Is weight gain a mechanism to protect you from chemicals in food products? When thinking about weight issues, you may be conditioned to mostly focus on the number of calories inside your food. Looking at the basic math, you gain weight if you consume more calories than you burn. Right? But is it really that simple?
It’s not all that uncommon to meet someone who eats a restricted quantity of calories for weight loss, and yet still struggles to slim down.
Sometimes we become so focused on counting sugars, fats, and calories, that we don’t also consider the quality of the foods we consume. A low fat, low carb processed food product might fit into your diet parameters, but the ingredients list might not be as friendly to good health. It isn’t a bad idea to look at macros, but it is more important to be mindful of the chemicals you are consuming and how they might sabotage your goals. Count chemicals, not calories.
One mechanism that you should be aware of is the effect of food chemicals and additives on your immune system. Some chemicals cause a defensive reaction that leads to a sluggish metabolism and increased water retention (Better Me, 2022).
As a result, you may really struggle with looking and feeling your best, despite maintaining a safe deficit of about 500 calories (Mayo Clinic, 2023).
Even individuals who are underweight or already at a healthy weight can struggle with bloating and water retention discomforts from consuming too many of these chemicals meant to flavor, sweeten, color, or preserve food. Did you that there are over three thousand different additives being used by food manufacturers?
Food chemicals aren’t just bad for your waistline. Many of these additives encourage inflammation and are linked to serious chronic illnesses. The great news is that the opposite is also true. When we make healthy food choices, we nourish good health and longevity. Nourish your body right with whole, unprocessed, organic foods.
Make a commitment towards clean eating. Avoid products that are processed, especially those with long ingredient lists, or ingredients you can’t pronounce. Shift your focus from quantity counting to quality control. Choose foods that make you feel healthy just looking at your plate. This leads to greater satiety, easier weight management, body positivity, and optimum health.
For personalized lifestyle and nutrition guidance, schedule a phone consultation with Rose.
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What To Remember
- When it comes to nutrition, quality matters more than quantity.
- Some food additives cause bloating, inflammation and water retention, creating unwanted weight gain and possible health problems.
- For better results, eat all-natural, organic foods that have ingredients you can pronounce.
- Choose well for greater satiety, easier weight management and better health.
SourcesThe Best Diet: Quality Counts. Harvard School of Public Health. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-weight/best-diet-quality-counts
Food Additives, a Key Environmental Factor in the Development of IBD through Gut Dysbiosis. (January, 2022). Pauline Raoul et al. National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35056616
List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention. (December, 2022) Eve Chalicha. Better Me. https://betterme.world/articles/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention
Counting calories: Get back to weight-loss basics. (January 2023). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/calories/art-20048065#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20if%20you%20cut,It%20sounds%20simple.
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