If you've watched the news lately, you may have seen the latest revelations that Ultra-processed foods have been named 'The new silent killer'

But the truth is, this is nothing new, it's been happening for years. The foods that our grandparents and their parents ate were very different to what has become the standard Western diet we have today.

According to data from Statista, in 2020, the global revenue of the food and beverage industry was estimated to be around 8.2 trillion USD. This includes revenue from various sectors such as packaged food, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. It's a HUGE business and it should be no surprise that these companies are not concerned about our health one smidgen!
It's all about the💰

The Processed Predicament

More than 70% of supermarket items fall into the category of 'ultra-processed' foods. 🛒 These items are so distant from their real food origins that they wreak havoc on our health! They're inflammatory and contribute to a plethora of health issues, including type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, weakened immunity, and disruptions in gut bacteria balance.

Now more than ever, we need to become well-informed, ignore sneaky food marketing and take back control of what we put into our bodies!

DID YOU KNOW 🕵🏼
Type 2 diabetes used to be called Adult-onset diabetes, but now we're seeing it in children as young as 3 years old. It's also becoming common for teenagers to get this lifestyle-led disease, which led to the name change.

Alzheimer's is now being called Type 3 diabetes due to the causative effects of processed carbohydrates and refined sugars.

Make it stand out

**What can we do?**
There's plenty we can do to reclaim our health through food! Here are a few actionable hacks:
**Prioritise Whole Foods:** 🥗 Base your diet on whole, unprocessed foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins.
**Read Labels:** 📋 Take a moment to scrutinise ingredient labels and avoid products packed with additives and artificial ingredients. If you don't know what is in the ingredients, put it back on the shelf!!
**Cook at Home:** 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 Experiment with cooking and preparing meals at home. It allows you to control what goes into your food.
**Limit Sugar and Refined Carbs:** 🍬🍞 Cut down on sugary treats and refined carbohydrates, which fuel inflammation. 1-2 treats per week is ok, but they should not become our daily nutrition.
**Fibre Focus:** 🌾 Incorporate plenty of fibre-rich foods to support digestion, a healthy gut and overall health.
**Healthy Fats:** 🥑 Don't shy away from healthy fats found in avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil and fatty fish.
**Stay Hydrated:** 💧 Keep yourself hydrated with water, herbal teas, and coconut water.
**Mindful Eating:** 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️ Practice mindful eating to tune into your body's hunger and fullness cues.
**Meal Planning:** 📅 Plan and prep your meals ahead of time for healthier choices throughout the week.
**Seek Professional Guidance:** 🌟 When in doubt, consult with someone experienced in the field of nutrition, like me!!!

I am passionate about the healing power of food and optimising our health naturally and the first consideration in health should always focus on what we put in our bodies!

Let's reclaim our health, one bite at a time! 💪 If you'd like to clean up your diet but you don't know where to start, I can help!