Remove Caffeine, Refined Sugar, Additives And Preservatives For Optimal Weight Loss
Processed foods prevent us from losing weight.
According to the New York Times, research published recently by the journal Cell Metabolism proves beyond question that processed foods make us fat.
And, that’s in addition to processed foods leaving us feeling bloated and out of shape.
Many of us want to “cut the crap” from our diets. But, we have no idea how to begin. To cut the crap out of our diets, first, we have to define “crap.”
C.R.A.P. is an acronym for Carbonated drinks and Caffeine, Refined sugars, Artificial sweeteners and Additives, and Preservatives.
Now that we know what crap is, we can figure out how to cut it out of our diets.
How to Cut the C.R.A.P.
Ditching C.R.A.P. foods can be tough because some are physically and mentally addictive.
With that in mind, understand that you don’t have to quit eating your favorite crap foods cold turkey. But minimizing questionable foods and beverages – reserving them for your once-a-week cheat meal or saving them for a special occasion – is essential.
Cutting the crap food out of your diet can be the hardest part of losing weight. Having the right support system during your weight loss journey is crucial.
The Skinny on C.R.A.P. Foods
So why are C.R.A.P. foods so addictive, anyway? The answer is simple, sugar.
Sugar causes dopamine levels in your brain to spike. The change in dopamine levels gives you a euphoric feeling. Couple the effect sugar has on your brain with the fact that it’s in everything these days, and you have a severe problem.
C.R.A.P. foods are all around us: in every tv advertisement and on every billboard and every menu in every restaurant. And they aren’t just around us because we love them. Part of the reason C.R.A.P. foods are all around us is because they’re cheap to buy and easy to prepare.
That means a more significant profit margin for the businesses and corporations that serve and sell them to us.
But that does not mean we have to fall victim to their trap! Instead, we can stick with healthy options that will benefit our bodies, increase our energy levels, and improve our minds.
Replacing C.R.A.P. Foods with Healthy, Tasty Alternatives
Most of us know we are supposed to be eating fruits, veggies, whole grains, healthy proteins, and that we should be drinking plenty of water.
We also know soda is bad for us, that sweets go to our hips, and that fried foods are off-limits. Still, that doesn’t mean that we know what we are doing when it comes to managing nutrition and weight loss.
Now let’s look at why the C.R.A.P. foods are so dangerous for us!
Caffeine, Good vs. Bad Sources
You are not alone if you have ever wondered, “Is caffeine good for you?”
The simple answer, most people can safely consume up to 400mg of caffeine per day. But the source of the caffeine matters.
Natural caffeine that comes from green coffee beans or cocoa is ideal. Synthetic caffeine, made from contrived chemicals, should be avoided whenever possible.
That means avoiding the “C” in C.R.A.P. foods, carbonated drinks. Synthetic caffeine is present in soda, energy drinks, P.M.S. medications, and headache remedies.
Too much synthetic caffeine – more specifically, withdrawals from it – can cause issues such as insomnia, headaches, rapid or abnormal heartbeat, dizziness, dehydration, anxiety, and dependency.
Natural caffeine can, too, in large quantities.
Natural Caffeine
Most of us love coffee, but we might want to know, “How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?”
A regular cup of coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine. A couple of cups of coffee (with minimal creams or sweeteners) per day is okay, and you will be happy to know that you can use caffeine for weight loss if you use it right.
For example, it’s safe to have a cup of coffee in the morning, but don’t slurp it throughout the entire day, or you will risk becoming dehydrated.
The health benefits of real caffeine are that it helps boost weight loss, increases alertness, helps boost memory, assists in brain function, and so much more.
Another great way to get a little caffeine and energy before a workout or in the morning is with LadyBoss® FUEL. Formulated just for women, FUEL packs a perky punch and tastes like delicious sour watermelon candy. FUEL is a vital tool for your arsenal if you want to lose weight now!
In addition to artificial caffeine, be sure to steer clear from Carbonated drinks (the other dirty “C”), unless they are things like unsweetened, plain seltzer. Carbonated drinks are often packed with sugar or artificial sweeteners, and will hinder your metabolism and your ability to burn calories.
Carbonated drinks also cause you to crave more sweet foods. As a result, you may end up taking in more calories.
Processed Foods Makes Us Fat
Processed foods are lurking around every turn.
Processed foods are those other than fresh/raw fruits, veggies, and meats/poultry.
As a rule of thumb, the foods you find in the center of the grocery store are processed. The foods on the perimeter of the grocery store – the vegetable section, the dairy section, and the poultry, fish and meats section – are not processed. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.
Processed foods contain large amounts of refined sugars, white or enriched wheat flour, preserving chemicals, and a variety of other troublesome ingredients.
Refined Sugars
What are refined sugars?
They are any sugars not found in natural foods, such as fruits. The sugars in a banana, for example, are unrefined.
Refined sugars will usually have names with the ending of “ose” – for example, dextrose. Refined sugars and weight gain go hand-in-hand because sugar-rich foods are often high in calories (and low in nutrients).
The fact that sugar makes you fat may not be enough to scare you away from eating it, and that is understandable. Sugar provides a lot of enjoyment for people (myself included). But at what cost?
Weight gain.
Cutting out processed sugar is the first step to a successful weight loss journey.
Food Additives and Preservatives, The Dirty Dozen
The danger of food additives can’t be understated.
The “dirty dozen” food additives can wreak havoc on the human body, and we must avoid them at all costs. These are things like nitrates, parabens, M.S.G. (monosodium glutamate), carrageenan, potassium bromate, and more.
Such additives and preservatives serve as emulsifiers in foods, meaning that they help to keep the food stable (to enable a long shelf life).
Natural food preservatives are always preferable than unnatural additives.
Natural food preservatives and additives come from other natural foods and may spoil faster than their alternatives. Keeping a diet centered around unprocessed foods will eliminate additives, and that is one main reason why eating “clean” is popular.
Live Without C.R.A.P. Foods
It is necessary to keep C.R.A.P. foods and drinks to a minimum to achieve optimal weight loss and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Saying “NO!” to synthetic caffeine, carbonated drinks, refined sugars, and unnatural additives and preservatives is the first step to a healthy diet. Choosing healthy food, coupled with regular exercise and lots of water, is crucial if you want to achieve lasting weight loss results.
