Everything that we consume makes a difference, so why don’t people care about what they put into their own body? There is a cause and effect to everything in life. Everything we eat, drink, or do affects what we are made of and how we feel. One’s diet has a substantial effect on not only physical appearance, but our mental state as well. Please, please be cognizant of what you consume.
Fast food:
Nothing says America like fast food, but this is also a large reason why Americans are so obese. Fast food is largely sodium, which is how it is able to stay ‘fresh’ for so long and be prepared in a minute. I cannot stress this enough, though: there is no such thing as healthy fast food. The only way to eat healthy is to stay away from fast food. It is addicting, and rightfully so. It’s a drug. The salt, oil, and sugar that is jammed into every meal results in an addiction. Fast food is made for this reason. No one ever leaves McDonald's feeling satisfied for the day. Instead, they feel the urge to go back and eat more. Look up the nutritional content of your favorite items to help make better choices in the future. I am not saying to stay away from fast food all together, but keep it as a treat that you very seldom enjoy.
Soda:
Soda is a drug. Well, I should say sugar, but that is all soda is comprised of - it is sugar water. Back in the mid twentieth century, soda was seen as a treat for people, similar to ice cream. Nowadays, it is seen as a drink necessary to enjoy meals. And I do agree, soda can be awesome, especially with pizza. One must remember that it is a drug, though. Sugar and caffeine have substantial effects on the human body. We begin to crave it, and while it may be fine to consume every once in a while, to drink it every day is analogous to pouring sugar down your throat. It makes you not only appear physically worse, but mentally feel worse. All it takes is a few weeks to forget about soda. Then, before you know it, you will wonder why you ever drank soda in the first place. You will be able to taste the sugar in all its essence and think to yourself how you ever were able to consume something so sweet in the first place.
Processed Meals:
By processed meals, I mean anything that is already prepared to eat by reheating it. This would include a majority of items found in grocery stores, such as canned goods, TV dinners, or anything in the freezer section. The reason they are bad for your body is that they are largely comprised of sodium. This is how they remain fresh and do not spoil. Processed meals became popular during the 1960’s, as Americans were looking to stock their pantries (or bomb shelters) with non-perishable items, afraid of a nuclear war taking place. They never lost their popularity, though. Processed foods make cooking quicker and easier. They just should not be eaten as every meal.
Coffee:
Coffee is great as it wakes people up in the morning. However, caffeine is a drug and an addictive one with many non-favorable side effects. Coffee is used to stimulate our central nervous system to feel energized and ready to tackle the day. The caffeine and sugar within it may result in irritability, anxiety, tremors, and even an irregular heartbeat. Coffee also loses its potency after a while, too. Many who drink coffee as part of their morning routine may see less to no effect at all after a while. Our body can become used to the caffeine. The reason I believe coffee to be bad is because there are better, healthier alternatives. Tea, water, and even chocolate milk have been shown to be just as effective at waking up the central nervous system. Water is actually more important because our body is naturally dehydrated upon waking up, and dehydration results in tiredness. There are natural stimulants, such as nootropics, herbal teas, Vitamin B, or even fruit. The possibilities are endless.
Water:
Just keep drinking it. Humans are largely composed of water, so it’s a safe bet that water is good for us. In fact, humans should have water with every meal and in general throughout the day. Think of water as oil is to a car. It is needed so that things function and run smoothly. If you are tired, you are dehydrated, so drink water. And if you don't enjoy the taste of water, throw fruit in it. Problem solved!
Fruit and Veggies:
It is true what they say: we should be eating our fruit and making our vegetables into smoothies, not the other way around. Humans need the fiber in fruit, not its sugar. This is why we should eat fruit whole (after we peel it, of course). The fibers are what hold the nutrition, so go eat an orange or pineapple. The cool thing about fruit is that if there are several you don't enjoy, there are tons others, so go find your favorite.
