If you eat breakfast or lunch on-the-go, I completely understand. Our lives are very busy; we rarely have time to prepare meals.
But be alert: Many “convenience foods” aren’t worth it. You will pay for it with added inches to your waistline. And those increased pounds can lead to chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer, and heart disease.
You can purchase it at your neighborhood health-food store. I recommend 100-300 mg per day for the initial 1-3 weeks. Then take as needed.
Here are three foods that will put you on the fast track to fat:
Breakfast Cereal:
This one is somewhat deceptive. No one considers cereal as being a threat to their health. But, regardless which one you get, breakfast cereals are very high on the glycemic index (GI). For a very large number of people, a dose of high-glycemic carbs in the morning is the way to build excess body fat.
You might be better off having a candy bar or a piece of cake.
The GI of a normal piece of chocolate cake is between 31 and 38… a Snickers bar is around 43. Not bad.
Compare that to the GI of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes… which registers in at a whopping 132. That tells us that corn flakes break down into sugar in your bloodstream faster than pure glucose!
Then, if you add fuel to the fire by putting sugar on your cereal, you’re sending an overwhelming amount of sugar into your system.
Remember, increased blood sugar triggers a flood of insulin. Insulin is the hormone that creates the message to build and store fat.
Even “healthy” cereals like Grape-Nuts show a GI of 80. That’s also very high.
It may be a quick fix when you’re rushing in the morning, but cereal in the morning will make you fat. Avoid it at all costs.
French Fries:
Possibly one of the worst foods you can consume. For starters, potatoes are high-glycemic and not good for you in any form. But when you use potatoes and deep-fry them in trans fatty oil, you create a recipe for sickness and disease.
While white potatoes aren’t the greatest choice, the oil that is used adds far more danger than the potatoes. If you need a potato fix now and then, get a baked potato or, better yet, sweet potatoes. These are loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
Bagels and Breads:
Don’t get caught in “whole-grain goodness” trap. When it comes to the glycemic index, it matters very little whether breads are made from whole grain or not. Grains spike your blood sugar, and you know what that means.
(Do not the commercials you see on TV. Unless you can’t afford it and cannot get enough calories without them, you should stay away from grains. At a minimum until you get as small as you want to be. You’ll be better off without them.
In the morning, take some extra time and scramble some eggs. Before you throw the eggs in, saute some sliced tomatoes and spinach. Maybe some onion, too. In under 10 minutes, you will have a breakfast that will make you feel pumped and energetic for the whole morning.
And if you need a fast lunch, try a wrap instead of a sandwich. More and more restaurants offer wraps these days. They come in all styles – spinach is my favorite. (Try and avoid the heavy flour tortillas.)
Here is your free guide to healthful cooking. For more information about some of the causes of childhood obesity visit Facts About Childhood Obesity.