Where do you shop for food?
Your nutrition is just as important, if not more so to your health than your exercise program. The types and sources of the foods you consume makes all the difference in how you feel each day.
Where and how you shop for the foods you eat and feed your family will mean the difference in poor nutrition and its consequences of poor health or good nutrition from high quality foods which leads to optimum health. Its that simple – to attain and maintain optimum health means giving your body the best nutrition you possibly can.
So how do you shop for food?
I am a big advocate of eating natural foods for my body-type. And this is the key to proper nutrition – knowing your body-type. As discussed in an earlier post there are three main types of body shapes – ectomorphs, mesomorphs and endomorphs . . . There are also hybrids of each group. Knowing your body’s shape should dictate the types of food you buy.
If you are an ectomorph, in general you are more carb tolerant as opposed to an endomorph who puts on weight just from looking at a slice of bread. Someone who is a mesomorph can tolerate most food types.
Shop for food that is in line with your body-type
If you have an ectomorph body type you will need good quality carbohydrates to supply your energy needs so you are not sluggish and bloated from eating the wrong foods. Because you have a higher metabolism your carbs should be slow burning. These include sweet potatoes, legumes, quinoa, corn, carrots and many other root type vegetables. Every thing in moderation. Lean meats should be your source of protein.
Endomorphs have a larger and thicker body shape and they will need a different diet to the other body types. If this is your body type then you want to prevent excess weight gain. Try to avoid eating too much carbs. Aim for a higher ratio of lean protein and good fats to carbs.
Mesomorphs will do well with a mixture of both types of diet.
Foods to avoid
There are certain foods to avoid no matter what body-grouping you fall in. These include anything with excess sugars – drinks like sodas, sports drinks and artificially sweetened fruits juices; the wrong types of carbohydrates – chips, white breads or the wrong fats such as transfat found in fried foods. Avoid overly processed foods of all types. If it’s not natural think twice before buying it.
While doing research for this article I found some YouTube videos of food gone wrong. I couldn’t believe some of the products on the market. For example I found this YouTube video of cheese that doesn’t melt when a flame is applied to it. What happens in your body when it tries to breakdown this product.
Or how about cabbage that won’t burn when fire is directly applied to it? I would rather get my fiber each day from eating natural fruits and vegetables.
What else is on our supermarket shelves or in your cupboard that is parading as real food? Avoid any foods that are genetically modified such as those containing corns and/or soybean products. If you search the internet you will find many other products that’s unsafe to eat.
Where to find it
To eat as natural as possible look for the best places that sell organic type foods. I like to buy produce sold by local farmers who use natural farming techniques to grow their crops. Most town and cities have a local farmers market or farm-coops where you can get fresh products at very reasonable prices.
When shopping for meat protein I buy the leanest cuts I can find either on the shelf or from a butcher. I love to eat fish as often as possible. To get the healthiest fish I buy the wild caught variety. Avoid farm raised fish – such as salmon and tilapia. And remember most restaurants serve farm raised fish . . . so be careful ordering a fish dinner when eating out.
Although Places like WholeFoods Market and other stores like them have their inherent problems – high prices, being a public company and shelving imported products from countries that don’t adhere to high standards – I like shopping there for certain products. If there isn’t one nearby then shop wisely at your local supermarket.
Most food chains now have their own organics section with prices that are affordable. Look for the USDA Organic seal on whole foods. I find also that working the perimeter of the supermarkets is where you will find the best products. Plus you get more steps in for the day.
The best way to shop for food and help prevent pre-diabetes is to seek out whole natural foods. Meals prepared at home from scratch are healthier than the fast foods from chain restaurants. Learn how to season and cook your food correctly.
Once you start eating healthier and feeling more energetic from your improved diet tell your friends and other family members about it.
Visit How to prevent Pre-diabetes for more information on living a healthy and fit life.