Recent studies indicate that if Americans do not make some major changes to our food supply and diet, half of us will be obese by the year 2030.
Today, 37% of Americans are obese, and an additional 34% are overweight.
While a heavier population may be becoming the trend, there are serious health risks hiding behind this issue, including blood sugar concerns, heart concerns and the potential to decrease one’s lifespan by more than 14 years. Yikes!
Obesity also alters the immune system’s ability to fight infection, as well as the body and mind’s ability to sleep deeply and get the exercise needed to stay healthy. And it is safe to say that if dieting alone worked, we would not be facing this epidemic today.
Recent research has looked at trying to find out exactly how many calories humans need to survive and stay healthy. They found that humans, compared to other mammals, are quite energy efficient. The average adult male requires only 2500 calories per day, and the average female needs only 2000 calories per day. As a comparison, deer and seals consume 3 times as many calories as we do. While we may not require massive amounts of food to survive, the average American consumes about 500 more calories a day today than we did in 1970. That adds up to a weight of 33 pounds per year!
But it isn’t just about that old adage anymore – calories in and calories out…
The amount of energy we get from proteins, carbohydrates or fats has been known for decades: We get about 4 calories of energy from 1 gram of protein and carbohydrates, and 9 calories of energy from 1 gram of fat.
The trick is uncovering how well these foods are digested and assimilated. The new research is suggesting that weight gain is all about how the food is prepared and how well we digest it.
For years, you’ve heard me tout the advantages of working on our gut health. I find that the #1 health concern with many of my clients is that an overload of processed foods, sugary foods, soda, and refined carbs has led to a decrease in the health of your gut.
Once your intestinal walls are compromised, this is known as leaky gut syndrome. And once you’ve got ‘perforations’ in the lining of your gut, your food is not assimilated as well, AND you are getting bits of food passing through your intestinal walls that SHOULD NOT be in your bloodstream – another YIKES!!
The more processed a food, the more easily it is digested and the more rapidly sugars and fats are deposited into the bloodstream – a process directly linked to obesity.
So, what do you do? Can you maneuver this crazy world on your own, or would you like some guidance?
My first recommendation is to schedule your one hour ‘Discover the True You’ Strategy Session. Seriously, when is the last time someone gave you an hour to discuss the vision of the future of your health? Fill out this form and hit submit and I’ll know you’re ready!
And second, maybe there are certain foods that your body is reacting to (and you are not fully aware of that) so they’re creating digestive upset and unnecessary inflammation. Inflammation is the root cause of all disease, so the importance of knowing whether or not you have a food sensitivity is of utmost importance. If you would like to take the test, please click here for more information. A simple finger prick could open up a whole new world for you and your health.
