America is Getting Fat!

Americans are gaining weight at such a fast rate that it should be a cause for concern. Even our young population is beginning to become overweight. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention more than 60 percent of the adult American population and nearly 15 percent of our children and adolescents are overweight. "If obesity is left unchecked, almost all of America will be overweight within a few generations." (Muscular Development Sports and Fitness Magazine).

People are under the common misconception that changing their diets to one consisting of low fat, low calorie and low carbohydrates will help them to lose weight. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Lowering your calorie intake can actually be harmful to your body because calories are needed to burn fat. You may lose a few pounds in the short term but it will come back and you may even gain more weight than you lost to begin with.

Not all fats should be taken out of your diet either. It is agreed upon by experts that trans fat is not good for you but there are some fats that are needed to help your body absorb nutrients that it wouldn't otherwise be able to do on its own. Omega-3 fatty acids help to prevent high blood pressure, chronic disease and are good for your heart. These types of fats are found in foods such as fish, safflower oil, sunflower seed oil, soybean oil, canola and peanut oil. Although these fats are beneficial they should be consumed in moderation as well since over-eating them can also contribute to weight gain. The fats you want to avoid, trans fats, are generally found in red meats, whole milk and other dairy products and fried foods. If you want to keep red meats in your diet it's a good idea to start consuming lean cuts of meat and meats that are low in sodium.

It's important to keep carbohydrates in your diet. They play an important role in keeping your body healthy. Once consumed they are broken down by the liver into glucose, or sugar, that in turn gives your body the energy it needs to help your organs work efficiently. There are two major types of carbohydrates, simple and complex. This is determined by how quickly your body breaks down the sugar. Simple carbs can be found in foods like milk, refined sugars (table sugar), regular (non-diet) carbonated beverages and fruit. Complex carbs are found in starchy vegetables, legumes and whole grains and cereals.