10 Things about Processed Foods You Need to Know

http://www.undergroundhealth.com/10-things-the-processed-food-industry-doesnt-want-you-to-know/

I copied this article from the above website after reading it through a link on Facebook.

10 Things the Processed Food Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know

Processed foods seem like the answer to today’s busy lives. New fads and fancy advertisements make promises that keep us coming back for more. 

But before you hit the vending machine or the fast food window, find out what the processed food industry doesn’t want you to know: 

1. Processed foods are addictive and can cause you to overeat. 

Whole foods are made up of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber and water. When foods are processed the components of these foods are modified (for example, fiber, water and nutrients are removed) and in other cases, components are concentrated. In each case, processing changes the way they are digested and assimilated in your body. 

Eating highly processed or highly concentrated foods can artificially stimulate dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter), which plays a role in addiction. In this way, you are eating foods that lack nutrients and fiber, but create a pleasurable feeling. A food addiction starts because you feel good when you are eating these foods and they make you think they taste better. You crave that pleasurable feeling again and again and viola…this is what starts a food addiction.

2. Processed foods are linked to obesity. 

Additives in processed foods, like high fructose corn syrup, sugar and MSG have been linked to weight gain and obesity. Dr. Mercola recently reported about a new study that showed childhood obesity could be reduced by 18 percent, simply by cutting out fast food advertisements during children’s programming. The Australian government is clearly more concerned about their children’s health as television advertisements to children were banned several years ago. 

3. Processed foods often contain ingredients that do not follow the principle of food combining, which can lead to low energy, poor digestion, illness, acidic blood and weight gain. 

An example would be a frozen meat and cheese pizza. Cheese (a dairy product), meat (an animal protein) and pizza crust (a grain product) make a terrible food combination that can wreak havoc on your digestive health. 

4. Processed foods contribute to an imbalanced inner ecosystem, which can lead to digestive problems, cravings, illness and disease. 

Beneficial microflora cannot survive in your digestive tract when you are poisoning them. Like us they thrive on foods that are made by nature not by man. 

5. A diet high in processed foods can lead to depression, memory issues and mood swings. 

Ingredients in processed foods are often the lowest cost and sub-par, nutritionally. For example, the fats and oils used in processed foods are refined, which means they are stripped of the essential fatty acids necessary for healthy blood sugar levels, moods and memory. Your heart, hormones and brain suffer when you choose to eat these fats and oils. Instead choose the organic, unrefined or “virgin” fats and oils that are recommended on The Body Ecology Diet. 

6. Processed foods often go hand in hand with “eating on the run” or multitasking. 

Most people will choose convenience if they are on the run and in today’s busy lives, who of us isn’t? Unfortunately, multitasking while eating causes people to lose touch with their natural appetite, often leading to weight gain. Additionally, multitasking sends the wrong signals to your digestive system, which needs to be in a restful mode to digest properly. 

7. Nutrition labels on processed foods are often misleading and have harmful health effects. 

Many labels say “sugar free,” but contain other sweeteners like agave, which is like high fructose corn syrup. Additionally, product labeling may hide ingredients like GM (genetically modified) foods and harmful additives like MSG. (These are hidden behind words on the label like “natural flavorings” or “approved spices”). 

8. Diets high in processed meats (like hot dogs and deli meats) have been linked to various forms of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and stomach cancer. 

One of the reasons for this link to cancer is thought to be because of the preservatives used in processed meats. Clare Hughes, Australian Cancer Council nutrition program manager, says a number of studies have linked processed meat to cancer and the problem is multi-fold. “Processed meats are high in salt and fat. In addition, chemicals such as nitrites are added to many processed meats to maintain their colour and to prevent contamination. Nitrites can be converted in the stomach to carcinogenic nitrosamines.” 

9. Eating too many processed foods can lead to infertility and malnutrition. 

Processed foods, like cereal, are stripped of important vitamins and nutrients that your body truly needs. You could be eating a large amount of calories and still be malnourished if your diet is high in processed foods. 

Animal studies have shown that over three generations, a deficient diet causes reproduction to cease. Today, infertility is on the rise, affecting 7.3 million people in America. 

