What's in the Food?

Research for the Chef
What’s in the Food?
Much attention has been paid to eating unhealthy foods, especially fried foods and products with added sugars like high-fructose corn syrup. Fried foods, when eaten as part of a high-calorie diet, are associated with obesity. In addition, obesity rates have increased with the increase in consumption of added sugars. Fructose-containing foods and drinks are associated with and increase belly fat and overall obesity. Aside from surgery, obesity treatment methods provide some clues about how obesity can be prevented. Most interventions involve making incremental changes to eating habits, such as cutting 500 to 1,000 calories daily and incorporating your food preferences so you can stick with the plan. In addition, obesity prevention calls for teaching people about "food composition," how to read nutrition labels, healthy cooking, as well as dispelling the myth that eating. According to research in the March 2000"Medical Clinics of North America" study, most adults eat and drink an average of 1 million calories per year. This may seem like a lot of calories but your body has systems designed to control weight. For example, hormones can rev up or dial down your appetite, while others can turn up your internal furnace to burn more calories. However, when you begin consuming just a few extra calories, you tip the scale in favor of weight gain. As few as 25 extra calories per day, over time, may cause obesity. The "Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010" reports that controlling weight and preventing obesity requires adopting a healthy eating pattern by consuming nutrient-dense foods and beverages to stay within recommended caloric intakes. [continues]

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