Category: obesity epidemic

Synthetic Take-away

I do come across some strange things in my life - one of them was the other day when I walked past a sandwich shop only to see these packages of food. It kind of takes synthetic, processed foods to another level!



I am sure the real sandwiches in this shop were great but it got me thinking that so many people don’t realise that if they eat lots of packaged and processed foods that they’re probably not getting the necessary nutrients to be healthy.

You may have heard that apparently there are about as many obese people in the world as there are those who are starving. The difference between these groups is that one is overeating and one is under-eating: the similarity is that both are malnourished. Whilst those of us in the developed world have more than enough to eat, the food we’re eating is less nutritious than it used to be. In addition, we lead more stressful lives than we used to and our bodies need vitamins and minerals to help us recover from stress: so we are suffering both from how we live and what we eat, or rather what we don’t eat. Every process that takes place in our body (such as digestion, fat burning, thinking, breathing, walking and talking) requires vitamins and minerals. If we fill up on junk foods, processed foods, sugary foods, deep fried foods and takeaways all we deplete our body’s stores of nutrients. If we don’t replenish our stores, over time, we suffer from poor immunity and, ultimately, ill health; we’ll find it harder to concentrate and process information; we’ll have less energy; and we’ll find it more difficult to metabolise food and burn fat. The good news is that we can reverse this process. When we eat fresh, natural foods, we top up our stock of vitamins and minerals.

Let’s imagine for a minute or two that it’s mid-afternoon and you are hungry. You fancy a snack and you have two choices: an apple and a chocolate bar. What does each option give you? The apple will give you a steady release of energy; vitamin C, which is good for your skin, bones, blood and building immunity; potassium, which helps to regulate your water balance, blood pressure and your heartbeat; and fibre, which keeps your digestive system healthy and helps reduce the risk of colon cancer. The chocolate bar, on the other hand, will give you a sugar hit, which will cause your energy levels to crash; saturated fat, which increases your risk of heart disease – and nothing of any value. When you look at foods like this, don’t you think there’s little competition between them?

Food manufacturers refine foods to make them last longer and so they’re more profitable; but you deserve better than that. No matter what you might think about your body or how long you’ve been abusing it with poor quality food, your body deserves to have fresh, nutritious, natural food.

Get Off Your A*s

[Lifted from Cranky Fitness - originally from Morgan's blog]

This spoof infomercial is tres funny, take a look:

It's a big one

Hi there,

I want to say a special thank you to you all for your continuing support of me and my work.

Due to increased demand for my weight loss programme, petecohen.tv, we have changed our internet servers recently. Some of you might have experienced some technical problems and we apologise for any inconvenience this might have caused you.

Next week is a big week for me with the start of GMTV’s Inch Loss Island on ITV.  I have not been on the show for two years and I am very much looking forward to getting back on the “little” screen. Kate Garraway is all set to present Inch-loss Island from January 21st. She'll be joined by four top experts, including me, and four overweight viewers on a remote island cut off from the outside world. The experts will coach the castaways and help them change their eating and exercise habits for life.

One of my ambitions is to help put a dent in the huge obesity problem by helping and supporting people to lose weight.

If you get a chance,  check out  GMTV next week  and follow our participants’  journey on gm.tv from Monday the 21st. There will also be some top tips and advice on the site for you.

Take care,
Pete

Britain tops fast-food league, as world obesity grows: study

Scary Stuff: 

LONDON (AFP) — Britons are the world's biggest fans of fast food, just ahead of Americans, while famously gastronomic French are the least attracted by quick meals, according to a study published Wednesday.

America's reputation as the home of fast food is under threat from the British, who are more addicted to burgers, chips and pizza than any other nation in the world.
    
Despite fears over an obesity epidemic, a survey has found that Britain's relationship with junk food has become even stronger than that enjoyed by the US, traditionally known for its devotion to all things deep fried.

A poll of 9,000 people in 13 nations found almost half of British respondents would be unable to give up fast food.

Some 45 per cent of those surveyed in the UK agreed with the statement "I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up", while 44 per cent of Americans said they would be unable to shun burgers, pizzas and chicken wings.

Telegraph article >

Special thanks to Raymond Camden for this blog platform: BlogCFC.