What The Heck Is In That?

If you ever took the moment to look and see what ingredients were in your favorite foods, you probably noticed that you only recognized one to four of the ingredients. Artificial flavoring, dyes, preservatives...so much to decipher when you are trying your best to eat healthy. Well, my rule of thumb is always (and I'm sure you've heard this) 'if you cannot pronounce it, don't eat it'.

Just to give you a little insight to some of those ingredients you see and don't recognize, I've listed below a few of them and what they actually are:

PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OILS

This includes the process of HYDROGENATION of oils. Basically you're heating the oil and passing hydrogen bubbles through it, which then turns it into a substance with the same consistency as butter. Partially hydrogenated oils are used in products as a butter substitute, by "food" producing companies because it's cheaper than using butter. I read that up until the 1970s, food producers used coconut oil but found this to be a cheaper method. Only problem with partially hydrogenated oils is that it contributes to obesity (also read that once food producers began using it, obesity rates in America rose dramatically) and they contain high levels of trans fats. Trans fat can contribute to heart disease, obesity and a host of other health conditions.

ARTIFICIAL COLORINGS

Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3 and Yellow 6 are all food dyes used in many products. These artificial colors can have subtle affects on you but nonetheless are affecting your body negatively. Blue 1 and 2 can be found in sodas, candy, baked goods. Red 3 can be found in fruit cocktail as well as candy. Green 3 can be found in candy and beverages and Yellow 6 can be found in beverages and candy also as well as sausages, baked goods and gelatin. These artificial dyes have been reported to be linked to cancer, tumors of the thyroid, adrenal glands and kidneys.

MSG

I'm sure you or someone you know has ordered Chinese food and asked if they could hold back on the MSG. Well lo and behold, you may be saving there but this little ingredient can be found in the following, in many products:

glutamate
monosodium glutamate
monopotassium glutamate
yeast extract
hydrolyzed protein
glutamic acid
calcium caseinate
sodium caseinate
yeast food
hydrolyzed corn gluten
gelatin
textured protein
yeast nutrient
autolyzed yeast
natrium glutamate

And I found out that it can be found in the items below or created during processing:

-carrageenan (I just found this out)
-whey protein
-malt extract
-soy sauce or soy sauce extract
-maltodextrin
-pectin

This just lists a few.

BHA, BHT

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydrozyttoluene) are preservatives used in foods to prevent oxidation. They are found in fats and oils to stop them from becoming rancid.

These preservatives are found in such common foods as chewing gum, cereals, potato chips, and various vegetable oils. It is feared that these compounds may cause cancer, effect estrogen levels in women and can also cause hyperactivity, asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis and tumors.

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

Saccharin, Aspartame, Acesulfame-K, Sucrolose, Sorbitol are some of the most used sweeteners and can be found in beverages, baked goods, chewing gum, diet foods and drinks. These sweeteners have been reported to be linked to cancer and can cause other health issues such as dizziness, headaches and can negatively affect metabolism.

Here is a link to an online article from the Center of Science in the Public Interest, which includes an extensive list of SAFE and UNSAFE food additives: http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm

Bottom line: eat foods that contain ingredients that you can easily identify, period. And if you go for an occasional cookie, soda, etc., do so in moderation. Get your nutrition from foods that come in there own natural 'wrappers'.

Be well!

Happy New You!

It's a new year. New resolutions, great expectations for this year to be better than last year and re-energized emotions and feelings towards realizing your dreams. This is what the New Year sentiment usually is and lasts for about, ohhh, until the end of January (smile). Usually by that time most people realize that it takes a whole lot more than just feeling the motivation; you actually have to put ACTION behind that motivation to realize what you hope for in your life.

What are your dreams? Is one of them to be a healthier, happier new you? If so, what steps are you taking to make this actually happen this year? Because you know this was your 'resolution' last year and the year before that as well. Oh, I'm not here to brow-beat you or judge because I too have made a list of my goals (I do not make resolutions) and found that some of those goals carry on from year to year. So, what will be different for you this year with regards to making a change in your health?

I asked myself this question and I decided on taking a 'new' approach to how I will accomplish my goals this year...especially health goals. Yes, I'm a health coach and I'm all about nutrition and living healthier but I too have challenges; no one is perfect (smile). This 'new' approach is simple: ONE DAY AT A TIME...literally.

A co worker turned me on to a really cool website called IDoneThis.com. It's a simple concept: note all the things you've accomplished for the day. It keeps a calendar for you and sends you updates like "Here's what you accomplished a week/month ago" or an auto response tells you how you're on a 2-day streak, make it three! The concept is simple but it is so much bigger than just noting what you've accomplished each day. By writing down what I've accomplished each day, I get an overall sense of accomplishment. You get to see that it literally is a process of one day at a time, inch by inch, to realizing your goals. When I look at my calendar and see the small steps I've taken to accomplishing any given goal, I no longer feel like I'm spinning my wheels or that nothing is happening. I can SEE IT; by viewing my calendar and SEEING it come to fruition in my life. And I must say, it's a great feeling to know that I am doing something, every single day, to accomplish a goal or just simply make my life happier, healthier.

So, what will you do today to create a happy new you? And just focus on what you can do TODAY. Tomorrow will come soon enough; be in the moment and think about what you can do right now to living a healthier lifestyle. Maybe you can get to sleep at a decent time to get in 7-8 hours, so you can begin to feel more rested and ultimately reduce unhealthy cravings. Getting the proper amount of sleep reduces stress which in turn reduces your need to snack on sugary, non nutritional foods and snacks. Or maybe you can carve out 30 minutes each day to devote to some form of physical activity to help you lose weight and boost your energy. Or how about drinking more water and less sodas/juices to help you feel better and lose weight. It's the small changes that you incorporate into your life, that will help you to truly create a healthier lifestyle and a new you!

What will you do today to make a change? I mean think about it: aren't you tired of the same old thing each and every year? You've been doing what you've been doing all these years and ask yourself: how's it working for you? If you're answer is not so good, then I encourage you to take a step...take action today to make a change. And it doesn't have to be something monumental. It can be one small thing to ignite your desire to make a change in your life, once and for all.

Happy New Year You!!

Be well!!