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Probaby the most difficult part of a diet is trying to figure out what foods to get at the grocery store. There are so many articles on the internet about how to decipher all the parts of a food label, and what things you should eat and what you shouldn't eat. Honestly, you could be in the grocery store all day!
There are three unnatural ingredients that you really should check for . . . no matter what diet plan you are on. They are High Fructose Corn Syrup, Artificial Sugars (such as sucralose, and aspartame), and anything with the word "Partially Hydrogenated" in front of it. All it takes is a 2 second scan of the ingredient label to check for these simple words, and your body will be much better off for it.
High Fructose Corn Syrup: This is the biggest devil of the three food products. High fructose corn syrup is commonly used to sweeten everything from soda-pop, to bread, to puddings, to pizza. It is a lot cheaper for the food companies to use and is much sweeter than regular sugar.
Unfortunately it also has a bad effect on us. Unlike regular sugar (which our body processes and then lets us know when we've had enough by signaling fullness), our body does not process high fructose corn syrup the same way. That is why people can drink a 2-liter of pop a day. Our bodies don't recognise the HFCS, and therefore don't signal that we are full! Cutting this product out of your foods and drinks will definitely help you to eat less because your body can naturally regulate your sugar intake.
Which brings us to the second ingredient on the list.
Artificial Sugars: Everyone is using artificial sugars now days. And it's true, the risk of cancer from using these products is a lot lower than we all thought. However, that still doesn't change the fact that our bodies don't recognize these products as sugar, and therefore make it a lot more difficult to control overeating.
Notice too, that many products that have artificial sugars also have other chemical ingredients on the label, mostly used to decrease the calories in the products so that more people will want to buy them. Natural sugar and ingredients that you recognize are a much better choice, even if it means a few more calories. You'll eat fewer calories over the long run.
And finally
"Partially Hydrogenated" Ingredients:Basically, when an ingredient says "Partially Hydrogenated" it means that the factory has taken a fat in liquid form and used a process that turns that liquid fat into solid, unhealthy fat. This helps them to preserve food for longer periods of time, and it is also used for flavoring. It's like butter, only cheaper. However, it's also extremely bad for you, as it contains very little of the essential fats you need in your diet. It will leave you feeling hungry and can decrease your energy levels.
Read more about Hydrogenation by clicking here.
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So, there you have it, in three easy steps you can make your food shopping much easier and healthier. Just check your labels for these three bad ingredients, and you'll be on the way to a much healthier body!
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