The saying that attitude and not necessarily aptitude ultimately determines altitude / success can hardly be denied. Attitude is key in achieving your weight loss goals and maintaining a healthy body weight long term.
Reminding oneself of the intended purpose of food and eating on an ongoing basis is important in helping to shape an attitude that will lead to successful weight loss and good health. Adopting the right attitude about food and eating is necessary related to avoiding obesity and the chronic, life threatening diseases that are associated with an unhealthy body weight. Overall health can be significantly improved when the conscious focus of food selection and eating is driven by the right considerations.
Food is defined by majority of sources as being any substance that is consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant and / or animal origin. Food contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism’s cells to produce the energy which is required to power all vital processes that are necessary to maintain life, stimulate growth and to provide for tissue repair.
During the time that I lived in Asia, I became accustomed to hearing about the health benefits associated with the foods that were being served and eaten. It was clear that nutrition and health were the priority and focus of each and every meal. This focus even extended itself to how foods were prepared and served. Steaming and quick / stir frying were the preferred ways of cooking vegetables to avoid overcooking which destroys nutritional integrity. Fresh whole vegetables and fruits were an integral part of every meal. Spices and condiments which were used also provided specific health benefits in addition to providing taste enhancement.
In contrast, the Western attitude related to food tends to be driven more by convenience and how good food tastes. Tasting good has made food and eating a pleasure driven experience that often ignores nutrition and health.
Food and Beverage companies in the western world target “TASTE” and “CONVENIENCE” as the vehicles for marketing their food products. This focus has resulted in the proliferation and explosion of man-made food like substances that lack the natural, vital nutrients that our bodies require to keep us healthy, fit, and disease free. The incidence of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and other chronic / life threatening diseases are at the highest levels in societies where these types of foods are eaten on a routine basis.
In the USA an alarming 15 – 20% of the country’s GDP is spent on health care. A considerable portion of that total expenditure has been identified as being related to health issues that are either directly or indirectly caused by obesity.
The obesity and diabetes problem has become so severe in the USA that an entertainment giant, a health insurance titan, a group of academic heavyweights, a technology philanthropist and two federal agencies have collaborated to produce a four-hour, four-part HBO documentary about the declining health of the nation.
The poor quality foods and beverages that are being routinely consumed are literally making us FAT and unhealthy! The quality of life of countless numbers of people is being directly impacted by a misguided attitude related to food and the key role that it plays in keeping us healthy, fit and disease free.
It is incumbent upon individuals to reshape their own personal attitudes and behaviors to focus on eating for good health as the first and most important priority.
Jump-start your weight loss and improve your overall health by eliminating sugar, refined carbohydrates, junk and fast foods from your diet. Eating fresh, whole vegetables and fruits is key to natural, healthy, weight loss.
While the focus of this article is food, exercise must also be an integral part of your weight loss and good health plan. A brisk 30 minute daily walk combined with eating properly can keep you healthy and fit.
Making your Health the priority that drives what you eat will benefit you in ways untold! I remind my 8 year old son every day at mealtimes that we eat to be healthy, fit and disease free.
“The Weight of the Nation” which will be aired on HBO on May 14th and 15th is sure to provide interesting insights on the cause/s that are driving the obesity and diabetes pandemic that is sweeping across the USA!
Hi, my name is R. F. McCarthy, weight loss [http://howdoiloseweightmyweigh.com] is about learning to establish the habit of eating healthy whole foods on a daily basis. Reducing / eliminating refined carbohydrates and sugar in your daily diet is key to successful long term weight management and avoidance of chronic health conditions.
A total knee replacement and a diagnosis of being a borderline diabetic caused me to make a more serious commitment related to long-term personal weight management.
