We live in one of the most developed countries on the planet. We have easy access to food and health services. Why, then, is the United States among the most obese and unhealthy? Much of the blame goes to Americans’ diets.
Unfortunately, it’s much easier to throw a frozen pizza in the oven or hit the drive-through than it is to prepare a healthy meal.
The result is a population of malnourished people living with fatigue and chronic conditions. But we’re on a mission to help change that. Our experts here at Nebben Physical Medicine discuss four of the worst foods you can eat and give you the tools to make healthier decisions.
Sugary drinks — sodas, fruit juices, even sports drinks — are all taste and no nutrients. What’s worse is that 60% of children and 50% of adults consume them daily. Having sugary drinks regularly can lead to a long list of health problems, from tooth decay to diabetes.
We understand that plain water isn’t always exciting. To compromise, add a slice of lemon or other fruit to your water. You might also try tea infusions or smoothies to quench your thirst and satisfy your taste buds.
Fast food and frozen meals may be convenient, but they’re far less nutritious than whole foods. These types of meals are often fried, processed, high in salt, and/or full of preservatives — all of which lead to chronic conditions, including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Kick those habits and try making these healthy swaps:
We also recommend meal planning, so you always have a home-cooked meal ready to go and can resist the drive-through or microwave.
White bread — we’re including packaged pastries and ready-to-eat cereals in this category — is made from refined wheat and packed with sugar. The processing these foods go through strips them of all nutrition and leaves behind only taste and empty calories.
Our favorite alternatives are:
Remember that bread, pastries, and carb-dense foods aren’t forbidden. Carbohydrates are a crucial component of a balanced diet. We simply recommend you choose your carbs wisely, so you can reap the benefits and the taste.
This is perhaps the most frustrating part of trying to eat a healthy diet. If you walk the aisles of the grocery store, you see “fat free,” “low sugar,” “fewer calories,” and similar phrases plastered on almost every product.
More often than not, these seemingly healthier options are just as bad as their “unhealthy” counterparts. For example, low-fat yogurt is loaded with sugar to make up for the lost taste.
Instead of obsessing over labels and marketing schemes, we encourage you simply to eat whole foods that are in fact healthy. We can help you navigate some of the common pitfalls of diet foods, so you can make the best choices for your specific needs.
At Nebben Physical Medicine, we specialize in diagnosing and addressing pain conditions, such as neuropathy, headaches, and arthritis. So, why do we care so much about what you eat?
We care because there’s a direct link between diet and chronic pain. An unhealthy diet triggers a reaction in your immune system similar to the reaction after a bacterial infection. Your immune system mistakenly senses a threat and triggers inflammation, which can lead to pain.
Vitamin deficiencies that stem from poor diet choices also impact immune system function.
That’s why, along with our advanced treatments, we also encourage you to make adjustments to your diet to fully support the healing and recovery process.
If you’d like more information about your diet and how it impacts pain, we’d love to talk with you. Call or click to request an appointment at our Clarksville, Tennessee, office today.
