"What's the difference between eating healthy and properly?"
Well for starters anyone can eat healthy, one stop to the grocery store can change the inside of any refrigerator but eating properly is not only a challenge, it's also a lifestyle requirement that is mandatory for achieving those goals you plan on reaching.
"Just how important is it?"
They say 80% of weight loss comes from your diet!
"80%?!?! I've never gotten an 80% in my life!!!"
Well fortunately for you, there’s no test. However, eating properly does require tons of prep work like planning your meals a head of time so they fit into your schedule, allowing you to be able to tell fast food places to kick - rocks!
There's a great quote that holds a lot of meaning to one striving to follow a healthy lifestyle;
"My food is my medicine"
In all honestly; it makes sense. Whenever we get a fever and start to develop any signs of illness we run to our mothers to get nursed back to health, after all mother knows best right?
....Well not necessarily. Now don't be confused, I'm sure your mother is a nice lady but when it comes to nutrition but the "meat, potatoes and vegetables" era is long gone.
"Growing up we only ate three meals a day and we turned out just fine!"
Ah, very true Nana, but you also lived in a generation that used walking as your main source of transportation. You worked for .35 cents an hour without complaining, had a curfew that you respected and didn't own a television until you were 25 years old... let me repeat that for the people that are just skimming through and may have missed it....
NO TV FOR 25 YEARS!!!!
I know... It's hard to believe that people actually thought for themselves without the advice of Dr. Phil for so long.
My point is that humans are the only species on earth that cook our foods then add preservatives to make them "more fresh" for a longer shelf life.
Well first of all the term "more fresh" doesn't even make sense. If something is already labelled as fresh, meaning it has been grown with no added preservatives, how does it get "more fresh?!". People need to start realizing that what’s fresh should be well… fresh!
Secondly; we are also the only species that willing subject ourselves to such fatal diseases as heart disease, respiratory failure, Type 2 diabetes and cancer all because most of us are uneducated in the importance of proper nutrition.
"So you're trying to tell me that by eating "fresh" fruits and vegetables I'm not going to get cancer?"
No, I'm a health Nazi, not a physic! All I'm saying is that by comparison to other species, humans seem to be the only ones willing to destroy themselves simply because it tastes good.
You don't see wild life in the jungle that eat for survival dying from various diseases, why? Well simple; they hold a "God made dirt and dirt don't hurt" mentality. All their meals come straight from the ground full of the purest of nutrients.
"Ha-ha! Gotcha!! I know tons of pets that have suffered from cancer! What do you have to say to that you Nutritional Hitler?!"
Sticks and stones my friend but staying on topic, as do I. However, there's a difference between what household PETS eat versus animals in their natural habitat.
... Call my Bluff?
Have you ever gone to the Zoo to see wild life you can't keep on a leash? You get all excited to see the lions and when you get there all they do is sleep?
Nine times out of ten the Zoologist will blame the laziness on their age but I beg to differ. It's more likely due to the lack of NATURAL nutrients in the lion’s diet. Their food and vitamins are pumped with preservatives and chemically made in a lab somewhere thus providing us with the entertainment of a lazy lion.
Still not satisfied?!?!
A recent study from Europe split subjects into two groups then put them on a strict diet and workout regimen. The diet for Group A consisted of proteins, healthy fats and organic fruits and vegetables. Group B was given the same proteins and fats with nonorganic fruits and vegetables. The results were Remarkable - pun intended.
The organic group held an 80% increase in energy levels throughout the day. As both groups noticed gains in strength and performance in their workouts, the organic group noticed significantly lower BMI (Body Mass Index) levels then the nonorganic group.
Now, what does all that verbal diarrhea mean? Well in a nutshell;
Organic Fruits and Vegetables; Good!
Non-Organic Fruits and Vegetables; Still good, but could be better!
So in the words of my good friend Jerry the Subway Guy;
"Think Fresh, Eat Fresh"
