Palm Beach Health Center

Nutrition: it seems to be a tricky subject. For years doctors have been advising us to eat a low-calorie diet low in fat, high in carbs. But all you have to do is look around to see where that philosophy has gotten us. An obesity epidemic, type II diabetes numbers higher than ever, and rampant heart disease. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that what we’ve been doing isn’t working.So what should we be eating? There are a number of problem areas, but modern and independent research is showing that sugar and unhealthy fats are the primary causes of our declining health. And where do you find foods highest in refined sugar and trans fats? Fast food, processed or packaged food, basically all the modern conveniences we’ve come to rely on in our hectic, over-scheduled world.So how do you live a life without processed food and all the convenience it offers? Well first off is to create a mental shift to realize it is NOT, in fact, convenient.

Yes, it may seem that way TODAY, but if you realize what it’s doing to your internal health in the long-term, you will see that the amount of money and time you’ll spend on future sick days, doctor visits, hospital bills, and pharmaceuticals, is, in fact, the OPPOSITE of convenient. So stop looking at the NOW and look at the FUTURE.

Secondly, taking some time on the weekend to prepare for your week’s meals will help tremendously in keeping you from going through the drive-thru or grabbing that bag of chips. Fruits and vegetables are not only nutritionally sound (especially if you’re eating organic) but they travel well for busy people on the go! So throw an apple or banana in your bag instead of a granola bar, and even better add some nuts to boost your healthy fat, fiber, and protein in-take.

Third, get a support group! Talk about your change in nutrition with your friends and family and find people who are supportive of your health. The more you talk about something with others, the more likely you are to stick to it. And no doubt, once you start cutting junk food out of your diet, you’re going to start feeling great and even losing weight, so talk it up! You’ll be surprised at the number of people who will encourage you, and maybe even begin asking you for advice!

Fourth - use the Internet. The internet is a wonderful resource to find great recipes, healthy living life hacks, and knowledge about the best available research on nutrition and health. In fact, if you’d like to see a great video about the Failure of the Processed Food Experiment, click here.  There’s a wealth of knowledge out there – just make sure to vet your sources.And of course, we’re always here at Palm Beach Health Center to help you answer nutritional questions and guide you in getting healthy from the inside, out! So if you’re in the Palm Beach, Florida area, please don’t hesitate to give us a call: 561.422.4396