How Food Affects the Mind and Body
By Milla Uzovich
My whole life I have heard it said that “food is fuel” and “you are what you eat.” However, it wasn’t until recently when I discovered the facts behind these analogies.
Food directly affects the brain and the body.The difference between natural and refined sugars is scarily fascinating. While natural sugars boost energy and stimulate joy, processed sugars harm the body's regulation of insulin and encourage stress. Who knew candy could induce such negativity?
Unfortunately, processed foods are hard to escape. They’re everywhere! But, what makes these foods so terrible for the human body? Processed foods often contain disturbing levels of sodium, sugar, and saturated fat.
Consuming large amounts of saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels and eventually lead to increased risk of heart disease. According to the British Heart Foundation, doctors claim that no more than 6% of your daily diet should be made up of these fats. Therefore, taking in 2,000 calories per day will allow for less than 13 grams of these cholesterol boosters. Believe it or not, one McDonalds cheeseburger contains 5g of saturated fat which is nearly half of one's daily limit!
Most people eat protein to build muscle, but fail to acknowledge their greatest feature: amino acids. The British Heart Foundation reports that amino acids are required for the synthesis of the body and help maintain healthy skin, hair, nails, etc. They are also a main source of energy and rapidly increase positive emotions. Isn’t it crazy to think that something high in protein, such as a chicken cutlet, can increase your dopamine levels more than something high in sugar, such as skittles?
So next time you're craving a cheeseburger, try to consider opting for something just as good, like a meatball! I guarantee you will not only feel satisfied, but you will also gain strength and energy.
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