Because eating healthy is important too!

So after a short look around, I did not see any threads about healthy eating. So lets share some knowledge. Post your Tid-bits, and stuff you come across on the inter-webs.

For example:

Truth about sugar

Did you know sugar will turn and store itself as fat in your body if not burnt by your body as energy. Carbohydrates will also do this, so should not be overeaten.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/downloads/TenTips/DGTipsheet2AddMoreVegetables.pdf

Sugar. Sigh. I like sugar, but its fat storage component is its least scary property. Whether you’re burning it off or not sugars effects go far beyond body weight.

For a start, processed sugar (and most processed carbs) have very little nutritional value because they are stripped of anything that makes them useful during the refining process.

Sugar also triggers and ever less efficient dopamine response in the brain, which mean you need larger and larger amounts in order to get the same response… like all addictive substances, and also messes with the serotonin levels which affects your mood.

Bacteria adore sugar, so the bugs in your mouth and gut are going to grow totally out of control if you eat it regularly which leads to gum disease, tooth decay and various nasty digestive problems including candida overgrowth. There is growing evidence that the growth of cancerous tumors is also encouraged by the presence of higher glucose levels (although there is some debate as to whether it’s the presence of the glucose or the higher PH level it creates in the body that’s the problem). The higher PH levels cause a reduction of bone density, its known to cause inflammation throughout the body (including the arteries, it can contribute to mineral and enzyme deficiencies, and has been shown to slow the effect of white blood cell activity essentially buggering up your immune system. Sugar consumption is also a key ingredient in insulin resistance issues and other endocrine imbalances. And worst of all, messes with your cell turn over and collagen production, so you look older faster. All in all, not a great choice for regular consumption.

Makes me sad.... I would live on doughnuts, macaroons and sweet tea given half a chance!

My favorite healthy eating advice? Eat real food. Mostly plants. and not too much.

Brenna wrote: Makes me sad.... I would live on doughnuts, macaroons and sweet tea given half a chance!

You know what. I am at the point were I think tea is better without sugar... It's kind of like when people like there coffee black..."would you like sugar with that?"....

"No, Just BLACK"

It took me a long time and a lot of research to learn this:
Grow your own food. Everything you buy in the store now contains massive quantities of salt and sugar and MSG/autolyzed yeast/glutamate/oil extract/etc. The glutamates are like crack for humans and cause your brain to ignore your "tummy is full" messages. They are literally spraying this stuff on the fruit you buy so it gets on your fingers and then into your mouth. It will cost you more in long-term health problems from the chemicals and obesity than any other thing in your life. Ever wonder why you're hungry all the time? Even after you just ate a big meal?

I really hate living in the US because everything everywhere you go is like this and they label the stuff as "All Natural". Oh that's a good one. "Natural Flavoring" is now a code-word for MSG since it was derived from plants or some nonsense like that. Another one is "100% juice" which means thay added 1% solution of 100% juice to the sugary water you're buying.

Yesterday I had a big mac meal after several months eating my own food. I got a massive headache, stomach cramps, and heart palpitations. I'm still hungry too a day later and it won't go away for another day when the MSG has cleared out of my system.

that big mac nearly killed you, bro.

i make a conscious effort at eating better these days. i guess to an extent its working. i dont weigh much more than in high school when i ran or played soccer constantly, and that gain is muscle. i went to the doc last week for a refill on blood pressure meds, and after years on the meds, my blood pressure was low enough that he didnt prescibe them.

so i eat a lot of low fat protein, veggies, drink lots of water, very little fried food (which used to be my favorite) and of course exercise in some form or fashion every day. and yes, as mentioned above, all of that is hard. some days i miss fried chicken and fries (one of my favorite meals). but i guess being healthy is worth more than that temporary fried chicken high.

I love to have about 6 large scoops of Breyer's Vanilla Ice Cream (Blue Bell is good, too), about a cup of 1% milk and 3 Double-Stuff Oreos mixed together for a tasty afternoon treat after a long day at the office. I usually enjoy this daily, but sometimes twice a day (if I can get away to McDonalds for a McFlurry at lunch).

For a healthier alternative to the above recipe, you can use regular Oreos instead of Double-Stuff (I think they spell it Double-Stuf).

Enjoy eating healthier my friends. You hardly notice if it's just regular Oreos.

I agree - healthy eating/nutrition is important! I've had a few assignments for my apprentice on this topic.
I recently watched a documentary called Hungry For Change and it really opened my eyes to a lot of things. Sugar being the biggest one. I've also looked a lot into sugar addiction and was surprised to find that websites aimed at sugar addicts are extremely similar to those with drug problems. The rat experiment was interesting, too.
I can honestly say that sugar is something I love. I can also say that it's something I avoid as much as I possibly can outside of fruits and other natural foods.

I think it's important to be informed about what I eat.

I heard a surgeon once say that he sighs when people tell him that plant-based diets are too extreme. He said something along the lines of - Healthy eating is extreme? But chemotherapy, surgery, medication with terrible side effects - those aren't??

Dementia risk tied to blood sugar level, even with no diabetes
University of Washington–Group Health study in New England Journal of Medicine, August 7, 2013
More info: Glucose levels and risk of dementia

Blood sugar levels averaged over a five-year period were associated with rising risks for developing dementia, in this report about more than 2,000 Group Health patients age 65 and older in the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study.

Another reason to lay off the sugar perhaps!!

Dementia is defined at Wikipedia as "is a serious loss of global cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging".

Glucose doesn't turn to fat in general. But sucrose does.

I agree with whyte horse to grow your own food. The only problem is, nothing grows! :laugh:

This guy dave asprey has a whole diet of grassfed beef and coconut,olive ,and avocado oil. His whole website is full of research. Apparently all grains are bad because they are processed and natural grains are basically seeds so tough. Vegetables are where its at.
http://www.bulletproofexec.com/the-complete-illustrated-one-page-bulletproof-diet/

Brenna wrote: Makes me sad.... I would live on doughnuts, macaroons and sweet tea given half a chance!

I do live on sweet tea. I've adjusted the sugar levels so that it's not nearly as unhealthy for me as it used to be, and I try to make it with honey instead, whenever possible. But, tea is basically water with added nutrients, and I /hate/ drinking water, so it's the easiest way for me to stay hydrated.

Remember kids, everything in moderation--including moderation itself.