I want to state that I am not pro or con against vegan, meat, or any food group. I believe everyone should eat what fits their needs. What I am against is "super processed foods."
For starters, all foods are processed in one format or another. Food is processed through heat and the spices we use the moment we cook. Processing food has allowed food to last longer than a few days. Most products will rot, and meat, fish, and even natural produce will rot within a given period. If the food didn't rot, I would question its source and wonder how much presevatives are being used.
Warning: This blog is not about dieting or removing specific food groups. It is a blog about balancing your food intake and reading food labels.
I am concerned about the "Overuse" of chemicals not just to prolong the shelf life of food but to keep us on a loop of overeating. Reading labels allows you to choose healthier foods based on your dietary needs. Since everyone has unique physical markers, I recommend following a diet based on bodily needs and lifestyle. When I refer to lifestyle, I am speaking about your levels of activities, budget, local supplies, and cooking skills.
Honestly, I don't care for over-processed foods because the overconsumption of flavor enhancers such as sugar and salt creates metabolic imbalances. Two ways that sugar and salt impact our metabolism have to do with the brain's reward system, insulin production, and blood flow to the brain.
Eating sugar activates the brain's dopamine levels and amplifies the reward system, making us energetic and clear-minded. Once the sugar levels drop, cravings begin, and energy drops, making us think we need to eat more to recover from the dip in energy.
Salt activates the production of Th17, a type of white cell in the immune system, increasing a protein known as L-17. In turn, the output of TH-17 and L-17 depletes nitric oxide production, leading to less blood flow to the brain. Of course, less blood to the brain amplifies fogginess and lethargy and contributes to various medical issues. Now, that being said, we do need salt because it regulates the heart's function.
Processed Food keeps us eating more because of its impact on sugar and salt levels. If you read the studies on overeating and processed foods, you can see that folks who eat more processed foods have more issues with insulin levels, blood pressure, energy depletion, inflammation, and even pain.
My takeaway message, read labels. Avoid consuming foods with large amounts of sugar, salt, or chemicals that can have adverse side effects. Though we use sugar and salt, there is a difference between the quantity you use and the quantities used by food manufacturers.
Make every conscious effort to consume a balanced diet based on fresh products as much as possible to overeating horrible chemicals.
In case you wonder why I know about nutrition, I took two separate courses, one for about nine months and a second course for one year. I had been working with folks struggling with addiction since I was 19, and I noticed a correlation between mood swings and Food early in my career. I studied nutrition to understand Food's impact on moods, energy, and sobriety. Sugar, as well as salt, can be pretty addictive. I used to encourage many clients to eat a balanced meal to stabilize their moods and have more natural energy. Books I used as guidance, since there was no internet or google, focused on Food and moods.
In summary: Do not eliminate salt or sugar; just because you read this blog, ensure you eat with awareness of how much you consume.
Copyright 2023 R. Castro
Resources
How Excess salt impacts us
1. https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180129/excess-salt-may-hurt-your-brain-too
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320612#How-excessive-salt-affects-the-gut-brain-axis
Sugar and its Impact
1. https://www.sciencealert.com/research-shows-sugar-can-change-your-brain-here-s-how
2. https://theconversation.com/your-brain-on-sugar-what-the-science-actually-says-126581
How to read food labels
- https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-read-food-and-beverage-labels
- https://diet.mayoclinic.org/us/blog/2022/how-to-read-nutrition-labels/
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