10. Processed foods are made for long shelf-life, not long human life! 

Chemicals, additives and preservatives are added to processed foods so that they will last for a long time without going rancid or affecting the taste of the food. Food manufacturers spend time, money and research on beautiful packaging and strategies to lengthen shelf-life, with little attention on how the foods will lengthen your life or create lasting health.

I'm sick to my stomach

I just watched this absolutely disgusting film. I know that these facts do not and will not apply to everyone, but the facts are the facts. Fast food is poison, it is as addictive as any drug, and it is meant to be.

Some of the facts are outdated and some of the more disgusting ones have been bolded.

Please take a minute or two to read over these facts, and try not to get sick.

Super Size Me: The facts from the film.

(this movie came out in 2004 and the stats have only gotten worse in the past decade)

q  America is the fattest nation in the world. Over 100 million Americans are overweight or obsess. 60% of all US adults are overweight or obsess.

q  Mississippi is the fattest state in the nation.(it is now Alabama: It has an obesity rate of 31.2 percent)

q  Since 1980 to the present, the amount of children who are obese has doubled. Obesity is now second only to smoking as a major cause of preventable death in America with over 400,000 preventable illnesses related to obesity each year.

q  More and more Americans are eating out which leads to bigger waistlines as well. One in four Americans visits a fast-food restaurant.

q  Mc Donald’s alone has 30,000 joints in 100 countries on 6 continents. It serves over 46 million worldwide each day. That is more people than the entire country of Spain.  Mc Donald’s is 43% of the fast food market. Mc Donald’s is everywhere: in malls, airports, and even in hospitals.

q  Morgan Spurlock, the star of the film, wanted to find out what would happen to his body if he ate nothing but Mc Donald’s for 30 days.

q  Sixty-percent of Americans get no exercise at all and lead a completely sedentary lifestyle. Most Americans walk no more than 5,000 steps a day. The average New Yorker, however, walks 4-5 miles a day.

q  There are 83 Mc Donald’s in New York City within 22.4 square miles. That means there are 4 per square mile.

q  The small size soda in the US is the big size in France.

q  The rules for Morgan Spurlock in Super Size Me are:

1.      Only super-size when asked

2.      Only eat things from Mc Donald’s

3.      Have to have everything on the menu at least once over the next 30 days

4.      Must have 3 square meals a day

q  Americans eat out 40% of our meals. That’s a lot.

q  Mc Donald’s works to appeal to kids with a number of tricks:

1. The Mc Donald’s playgrounds. For some communities that don’t have parks, the playgrounds at Mc Donald’s are the only place to take your kid to play.
2. Birthday parties children can have at Mc Donald’s.
3. Happy Meals appeal to kids
4. Ronald Mc Donald, the clown.

q  Obesity is a national epidemic.

q  The federal government says that 3 oz of meat is a serving size. Most restaurants serve 4 to 5 times that amount.

q  One bagel = five pieces of bread and is between 500-600 calories.

q  The original size of fries was 200 calories. A large size fries is 600 calories.

q  At Burger King, a 12 oz drink used to be a small. Now it is considered kiddie-size.

q  Cars have introduced different cup holders for the Double Big Gulps, which are a ½ gallon of soda and are between 600-800 calories depending on how much ice is in them.

q  Toxic food and physical inactivity, as well as constant access to cheap, fatty foods are leading to an environment that almost guarantees we become obese.

q  There are 3 million soda machines – enough for one machine for every 97 people.

q  Obesity will overtake smoking if left unabated as the #1 cause of preventable death in the U.S.

q  Weight gain and being overweight or obese leads to a lot of health problems such as:

1.      Hypertension

2.      Coronary heart disease

3.      Stroke

4.      Gallbladder disease

5.      Osteo-arthritis

6.      Sleep apnea

7.      Respitory problems

8.      Endometrial cancer

9.      Breast Cancer

10.  Prostrate Cancer

11.  Colon Cancer

12.  Insulin resistance

13.  Asthma

14.  Reproductive hormone abnormalities

15.  Dyslipidemia

16.  Hepatitus

17.  Hyperuricemia

18.  Cystic Ovarian Syndrome

19.  Impaired Fertility

20.  Adult onset diabetes

q  One out of every 3 children born in 2000, if trends continue, will develop diabetes in their life

q  At least 17 million Americans, 1 out of 20, have type 2 diabetes. If diabetes starts before the age of 15, you may lose 17-27 years of life.

