Healthy Aging Kuel Category Expert: Deb Gutierrez
When did choosing the “right” foods become so complicated?
The Health and Wellness Industry confuses a majority of people. What is most important is Bio-individuality – finding and knowing what works best for YOU. What works great for me may not work well for my sister, friend, mother, or daughter.
“The foods we choose may have a more negative impact on our bodies than fat gain.”
One thing we all agree upon is sugary, fatty, refined, and highly processed foods subtract quality and quantitative years from your life. Weight gain in and of itself is less than pleasant, but the foods we choose may have a more negative impact on our bodies than fat gain.
Maybe this is a bold statement, but how and what we eat will determine our health more than any other factor, including our genes.
“Genetics Load The Gun But Lifestyle Pulls The Trigger.”
Have you heard the saying? “Genetics Load The Gun But Lifestyle Pulls The Trigger.” There is no greater lifestyle toggle that we can control than the food we put in our mouth.
Refined Processed Industrial Seed Oils Are The BIGGEST Culprits!
Safflower, canola, soybean, corn, grape seed, and vegetable oils. They are abundant, cheap, and highly inflammatory. Processed foods and even some you assume are “healthy” options – like Salad Dressings, sauces and nut butters.
Eating Too Many Refined Carbohydrates Is Not A Good Choice!
The bottom line, highly refined and simple carbohydrates equate to sugar. These refined carbs, like overeating sugar, will increase the aging of the cells, which increases stress in the body and a build-up of toxins.
After eating a meal with refined carbohydrates, like pasta, blood sugar soars, and insulin spikes to convert the glucose (sugar from the pasta) into energy or fuel. When the energy is not used, the insulin will store the excess as fat in the belly. After a short bout of time, blood-sugar will plummet, and you may feel hungry again or crave something sweet. The body was not designed for this spike and drop in blood sugar and is what can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic damage.
Lower Carb diets have benefits, but as we age, it can become even more critical, not only for fat loss (albeit that is a big one) but for eliminating the metabolic disease. By eliminating sugar, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and sugar spiking carbohydrates, you will begin to feel fabulous and see lasting fat loss.
“Let’s take a look at the ways to age younger, and healthier.”
What Are The Best Options?
1. Be Vigilant about reading labels and avoid purchasing those with Refined Oils, added starches, and Sugars.
2. Cook with Olive, Avocado, Coconut Oil, or Grass-Fed Ghee.
3. Choose Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids found in Salmon, Anchovies, Mackerel, Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds, and Sesame are great for brain and heart health.
4. Eat plenty of leafy greens, berries, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and bok choy.
5. Eliminate sugar and sugar substitutes.
6. Eat protein at each meal, approximately 4 to 6 ounces of fish, or grass-fed beef.
7. Move your body daily.
8. Choose only fruits that are considered low-glycemic such as berries, avocado, or olives.
9. Add Intermittent Fasting
10. Say No to simple Carbs – No Pasta or Bread.
11. Cut back or eliminate wine and other alcohol.
Making the above appropriate lifestyle changes will help you lose fat, bring your hormone levels into better balance, and give you the ability to control your weight.
I seek to empower women to make healthy lifestyle choices so that they can experience all the “juiciness” in living. Step away from foods that slow you down, and choose the right exercise and foods that help you feel fabulous, strong, and energetic.
Is there one item from above you can begin to institute this week?
I would love to know.
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About the Author:
Deb Gutierrez is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Personal Trainer. Her transformational coaching method helps women take the “grind” and stress out of everyday life, ditch the chronic fatigue and anxiety, to be productive, feel incredible, and fulfilled. For her, Health and Fitness are at the cornerstone of what brings meaning to life. It is the process of pushing, pulling, moving, failing, and prevailing that equals feeling fully alive. She has been married for 30 years to her husband Jim, and they have a daughter and Identical twin sons. She loves speaking, creating, and working with other women to create and celebrate the life you deserve and desire.
