How Much Weight Will I Lose??

Going through the supermarket today I went down a "middle" aisle. You know the one that has inviting signs, cool colors and any frozen concoction you can think of. The aisle of convenience. The aisle of BOXED FOODS.

I rarely enter this aisle and, for that matter, any middle aisle. Not that I'm afraid or anything, its just that there are not a whole lot of things there that I choose to buy. My favorite part of the store lies in its outer perimeter - the part that you can buy fresh, real food. Food that "remembers" where it comes from (that is, if food has any type of memory). More importantly, food that I can recognize as food and that I know basically where it came from.

As I entered this frozen food aisle I passed by the frozen, weight-loss dinners like Lean Cuisine, etc. I saw two women eyeing these meals and I thought to myself, "No! Don't do it! Don't succumb to the marketing and the promise of weight loss through these gimmicks." One lady paused, seemed to be contemplating in her mind whether or not it was all worth it and then sighed and continued on. I'm not sure about the other woman as she was still there, pondering which "dinner" she would have for her evening meal.

Anything that comes in a box, promising low calories, with lot's of ingredients that cannot be pronounced by a 5 year old should be banned. Really. I'm serious. First off, it may be appealing to those who would like to shed some pounds but at what cost? A box full of frozen food that was processed in who-knows-what factory, full of chemicals, preservatives, etc. is not nutritional. No matter how many vitamins they "spray" on it or add to it. It is not real food, it really isn't. For weight loss (and, I promise I will have many future blogs on this) we need to fill ourselves with nutritionally-packed foods. Powerhouse foods that will supply us with all our daily vitamin and mineral needs, as well as fiber, protein and good fats. There are way too many OVERWEIGHT people in North America who are literally STARVING both physically and emotionally. Sorry Lean Cuisine but you don't get my vote. In fact, I have often posted reviews of their products on their website which they do not post. Why? Is it because I denounce, in a very positive way mind you, their products?

It actually brought tears to my eyes when I saw that woman deciding which meal she would purchase. There are better ways to lose weight. Healthier ways that will stay with you through thick and thin (literally).

Running Around Half Naked???

I was sitting at my chiropractor's office the other day waiting for my monthly chiro/acupuncture adjustment when I overheard a couple of other patient's conversation. The one woman was discussing the fact that Vitamin D deficiency is becoming so widespread. The other woman laughed and said, "Yes, but its not like I'm going to walk around half naked outside just to get some sun". I smiled to myself but on my drive home I wondered how many people have misconceptions about how much sun we truly need to get enough Vitamin D.

30 minutes of daily sun exposure is the best way to prevent Vit. D deficiency - and this doesn't mean you have to walk around in a tiny little bikini. You can get enough by just having your hands and face exposed. The problem is, nowadays so many people are afraid of the sun and skin cancer (a reasonable fear) that they lather every inch of their body in SPF 100 (OK, maybe not 100 but pretty darn close to it). I will get back to my thoughts on skin cancer in a bit. I want to discuss some of the uses that Vitamin D has in the body and the symptoms of deficiency.

The most severe effects of metabolic loss of Vitamin D are Rickets in children and Osteomalacia in adults. Dental caries, muscle cramps, nervousness and insomnia may also be linked to Vitamin D deficiency. For years, Rickets was a disease that was virtually unheard of in the Western world; however, it seems that it's making a comeback!

Some other possible signs of deficiency are muscle weakness; pain in the ribs, spine, legs; muscle cramps; nearsightedness; and burning in the mouth and throat.

Vitamin D is known as the "sunshine" vitamin because it is actually manufactured in the human skin when it contact with the ultraviolet light in the sun's rays. Wintertime, clouds, smog and darkly pigmented skin reduce the body's production of the "sunshine" vitamin. Vitamin D has two primary functions - it increases calcium absorption and phosphorus in the intestinal tract and regulates calcification and mineralization of the bones (that's why it's a good idea to take Vit. D with Calcium since it helps the body absorb the Calcium).

Well, the best way to get your Vitamin D (and the cheapest!) is by going outside. However, during the winter and for those who live in the Northern U.S. and in Canada it may be a good idea to supplement. During the winter I take a fish oil with Vitamin D (my recommendation would be to NOT exceed 1,000 IU of Vit. D per day. During the summer, I take a fish oil that doesn't have Vit. D added to it). Some food sources include cod lier oil, egg yolks, liver and fish.

Now, back to my thoughts about skin cancer (and this is just my opinion). Has anyone noticed that it seems to be increasing in prevalence these last few decades? I have two thoughts on this. First, check the ingredients in your suntan lotion - are there a lot of words that you can barely pronounce? Do some of them end in "paraben"? There are so many chemicals in many suntan lotions and I don't think that helps when it comes to preventing cancer. Of course, there are some GREAT natural suntan lotions out there too (which my family uses). Check the ingredients!

My second thought is this. The North American diet does not include many of the antioxidants (such as Vit. A, E, C, selenium, etc.) that help to protect the skin from burning in the first place. Did you know that a diet high in antioxidants is the best way to prevent sunburns in the first place? God, in His infinite wisdom, knew what He was doing when He created all of the great fruits and vegetables that are FULL of antioxidants.

Take care, enjoy your week and try to get enough Vitamin D!!