q  Direct medial costs have doubled in the past five years to 92 billion dollars.

q  20% of obsess kids have elevated liver function. Tests show that half of them have evidence of cirrhosis of the liver, which is scarring of the liver, which may lead to liver failure as adults.

q  Mc Donald’s stated in their own defense that it is a “matter of common knowledge that any processing that its foods undergo serve to make them more harmful than unprocessed foods.”

q  Mc Nuggets – are made from chickens pumped with hormones so that have unusually large breasts. The chickens are put into a machine whole, their heads are chopped off, and they the rest of their bodies, including feces, comes out of the machine in chicken Mc Nuggets.

q  Americans see a lot of advertising. The average child sees 10,000 food advertisements each year on TV. 95% of those ads are for sugared cereals, soft drinks, and candy.

q  Companies spend billions on selling and marketing their products. Mc Donald’s spent 1.4 billion on direct advertising. Hershey’s spent 200 million.

q  But the 5 A Day Fruit and Vegetable Campaign only spent 2 million a year. How can they even compete in trying to educate about good, healthy food choices with so much less money?

q  What is fructose? Sugar

q  Half of US homes do not have Internet access. 

q  Half of all Mc Donald’s had posted nutritional information about their products. One in four had no information at all.

q  Losing 10% of your body weight is beneficial for your health.

q  Impact of fast food can be seen in our nation’s schools. A misconception of adults in the school cafeterias is that kids are eating more than the junk food they bug, but they are not often.

q  There are 36 grams of sugar in Country Time Lemonade. It has as much sugar as a Coke.

q  Sodexo services out to 400 school districts each day. They get to do this because they were the lowest bidder, that serves, as a result, cheap, often fatty, foods.

q  A Truancy program turned things around at their school with diet. They used Natural Ovens, to serve food at their school that is: low fat, low sugar, free of dyes and preservatives, non-chemically processed, no beef, not fried or opened from a can or a box. Instead their fruit is fresh, with lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains. The school also got rid of candy and soda machines.  The school saw major changes in the kids – better behavior and more focus. The program costs the same as any other school program. So why isn’t everyone doing this program? Because big companies put a lot of pressure on schools to serve junk foods because the companies make huge profits on the sale of lots of junk food and soda.

q  LA Unified banned soda, which has tons of sugar.

q  Texas has 5 out of the 10 fattest cities in American with Houston as the #1 fattest city in America.

q  In the U.S. the only state that requires mandatory PE in its public schools is Illinois, which is also one of the fattest states ironically enough.

q  The surgeon general says you need a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise a day to maintain weight and well-being.

q  In 2001, No Child Left Behind, was passed, and as a result in many schools, recess is being cut out to prepare for tests.

q  What is a calorie? It is a measure of energy content in food. One calorie is the amount of energy needed to raise a liter of water by 1 degree Celsius.

q  There are only 7 items on the Mc Donald’s menu with no sugar:

1.      French fries

2.      Iced tea

3.      Diet Coke

4.      Chicken Mc Nuggets

5.      Hash browns

6.      Sausage

7.      Coffee

q  Morgan Spurlock in the film, according to his doctors, was wiping out his liver with a high fat diet.

q  There was a drug effect from the food within the brain – not just the taste kept him eating, but the food affects mood and it can become addicting.

q  72% of people who eat at Mc Donald’s at least once a week are heavy users.

q  22% of people who eat at Mc Donald’s are super heavy eaters – they eat there multiple times a week.

q  100 nutritionists were called in the film and 45 of them said never to eat at Mc Donald’s.

q  30 billion dollars is spent each year on diet products and weight loss programs. That is 2.5 times what Americans spend on fitness and health.

q  Why does the fast food industry have lobbyists to do for them?

