jerryvdhernandez

The majority of people wish they could lose at least a little weight. The simple truth is that, at some point, we all step onto the scale and think "aw crap" when we see the number that is displayed. A few will think, "okay I have to start to eat better". The other crowd will throw their wallet at the problem, spending hundreds on weight loss programs. The ones that get the most money unfortunately, are usually not very healthy. So how do you know which programs are worth your time and effort? Keep reading for some insight.

Weight Watchers is, quite possibly, the most popular of all of the weight loss programs. You probably already know this program works off of a points based system and has been around probably longer than you have. You are allowed to eat only a certain number of points per day which are assigned to different food. This way you get to choose what you eat. Most people find this system to be encouraging. The dietary freedom in this program is what makes it so popular. Jenny Craig is one of the weight loss programs that have really grown in popularity over the last few years. The main reason for this is it's celebrity endorsement status. This program only allows you to eat "Jenny Sanctioned" meals that you purchase through the program. Of course you are weighed regularly for progress. It is a good program but it can get quite expensive. Many people dislike the small size of the portions they are allowed to eat. Many people find the transition difficult, but the program has been proven to be nutritionally sound.

"Best-seller" status was never quite achieved by the Mediterranean Diet. It's still pretty popular though. Diets that are popular in Western Europe and Greece have led to the formation of this diet. People from these areas have similar diets and appear to be thinner and healthier than most in the western world, so this diet assumes they have the right combination. This diet rocks since you can even keep your favorite foods. You definitely have lots of options for weight loss programs available to you. Picking the right one can be time consuming, so how do you? However, whatever your desired end results are will help you to determine the best fit for you. Turn to your doctor for some advice on the best program for you. By looking at your health history and knowing where you are starting from, they can make a better determination for you. They will find the right program for where you are now instead of where you want to be!
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Some of the latest research shows that people who follow a traditional diet tend to be healthier than those who have adapted to a more modern, Western-style diet. It has been shown that better health outcomes and lower risks of chronic, degenerative disorders such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome prevail.

It seems that the Western dietary 'experiment' of the last 50 to 100 years has come full circle. Traditional diets contain many benefits. Foods that are heavily processed, laden with artificial ingredients, grown in soils that are striped of nutrients, and are loaded with fats and sugars to stimulate cravings are clearly only benefiting those that manufacture and sell them, not those that consume them.

The impact of agriculture
Anthropological records show that agriculture (ie the growing of crops such as grains) and animal husbandry only began around 10,000 years ago in what is now the Middle East, and spread to the rest of the world over the subsequent several thousand years. While 10,000 years is a substantial period, from an evolutionary point of view it only represents approximately 300 to 500 generations, which is too short a time on an evolutionary scale for substantial adaptation to take place at a genetic level. It is suggested that time spent consuming the modern agriculture-based diet represents less than 1% of total human evolution, with 99% being devoted to hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

Agricultural techniques and differing growing conditions can lead to the production of various subtypes of proteins such as gluten which have the potential to have widely differing levels of immune response. Many gluten intolerant individuals have had the experience of traveling to Europe and consuming gluten-based products which do not trigger their usual intolerance symptoms.

Grains were rarely consumed as year-round staples by hunter-gatherer groups. Another important difference is that prior to the industrial revolution all grains were ground with stone milling tools and generally contained the entire contents of the cereal grain (germ, bran and endosperm). From the second half of the 19th century, milled grain was derived mainly from the endosperm.

Modern diets – the rise of chronic, degenerative diseases.
More recent evidence also suggests that insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia (high insulin levels in the blood) - as a result of a Western diet - is also a major trigger of many other common Western diseases that are also rare or absent in more primitive societies.

Studies have shown the traditional Paleolithic hunter-gatherer diet to:
- Reduce weight
- Reduce BMI
- Reduce waist circumference
- Reduce systolic BP
- Improve glucose tolerance
- Improve insulin sensitivity
- Improve lipid profiles (including increase HDL – good cholesterol)
- Reduce fasting and 2 hour glucose and fasting insulin
- Improve glycaemic control
- Improve cardiovascular risk

The above results were even seen when the Paleolithic diet was compared to the Diabetes and Mediterranean diets.

As we have moved away from the diet and lifestyle that our ancient genes expect, we have suffered the progressive disease and disability that this mismatch engenders. You can now see how abnormal and unnatural the current Western diet really is.

At Body Balancing Nutrition we help educate you to make the right food choices that are best for your body.

Find out more about how to fast track your weight loss at Body Balancing Nutrition

Vicki Witt
Clinical Nutritionist
Body Balancing Nutrition