorexia and bulimia are serious illnesses that have claimed many lives.  Being obese also has claimed many lives.  All of these illnesses put an extra burden on our already stretched public health services.  There are also many many women who spend their lives trying one fad diet after another, and lose weight only to regain it and more.  It is a very frustrating way to live.

Taking this into consideration, I think we need to learn ourselves and therefore teach our children about healthy living.  It isn't just what my body looks like, it is how I SEE my body.  I was shocked this week when I saw a video documentary about body image.  Taryn Brumfitt, the woman who made the video, asked women to use just one word to describe their bodies.  The result was so sad... every adjective used was negative: "Disgusting", "Fat", "Ugly"... it was so demoralising and very sad.  This is the way normal women (yes normal women not super models or actors), see themselves and I found it devastating.  How do we expect our daughters to feel if this is the way we talk about ourselves.  And it isn't just the women, there are also men out there suffering from anorexia, bulimia and obesity.

I strongly encourage you to watch Taryn's video... it might just change your point of view you can watch it here.

Now, how can we change this?  We have to stop thinking that "thin is in" and we have to think that healthy is beautiful.  What do you really want from life?  Most people want to be healthy and live a long enjoyable life with their loved ones.  

So how do you achieve that?

For starters it isn't just about your weight.  Mind and body go together.  You have to nourish the body and the mind.  The digestive system is the only other system in the body that generates neurotransmitters, so it is critical to treat the digestive system correctly... the rest will fall into place.

Processed foods packed full of sugar and salt, soft drinks, even diet drinks can only contribute to weight problems and harm health.  Being thin, doesn't necessarily mean you are healthy, and we definitely know that being overweight or obese isn't healthy.  But that is the key, to be healthy, if you eat healthily you will find your natural healthy weight with ease.  Your skin will glow, your hair will shine and you will have an abundance of natural energy - and yes, you've guessed it, your brain will work better than ever!

It has been demonstrated that a healthy body means a healthy mind.  Body image - the way we see ourselves and each other, is a major issue - especially for young people today.  We can't change the fashion industry's idea of what beautiful is or even Hollywood's idea... but we can talk to our children, we can tell them about airbrushing and photoshop, about make-up tricks and how most of what they are seeing in magazines today is fake.  Thanks to the Internet we can show them what celebrities look like with no make-up on.  We can talk to our children about the importance of being healthy and how eating whole foods in a plant based diet will make them just that.  We all talk to our children about how dangerous smoking and drugs are... so why not talk about how GOOD healthy food is and how it can prevent disease and also make, as I said before, their skin glow and hair shine!

With the F.I.T Method, my aim is to teach people how to eat correctly for their body.  One thing I have discovered is that weight loss is almost a side effect.  Eating correctly for your body, so it receives the essential nutrients it needs from fresh healthy foods is the goal, you will lose weight naturally as you go.  If we ate correctly none of us would be over weight to start with - so, what's your excuse for not looking after yourself?

I can help you improve your health.  If you would like to make an appointment with me either in person or via Skype, just send me an email to lucycarr@socialnutrition.com