1.      To make sure that no government agency ever says eat less of a company’s products

2.      To make sure that the government never passes legislation that is unfavorable.

q  What happened to Morgan Spurlock’s body as a result of his 30 day experiment eating nothing but Mc Donald’s?

1.      He gained 24.5 pounds.

2.      His liver turned to fat

3.      His cholesterol shot up 65 points.

4.      He had an 11-15% body fat increase.

5.      He nearly doubled his risk of coronary heart disease.

6.      He became depressed and exhausted

7.      His sex life was non-existent

8.      He had bad mood swings

9.      He had massive cravings and massive headaches.

q  Premium salads at Mc Donald’s have 51 grams of fat and have more calories than a Big Mac. Eating one provides you with 79% of your daily fat intake.

q  Spurlock was asked to Supersize his meals 9 times. Five of those were in Texas.

q  He consumed 30 pounds of sugar that month – a pound a day.

q  He consumed 12 pounds of fat over 30 days.

q  The Cheeseburger Bill was passed by Congress and makes it illegal to sue fast food for making you obsess.

q  Detroit is now the #1 fattest city in America

q  Texas has now added five additional fattest cities to the list.

q  Six weeks after the film Super Size Me premiered, Mc Donald’s announced they were eliminating their Super Size me menu. 

Sex and Exercise-now that I have your attention.

Whether you're a fitness junkie or exercising for the first time, learn the answer to the question, "Can exercise make a huge impact on having a better sex life?" Hopefully i can give you some insight and help you find the answer to the relationship between exercise and better sex.

There are several real life reasons why a physically fit person is more likely to fully enjoy sex compared to a non-fit person. For starters, when you are physically fit you tend to have more self esteem. I don't speak for everyone of course, just in general. Secondly, your improved muscle tone can increase sexual gratification, since orgasms depend on multiple muscle activity. In the case of the more mature man, improved cardiovascular fitness can be critical for maximum sexual function. Know what I mean?

Physically fit men seem to benefit in the bedroom, as it relates to increased libido and stable testosterone levels that often decline as men age. On the other hand, sex can be as much mental as it is physical, and a person's physical appearance can be beneficial on an emotional level, as well. Beer bellies are unattractive, on men and women. And the can get in the way. Just saying. Looking and feeling healthy can increase your self-esteem while making you feel more attractive.

The relationship between physical fitness and sexual function is not the only factor that may increase a person's sexual pleasure. Some researchers attribute a good exercise program, along with other healthy activities such as good eating habits, smoking cessation and getting plenty of rest, with having a positive effect on sexual performance for people of all ages.

A study conducted at the University of California-San Diego tracked 78 middle-aged men (that would be me ) on an aerobic exercise program. The subjects exercised at moderate intensity for 60 minutes a day, three or four days a week. After nine months of continuous exercise, these subjects reported that their sex life was more satisfying as far as stamina and orgasms. In comparison, 17 male subjects that performed light workout routines such as walking at a comparatively slower pace stated that they had no substantial improvement in their sex lives.

In conclusion, exercise alone should not be considered the panacea for all sexual dysfunctions or dissatisfaction. However, if you hope to improve your sex life through exercise, you should carefully consider adopting a more comprehensive healthy lifestyle in order to increase the possibility of fully experiencing your sexual peak. Here are some suggestions for anyone interested.

• Cardio Endurance - For enthusiastic sex, you'll need to build cardio endurance. It makes your heart strong and keeps your body going. Try for 3 or 4 days of cardio exercise like running, walking, swimming or any activity you enjoy.
• Muscular Endurance - Sex also requires you to hold...er...occasionally uncomfortable positions for short periods of time, so conditioning your body can be a plus for longer lasting sex. If you're new to strength training, start with a basic strength workout 2-3 times a week or learn more about weight training to see how you can set up your own program.
• Strength - As long as we're talking about holding yourself in position, strength is something else you'll need. Your basic strength workout will help you build more strength, just make sure you challenge your muscles with enough weight. You should use enough weight that your last rep is difficult, but not impossible and, if you're a woman, don't worry that you'll bulk up. Women don't produce enough testosterone to build big muscles, but you will build amazing strength. 
• Flexibility - Being limber can enhance anyone's sex life by making it a bit easier to get into your favorite position with less discomfort. Try stretching after your workouts or incorporate a little yoga into your routine. Yoga is also relaxing, which can help you reduce fatigue and get you in the mood.

