Weight! The Body Unevolved?

Stubborn fat can be frustrating. Attempting to eliminate it can be disappointing. Keeping it off can feel impossible. Calories in calories out echo in the corners of the mind while the fight begins to ignore hunger and suppress the body’s plea for nutrients.

Every day can feel like a struggle, but with a made-up mind and a new pair of gym shoes, it’s time to get serious and stay true. 

This approach works for some. As with anything in life, though, there are different flavors, textures, and styles, because one thing is not for everyone. Similarly, we are all unique individuals with unique needs. 

We have become accustomed to instant gratification. Waiting for something seems impossible and somehow outdated. We are living in convenient, get it now times where tech and speed are in. We don’t have to wait for many things. Think- social media, instant messaging, next day, or same-day delivery. For the things we have to wait for- a few days is enough.

 With all the talk of evolution, what if at our core we are still very primal? What if the world around us has changed and evolved, but inside we are still primitive? What if the highly processed, right now, instant, microwavable, same-day delivery, high tech life is working against us on a deeper level? What if it’s disrupting our metabolism, affecting our cells, and putting a significant burden on our organs? What if the reason for your stubborn fat is not your lack of motivation? What if it’s a result of misinformation?

First, calories in calories out is endorsed and regurgitated by many. That does not make it a fact. A lot happens from the time food is put into your mouth, utilized by the body, and eliminated. Additionally, many people have decreased calories, increased activity, and still cannot lose weight. This proves that calories in calories out is too simplistic. Perhaps we need to be a bit more realistic.

What we put into our mouths is very important. Many foods in the standard American Diet and readily available in the grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants should be questioned. While it may look like a simple item, we must ask what other ingredients or chemicals have been added, if any nutrients were removed, how it was processed, and if it is really food or is it a chemical-laden specimen made to look, feel, and taste like food. We can fool our tongue, but we cannot trick our body. Our bodies know when real food has been consumed and when toxins, chemicals, or denatured material has entered the system. We will know in time, too, if we are aware and can connect the dots.

So, how do you take strides to ensure you are consuming real food? Look at the ingredient list. This is not as easy as it sounds because many chemicals and harmful ingredients are hidden on the label. They are ‘listed,’ but not as clearly or plainly as one may imagine. When you read the ingredients, make sure you know what each ingredient is. If you are unsure, then it may be best to leave that item on the shelf. 

Natural flavors can be found listed in many items. This sounds pretty clean-cut and straight forward to the unsuspecting consumer. The truth behind the term ‘natural flavor’ is, in fact, quite complex. Natural flavors that are used in products often contain several (if not many) ingredients themselves. These ingredients can include preservatives, stabilizers, and things not derived from natural sources. The umbrella ingredient of ‘natural flavor’ is all that is required on the ingredient list, without outlining what makes up the ‘natural flavor.’ Though this sounds tricky, it is legal. 

Other ingredients to avoid are vegetable and seed oils. While we are told that vegetable oils are completely healthy, they are not all created equal. Many of them should be avoided if you are looking to blast fat.

When we peek into the past and look at traditional cultures' diets, we find something very different. Some cultures consumed plant-based oils like coconut oil and olive oil. It’s important to note that they did not undergo the extreme temperatures or chemical washes of many modern, industrialized oils used in the food supply today. We find that traditionally, many cultures consumed animal fat like butter, lard, tallow, duck fat, and blubber. These fats provided fat-soluble vitamins and were satisfying. They did not make the consumer fat or unhealthy. On the contrary, the ancients were sturdy, well built, and strong.

Vegetable and seed oils widely used today are highly processed, rancid, and devoid of most of its nutrients. Yes, there are some exceptions, but in most instances, when consuming prepackaged and prepared food, you must beware. These oils are damaging, pro-inflammatory, and contribute to weight gain and weight retention. 

