As much as I hate to see this, summer is fleeting, and the season of “pumpkin everything” is approaching!
This week we’ll discuss the dangers of processed foods before you start thinking of pumpkin shakes, muffins, and beer…
Last week more evidence that highly processed foods harm us. This time the study found that these foods harm our brains. We already have several studies that prove these highly processed foods have a detrimental effect on our body, and now we know they also put us at a higher risk for dementia.
“People who consumed more than 20% of daily calories from processed foods had a 28% faster decline in their overall cognition and a 25% faster decline in executive functioning, the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully, compared to people who ate less than 20%,” said study coauthor Natalia Gonçalves, a researcher in the department of pathology at the University of São Paulo Medical School.
Ultra-processed foods are packed with added ingredients that we don’t need, like: sugar, emulsifiers, food colorings and flavorings, fat and salt, and are low in protein and fiber – nutrients that we do need.
Examples of these highly processed foods are sausage, bacon, bologna, chips, candy, ice cream, sweetened breakfast cereals, packaged soups and meals, chicken nuggets, hotdogs, and other fast foods.
Over the past 30 years, there has been a steady increase in consumption of processed foods worldwide. They are thought to induce systemic inflammation and oxidative stress and have been linked to a variety of ailments such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
In his book “Hooked,” Michael Moss discusses the evidence that no addictive drug can fire up the reward circuitry in our brain faster than our favorite processed foods.
With more and more of these products showing up at markets every week, there’s no time like the present to learn how to plan nutritious meals made with real foods that are both delicious and good for us!
In my programs, I teach women how to use “tiny steps” that make a huge difference in their ability to lose weight. We learn how to make “meal plans” instead of simply shopping for food. How often have you purchased something in the grocery store that you thought was healthy, and planned to incorporate it into your meals, but it sat in your refrigerator until a week later when it began growing a beard and you had to toss it out or add it to your compost pile?
I have found that what women today need in order to lose weight and live healthier lives is: better food planning, the knowledge to do that in a way that includes foods you like, fun movement activities, and a good night’s sleep.
You can begin this process for yourself in my upcoming Facebook Challenge – Weight Loss for Women 50+. The challenge is free and the skills that you will learn are invaluable. If you want to stop the harsh diets, enjoy eating again, and take control of your own health, join us HERE!
What have you got to lose, except those excess pounds?
Best of Health,
Kathi