Keep in mind that both sex and exercise have been proven to help reduce stress, so doing both on a regular basis should help you stay relaxed and happy. Exercise also helps increase your sexual desire. Elizabeth Scott, About.com's Stress Guide discusses this in her article, Stress and Sex, pointing out that, "...at times stress can actually prevent us from being ‘in the mood’. With the libido-dampening effects of excessive stress, sex sometimes goes by the wayside." Exercise, along with a healthy diet and adequate sleep can boost your libido so you're up for anything.

Don't forget that sex burns calories. Sure, it has to be fairly vigorous to get your heart rate going, but a 130-lb person can burn about seven calories per five minutes of vigorous sex. Keep it up for an hour, and you'll burn off 88 calories...not a bad trade off.

Coconut Water ! Yeah or Nah? It depends.

Mmmm, coconut water. Super-hydrating! Potassium-rich! All natural! There's no shortage of talk about Mother Nature's tropical cocktail these days, but any "healthy" drink that gets so much buzz — and is so ridiculously tasty — makes us wonder if it's too good to be true. Depending on who you ask, coconut water is a miracle beverage...or barely better than soda. 

So before you reach for another bottle of Zico or Vita Coco, here are the facts on coconut water.

Not to be confused with coconut milk (a concoction of coconut water and freshly grated coconut), coconut water is all-natural carbs, straight up. A clear, sweet liquid with a nutty taste, it's found inside young, green coconuts; the sterile water is usually harvested at the nine-month point. If you're lucky enough to have access, fresh is best, says Barbara Mendez, RPh, MS, a NYC-based nutritionist and registered pharmacist. "Fresh coconut water has not been pasteurized, therefore it contains enzymes that help to detoxify and repair the body," she explains. Most of what you'll find in stores is pasteurized or from concentrate. ("It's still a great way to hydrate yourself and it will still contain minerals, but it’s pasteurized, therefore, not raw,” she adds.) 

Devotees of coconut water frequently praise its ability to keep the body well-hydrated. “Coconut water is a great source of electrolytes, such as potassium, necessary for proper hydration,” Mendez states. “Electrolytes are also necessary for proper muscle contraction and to generate energy in the body.” And, she adds, even if you're a Bugles-munching couch potato, the potassium in coconut water can counteract the potential hazards — hypertension, for instance — of a high-sodium diet of processed and refined foods. (If you medically need to restrict your potassium intake, however, avoid coconut water.)

Camille Eroy-Reveles, a Brooklyn-based fitness trainer, gives coconut water a thumbs-up, too. “It’s been used in tropical climates for ages to rehydrate the body,” she explains. “Some of my clients prefer the naturally occurring coconut water to sports drinks, as it doesn’t have the added sugar and artificial flavoring and colors that other sports drinks have.” Yet, marathon runners and strenuous exercisers may want to keep nursing their neon Gatorade. “Sports drinks typically have more sodium, which is extremely important for maintaining water balance. They also have a greater carbohydrate content,” Eroy-Reveles adds.

So, what's the catch? (You knew one was coming.) Check the ingredients before you start chugging. “It’s important to read the label for added sugars,” says Stacy Rothschild, MPH, RD, dietitian and founder of New Leaf Nutrition in Paramus, New Jersey. “Choose the unflavored, natural varieties; otherwise, you might be consuming all that added sugar that you would get from fruit juice or a soda.” As an example, a 14-ounce bottle of plain Zico coconut water has 12 grams of sugar, but the same serving of chocolate Zico has 18 grams. Someone looking to cut calories may want to avoid guzzling gallons of coconut water, too. “Consider the added calories that coconut water provides — generally 46 calories per cup — while water has zero calories,” says Rothschild. 

Bottom line: For flavor, potassium, and hydration, coconut water is a healthful choice. But, if you are trying to lose a few extra pounds, sipping on plain water is undoubtedly a better option. Nothing nutty about that. 

The above information was borrowed from http://www.refinery29.com 

Another break in the action.

