Rise of the Kindaholics

The stuff we consume drives the growth and functioning of the only body we will ever get.

This is part four in a four part series on healthy eating. In part one, I discuss how nutrition is more important than exercise for getting and staying lean, in part two I discuss what to eat - high protein, real foods, and in part three I discuss intermittent fasting.

In this segment, we’re going to take a look at things we should avoid consuming.

The stuff we eat and drink drives the growth and functioning of the only body we will ever get. If we consume garbage, we are running on bad fuel and harming this only body.

Alcohol and the Rise of the Kindaholics

During the pandemic, alcohol consumption has increased dramatically.

I’ve noticed a lot of what I think of as the Kindaholic.

Kindaholics function ok in the present. They are not losing their jobs or crashing their cars and their partners are not leaving them.

But they’re drinking more and doing it more frequently either due to stress or being trapped at home or whatever. This might not result in an acute crisis but it is devastating longer term. 

Alcohol is a toxin. It damages your only body and increased consumption over time affects sleep, organ function, cancer risk, weight control and more.

The smart contrarian play is to go the other way and reduce alcohol consumption or cut it out completely.

Here is a resource to get started.

Sugar and Carbs

Sugar and refined carbs are also addictive, though some dietitians are still denying this even as obesity skyrockets.

Sugar is a toxin. It leads to weight gain, increases your risk of Type 2 Diabetes, decreases energy, promotes cellular aging, and more.

How high sugar foods like cake and candy ever came to be associated with rewards and treats only shows how backwards we have become as a culture with regard to nutrition. 

Additionally, our bodies turn carbohydrates into sugars so carbs (aside from fiber) are generally bad too.

I can’t recommend enough the value of replacing high sugar and high carb foods with less processed, high protein foods.

See part two in this series for a way to get started and check out Dr. Tro who is the axe on food addiction.