Did you know that the food you eat could be prematurely ageing you? Science has made some amazing discoveries in the last decade in nutrition. We really should be taking note of what we put in our mouths because more than ever, because “we are what we eat”.  Do you know the impact of what you are eating?  It’s time to find out, because over-indulgence in certain types of food has been shown to cause the body to prematurely age.

Free Radicals

A free radical is the name for a molecule that has an unpaired electron. They are a normal by-product of metabolism and without them you would die.

To put the record straight, it’s the over-production of free radicals that causes damage to the body. We are advised by nutritional experts to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables because they are rich in antioxidant phytonutrients…substances that neutralise free radicals and help protect the body.

One of the essential tasks of free radicals is in producing energy from the food you eat.  Every time you eat, free radical activity is intensified.  The more food you eat, the more free radicals are formed, and the more antioxidants your body needs to neutralize them. Big meals can be big trouble!

Effective Antioxidants include vitamins A, C, E; minerals such as selenium, zinc, and herbs such as aloe vera and grape-seed extract.

The Reality of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are root vegetables, pasta, rice, bread, grains, fruit, pastries, cakes, biscuits, crisps, sweets etc. They are easy to prepare, filling, tasty and oftentimes, cheap. Most meals are dominated by carbohydrates, as most of us ‘full up’ on them. When you eat carbohydrates you’re eating a form of sugar.

Carbohydrates are converted by the body into glucose, which is either used immediately for energy, or stored in fat cells. Carbohydrates make up an excessive proportion of the diet, add together a lack of exercise and excess sugar and the inevitable result is excess weight.

By reducing your overall carbohydrate intake and reducing the size of your meals, you reduce your body’s exposure to free radical activity, reducing the amount of excess food that gets stored as unwanted fat.  A double bonus!

Think about your meals over the last week

Better still, keep a food diary for the next week, record each meal by drawing a plate divided up showing how much protein, carbohydrate, fat, vegetables and fruit you eat at each meal/snack. After a week you’ll be able to see for yourself how much sugar you are eating.