Why it is so hard to eat healthy?
Our Food System is Broken! We all want to be healthy and feel good in our bodies, but our current food system isn’t set up to help us achieve that. In fact, it often works against us, making it difficult to eat well, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid chronic health problems.
One of the most troubling aspects of this broken system is the way it affects our brains and our hormones, leading us down a path towards inflammation, toxicity, and disease.
I want to help you understand why our food system is broken and what we can all do to start making healthier choices.
You are set up to fail!
One of the biggest problems with our food system is the way it prioritizes cheap, processed foods over fresh produce and other healthy options.
This isn’t just a matter of personal choice — it’s driven by industry practices, government subsidies, and other systemic factors. As a result, many people end up relying on unhealthy, high-calorie foods that contribute to weight gain and other health problems. And because these foods are often lacking in important nutrients, our brains and hormones are also negatively impacted.
For example, studies have shown that people who consume high levels of processed foods have smaller brain volumes and lower cognitive function than those who eat a more whole food diet, that includes fresh vegetables and fruit, healthy fats, and clean proteins.
Here are a few articles that can help guide you to picking the foods that will help you eat for your body.
- Are you eating healthy?
- What proteins we need to eat now to live a long healthy life
- Why you need healthy fats to live a long healthy life
Another major issue with our food system is the way that it contributes to inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a normal response that helps the body fight infection and repair tissue, but chronic inflammation can lead to a host of health problems, from arthritis to heart disease and more.
One of the main culprits in promoting inflammation is unhealthy fats, which are common in processed and fast foods. These fats not only increase inflammation levels in the body, but they also store toxins, which can further contribute to health problems.
Unfortunately, the harmful effects of our broken food system don’t stop there. In addition to brain shrinkage and inflammation, certain compounds in unhealthy fats can also impact our hormones in negative ways. For example, they can convert healthy hormones into forms that promote cancer growth and other health problems.
This means that even if we’re not currently experiencing health issues, our food choices may be setting us up for future problems down the line.
How can we all advocate for our health?
The good news is that we don’t have to resign ourselves to a lifetime of unhealthy eating and health problems.
By making simple changes to our diets and lifestyles, we can start to reverse the damage that’s been done by our broken food system. This might mean focusing on whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and cutting back on highly processed options.
It might also mean getting more exercise, reducing stress, and prioritizing sleep. By taking these small but impactful steps, we can start to reclaim our health and wellbeing.
Our food system is broken, but that doesn’t mean we have to be.
By being mindful of our choices and prioritizing our health, we can start to reverse the damage that’s been done and set ourselves on a path towards wellness. Whether it’s by focusing on fresh, whole foods, making exercise a priority, or reducing stress levels in our daily lives, every step we take towards better health is a step in the right direction.
So the next time you sit down to eat, remember that your choices matter — to your body, your brain, and your overall wellbeing.
Learn more about how our diets effect our mental health as well by listening to this podcast. The Doctor’s Farmacy
