You Can Still Be Unhealthy Eating Organic...

I was speaking with a new client and I asked them about their diet. Their response, “Oh, I eat all organic! I eat super healthy.” This client’s goal was to lose 15-20 pounds as they were currently around 25-30% bodyfat. In my mind, something wasn’t adding up. If the client thinks they are eating healthy, and yet, they are 20 pounds overweight, there has to be more to eating healthy than just eating organic. For example, here are a few organic foods I would deem unhealthy to eat (especially in larger quantities):

All of these products are certified organic and are packed with empty calories and tons of sugar. Is eating organic better than eating crap? Yes. But just because you are eating organic doesn’t mean you are eating healthy. I would much rather see someone looking at the quality of calories and macronutrients over organic. Heck! I would much rather see micronutrient density (vitamins and minerals) over organic.

Rather than pushing people to eat organic I usually give these 3 steps to cleaning up your diet:

1. Eat more protein-Most food logs I see are deficient in protein. Protein is satiating (fills you up), and is the building block for cells in the body. Shoot for at least a palmful of lean protein in every meal.

2. Water, Tea, and Black Coffee Only-If you are getting started with a nutrition plan, you are probably used to drinking soft drinks and alcoholic beverages packed with empty calories. By simply cutting out the crap, you are going to start dropping fat and feeling better.

3. When you eat, eat-Most people squeeze eating into their busy lives. This usually leads to lack of mindfulness around the types of foods they are eating and the quantities. I tell clients when they are eating, they aren’t doing anything else (talking with friends and family at the dinner table is fine). But you shouldn’t mindless shoveling food into your face.

If you are looking to make some dietary changes, stop obsessing over organic and get the basics down first. Then down the line (if necessary) you can move toward areas like organic foods. Navigating your nutrition can be challenging, but having an experienced coach to guide you along the way can save you time, stress, and money. Click the link below to get started today!

Are Pesticides Causing Obesity?

More research is coming out against the widespread use of pesticides. In a recent study published by McMaster University, researchers discovered that chlorpyrifos, which is banned for use on foods in Canada but widely sprayed on fruits and vegetables in many other parts of the world, slows down the burning of calories in the brown adipose tissue of mice. Reducing this burning of calories, a process known as diet-induced thermogenesis, causes the body to store these extra calories, promoting obesity. Scientists made the discovery after studying 34 commonly used pesticides and herbicides in brown fat cells and testing the effects of chlorpyrifos in mice fed high calorie diets.

My take? Mice studies can offer some insight into the complex problem of obesity in humans. However, we have to balance this out with practicality. Everything can be potentially harmful in specific doses. Read this if you don’t believe me! Thought organic fruits and vegetables are less toxic and use fewer pesticides than non-organic, you don’t have to buy everything organic (and in some cases it’s a complete waste of money!). These 12 foods should be bought organic because of their propensity to soak up pesticides in their skin, flesh, and leaves:

1. Strawberries

2. Spinach

3. Kale

4. Nectarines

5. Apples

6. Graps

7. Peaches

8. Cherries

9. Pears

10. Tomatoes

11. Celery

12. Potatoes

Outsides of these foods, you should be in the clear!

Looking for some extra help in your diet? Stuck on which foods you should or shouldn’t be buying? I’m here to help! Click the link below to get started!