Weight Management: Is Your Food Prematurely Aging You?

It’s hard to believe, but some foods you eat could be prematurely aging you. And it’s a good idea that all of us should be taking note of what we put in our mouth, simply because “we are what we eat.” In reference to weight management, do you know the impact of what you are eating? Probably not. Well, now is the time to find out because overindulgence in certain types of food cause the body to prematurely age.

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Would you like some more free radicals with your lunch? There is frequent mention these days about 'free radicals' and how they are constantly attacking the body, causing potentially serious damage. A free radical is the name for a molecule that has an unpaired electron. They are a normal by-product of metabolism and without them you would die.

To put the record straight, it's not the free radical itself, but the over-production of free radicals that causes damage to the body. We are advised by nutritional experts to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.This is because they are rich in antioxidant phytonutrients, substances that neutralize free radicals and so help protect the body.

One of the essential tasks of free radicals is in producing energy from the food you eat. Every time you eat, free radical activity is intense. The more food you eat, the more free radicals are formed, and the more antioxidants your body needs to neutralize them. Big meals are big trouble! Effective Antioxidants include vitamins A, C, E; minerals such as selenium, zinc, and herbs such as aloe vera and grapeseed extract.

The Reality of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are root vegetables, pasta, rice, bread, grains, fruit, pastries, cakes, biscuits, crisps, sweets, etc. They are easy to prepare, filling, tasty and cheap. Most meals are dominated by carbohydrates, as most of us 'fill up' on them. When you eat carbohydrates you're eating a form of sugar. And, you should be very careful not too consume too much when it comes to weight management.

Carbohydrates are converted by the body into glucose, which is either used immediately for energy, or stored in fat cells. Carbohydrates make up an excessive proportion of the diet. Thinking of weight management, add together a lack of exercise and excess sugar and the inevitable result is excess weight.

By paying attention to weight management and reducing your overall carbohydrate intake and reducing the size of your meals, you reduce your body's exposure to free radical activity and the amount of excess food that gets stored as unwanted fat. That’s a double bonus!

Big meals are too much stress
Food is in abundance.  When you are grocery shopping at the supermarket you fill your cart, take it home and fill your kitchen cabinets, fill your plate, and fill your stomach until you can barely move. How many times a week do you overeat? How many free radicals are attacking your body and accelerating the aging process? You could think of proper weight management and choose to eat less.

Think about your meals over the last week
Better still by controlling your weight management, keep a food diary for the next week, record each meal by drawing a plate divided up showing how much protein, carbohydrate, fat, vegetables and fruit you eat at each meal or snack. After a week you'll be able to see for yourself how much sugar you are eating.