Essential Foods That Impact Your Health and Well-Being
You probably know that the food we eat matters for our health and quality of life. Think of your body as a strong house. Imagine a destructive group drilling into its base or putting harmful things between its bricks. This comparison shows how eating too much sugar, processed foods, smoking, and drinking can affect the gut, which is the base of our bodies.
Understanding the Hidden Dangers in 'Healthy' Foods
Marketing Tactics
- Reading food labels is key.
- Always check the label on packaged food.
- Focus on nutritional information, specifically the added sugar content, and be mindful of portion size
The Harsh Reality of Processed Food
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Providing only empty calories means a lack of nutrients like protein and minerals.
- Contains artificial additives to make look like natural
- Affects digestive health
- Disrupts gut microbiome balance, which increase bad bacteria
- Potential for addiction
- Hidden ingredients that are not beneficial to our health, like different types of preservatives.
Did You Know?
Unbelievably high levels of added sugar are frequently present in foods and drinks that appear healthful.
Impact of high-sugar food on Gut health
- Consuming foods high in sugar, like sugary snacks, desserts, and sweetened beverages, can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria. This imbalance can disturb the delicate balance of microorganisms in the gut, which is known as gut dysbiosis.
- Moreover, consuming diets high in sugar can affect how food moves through the digestive system, known as gut motility. This disruption may cause digestive problems like bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea.
- Moreover, consuming too much sugar can lead to gaining weight. This may happen because sugary foods and drinks have a lot of calories and can affect hormones and metabolism.
What happens to the person who eats a lot of sugar?
There is a tendency towards addiction that may persist into adulthood.
- Negative impacts on general health, including inadequate intake of essential nutrients and an increased risk of chronic diseases.
- Adverse effects on liver health.
- Mood swings.
Sweet foods are highly addictive and can lead to:
- Intensified feelings of sadness.
- Premature ageing.
Sources of fat: we should generally avoid
Salad Dressings:
In spite of the fact that salads are often thought of as a healthy choice, sauces can contain a lot of fat.
Sugar-free ice cream and sugar-free cookies
Get their sweetness from sugar alternatives or artificial sweeteners
Processed Snacks
Many prepared foods say they are low in fat when they really have a lot of sugar in them.
Restaurant meals, parties, and Weddings
When meals are made, extra fats, oils, and sauces are added to make them taste better.
Granola Bars & Energy Bars
It is very important to read the labels very carefully because some forms of these bars may have a lot of fat that is not easy to see.
| Healthy Fats to use these | Unhealthy Fats to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Avocados | Margarine |
| Eggs | French Fries |
| Coconut Oil | Doughnuts |
| Raw Nuts | Cookies |
| Olive oil | Pastries |
| Salmon | Crackers |
| flaxseed | Processed Meats |
| Leafy green Vegetables | Hydrogenated Oil |
| Organic Butter and Nut Oils |
High Fat and Gut Health
- lower digestion
- Impact on gut microbiota
- Increased risk of gut inflammation
- Changes in gut motility
Production and Absorption of Bile
Harsh Reality of Alcohol Consumption
Calorie-dense alcohol: Alcohol contains calories, with approximately 7 calories per gram.
- Effects on one’s memory
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Accidents become more likely to occur.
- a heightened susceptibility to infectious illnesses
- Genetic diseases of the foetal alcohol spectrum ( FSAD) effects on heart.
Harsh Reality of Smoking
- Effects on physical appearance
- Secondhand smoke impacts the health of those nearby
- Risks to health
- Speeds up the aging process
- Affects metabolism and nutrient absorption
- Reduces microbial diversity
- Changes in microbiome composition
Affected Organs from Excessive Sugar, Fat, and Processed Food
- Brain
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Heart
- Pancreas
Conclusion:
- Prioritise Wellness Instead of Sweetness
- Avoid High-Fat Foods
- Opt for Fresh over Processed: From Farm to Fork
- Enhance Self-Love by Quitting Alcohol and Improving well-being.
- Reclaim Your Life by Quitting Smoking and Freeing Your Lungs
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