Welcome back loyal readers. I have been bad again and havent posted in a few days. I dont really think anyone missed me, but i missed the outlet.

Okay, so i missed typing about Focus T25 workouts for Week 3, Day 5, another wonderfully fulfilling double workout. Total Body Circuit and Ab Intervals. Love to hate these 2 workouts, separately. Now put them back to back and i love/hate them in a whole new way. Total body is a monster workout with hop-turn squats, plank walk push ups, plank this, plank that, plank you Shaun T. Ab Intervals is tough because i have a lower back that has some issues, but that isn't an excuse. It is just a tough workout.

Week 4 Day 1 and 2 - Cardio on Monday, and Total Body again on Tuesday. The Cardio workout I am in love with. I nailed that workout 110%. It really is hard to believe that you can sweat so much from only 25 minutes of work.  

Well, today i want to focus on my favorite nutritional supplement, Shakeology. Many of you may have seen me mention it before in my Facebook posts, on my blog here, or if you have seen my car, you have seen the big decal on my bumper.

Yes, i believe in this product, because i have been drinking it for almost 2 years now, daily. Shakeology® is the most delicious, nutrient-dense, super-food-packed protein shake on the planet. PERIOD. There is no other shake that even remotely comes close. Beachbody has done the research for you, but feel free to do your own research. You will come to the same conclusion. It contains more than 70 natural ingredients derived from rich, nutrient-dense whole-food sources from around the world. Shakeology is so incredibly healthy, no other single food item out there can supply you with all the nutrients, vitamins, proteins, and minerals in the amounts you need the way one delicious shake can.

I am copying the following from My Shakeology Site <<<< it's a link !

Shakeology's proprietary blend of digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics helps your body eliminate toxins that have built up in your digestive system over the years due to eating highly processed foods, fast food, and junk food. A healthy digestive system makes it easier to absorb the nutrients you need for optimal health.

While your body is cleansing itself from the inside out, Shakeology's 100% whole-food ingredients deliver the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to help curb its cravings.

Your body will begin to shed stored fat while Shakeology's superfoods (that are chock-full of antioxidants and phytonutrients) work their magic, helping reduce "free radical" damage that could potentially lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes.

WHAT'S IN SHAKEOLOGY?

Shakeology Ingredients and Nutrition Facts

Shakeology is packed with more than 70 of the world's most potent, most nutritious, and most delicious ingredients. Not only does it provide a wide range of essential nutrients from the fruits and vegetables you should be eating every day, you'll also reap the benefits of incredibly nutritious food you'd otherwise never have the opportunity to eat. Food that nutrition science has shown to be highly advantageous to your health.

Plus, we were able to sneak fruits and veggies into every glass for those of you who are self-proclaimed "anything-but-vegetabletarians"—like Beachbody's own CEO, Carl Daikeler. (Carl's wife, Isabelle, helped create Shakeology to get him to "stop eating like a 2nd grader.")

Everything in Shakeology has been carefully selected for its unique nutritional quality, including ingredients that herbalists and natural wellness doctors have been using for centuries to holistically heal and fuel the body.

Just look at all the ingredients, that are minimally processed for maximum nutritional impact.

Needless to say, this drink does so many amazing things that i could type about it all day. It comes in 5 incredibly delicious flavors; Chocolate, Vegan Chocolate, Vegan Tropical Strawberry, Greenberry, and Vanilla. The Greenberry and Vanilla being my two favorites. It also comes in two different packages. One is a 30 day supply in one bulk bag, and the other is a convenient 24 pack of individual servings. 

If you want to try Shakeology for yourself, head on over to my website (the link is above) and order a bag or a box of your favorite flavor. Is it cheap? Not really, when you break it down to a daily cost. $4, give or take some change, a day. You have nothing to lose by ordering it. Shakeology comes with a 30 day, bottom of the bag, guarantee. If you don't like it, for any reason, you can send it back, even if the bag is empty !!  How's that for a deal.

Well, i have to run, it's time for my shake. Today is Vanilla with 1 cup of water, a half a cup of ice, and some frozen blueberries. Everything a growing boy needs !! Ta ta for now........