Stick with items that do not contain genetically modified ingredients. If it does not clearly state on the package that it’s non-GMO, then I suggest leaving it there. Genetically modified organisms are new to the food supply and did not exist hundreds of years ago. Again, our ancestors were well built and strong without GMOs. Looking at the increase in obesity, disease, allergies, and autoimmune conditions today, I am fully persuaded that GMOs and other ‘improvements’ to the modern diet are doing us no favors. 

 Speaking of GMOs… Corn is another ingredient that should be avoided unless, of course, it is organic. The majority of corn and corn products in the U.S. are derived from GMO corn. GMO corn is typically grown in depleted soil and does not contain the same amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants as non-GMO corn. High fructose corn syrup and other corn sweeteners are reason for concern. They should not be included in a traditional, whole food diet. 

Think for a moment; GMOs are organisms that have been changed genetically. This is not a change or adaptation that happened naturally; instead, this is a change or modification that took place in a lab prior to the seed being planted. There are serious health concerns associated with the consumption of GMO foods: reproductive disorders, acceleration of the aging process, and hormonal issues, to name a few. 

Another ingredient to watch out for is soy. With this, I turn back to GMOs. Around 90% of soy produced in the U.S. is genetically modified. Soy also contains phytoestrogens, which are plant compounds that can bind to estrogen receptors. This may not be all bad, but it’s not something you want to consume in abundance without knowing what it truly is. 

It is said that the best soy to consume is organic fermented soy products, so unless you are about to chow down on that, it may be best to avoid soy. Unfermented soy is believed to contribute to cognitive decline and hormonal issues, among other things. Hormonal issues can impact your weight. So, if you are looking to lose a couple of inches, it may not be a bad idea to leave soy off.

Artificial sweeteners are another monkey wrench in your weight loss plan. In BADDITIVES! by Linda and Bill Bonvie, on page 25, it says this about aspartame: “A growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that consumption of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, as a way of controlling weight may actually be counterproductive.

In 2014, an Israeli study points to artificial sweeteners as likely culprits in the development of “obesity-related metabolic conditions,” such as type 2 diabetes, by interfering with our internal ecosystem of gut bacteria, which is an essential part of the body’s mechanism for regulating blood sugar.”

I recommend avoiding artificial sweeteners at all costs. The best sweeteners are the ones that have been with us for ages- maple syrup, raw honey, and stevia (as the green herb and not the liquid or white powder). The majority of reasonably priced agave syrup, yacon syrup, and brown rice syrup lining the supermarket shelves today are nothing more than highly processed and refined sweeteners similar to high fructose corn syrup. They have little to no nutritional value.

Start making real, whole foods the focus of your diet. Stick with traditional foods and avoid highly processed, refined, and denatured food. If you cannot identify or decode an ingredient, don’t eat it. When possible, purchase ingredients instead of products. Prepare meals at home. Notice how you feel, think, and function after eating your meals.

Give your body time to adjust to your dietary changes. Weight loss is not an overnight process. It takes time. When you start eating real food and giving your body what it needs, time is required. Your body has to adjust to processing and utilizing the nutrients you are feeding it. Most of us have been malnourished and ‘starved’ on a cellular level for a long time. Your body needs time and space to replenish, adjust, and rebuild with nourishing, nutrient-dense food. 

Exercise, movement, and those new gym shoes are part of the process. Your success though, will hinge on what you are putting into your body. The foods that you consume should be of high quality. It should nourish, calm, and energize you. You should feel good after eating. Your food should always give to you energetically, instead of taking away. Your food should assist your body and metabolism in proper functioning, so digestion, detoxification, elimination, etc. can all happen in concert. 

A diet and activity plan specific to you may be necessary to really reap benefits when it comes to weight loss. Remember, there is no one size fits all plan for diet, exercise, weight loss, and health. The key is always to find what works for you. 

Sticking to a whole food, traditional, chemical-free diet has been beneficial to everyone who has ever taken the leap into traditional eating and left off modern food practices. When it comes to food, modern, processed, convenient, and fast food is a real disservice to our primitive bodies.