With the start of the new year, you want to make this the one when you take charge of your weight and your wellness through healthier eating habits. You’re not alone, as millions of others share the same goal, but, unfortunately, two-thirds of the population in the United States is still carrying too much unhealthy weight.
If you want this year’s resolution to really stick, the team here at Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine can help. Through our science- and evidence-based weight-loss services, we can show you a new way of eating that will improve your health and help you lose weight at the same time.
Here’s how.
The problematic American diet
One of the primary reasons why two-thirds of our population is considered overweight or obese is that our diet has evolved into one that’s calorie-rich and nutrient poor. Americans consume a whopping 3,600 calories per day, on average, when most women only need 1,600-2,400 and most men should consume 2,000-3,000.
Not only are we taking in too many calories, these calories are often coming from processed foods and drinks, which contain loads of ingredients that aren’t good for you — sugar, salt, refined carbs, trans fat — and few that do benefit your health, such as protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
As a result, our bellies may be full, but our bodies aren’t getting the nutrition they need to function well.
Getting back to basics
At our practice, we’ve had great success with two eating plans that get back to basics: paleo and keto.
Paleo diet
To combat the processed foods in your diet, we recommend revising your eating habits to better match those of our ancestors during the paleolithic era (10,000 to 2.5 million years ago).
Long before preservatives and mass production of foods, people had simpler diets and fed off the land, as humans were designed to do.
This means a diet that’s full of:
- Meats
- Eggs
- Fish
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- Healthy fats
- Herbs and spices
This true hunter/gatherer style of eating places the emphasis on foods that fuel our bodies correctly and support our health, without waste, making every calorie count.
Ketogenic (keto) diet
This diet is similar to the paleo diet, but it places more emphasis on your glucose levels, making it a great option for those who are prediabetic or who have diabetes.
The keto diet greatly limits the number of carbohydrates, which are the primary sources of glucose, and encourages more healthy fat intake. In creating this high-fat/low-carb ratio, our goal is to help you reach the metabolic state of ketosis, which turns your body into a fat-burning machine.
Not only can the keto diet help you burn fat more efficiently, it can reduce your blood glucose to help prevent insulin resistance.
Getting started on your healthy eating journey
To figure out which eating plan is best for you, come see us for an evaluation. Once we review your medical history and your goals, we can choose a plan that best suits your needs.
Not only do both of these eating styles help you lose weight, they support your health in myriad ways, reducing your risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.
If you’d like to finally take charge of your health through your diet, please contact one of our offices in Westfield or West Orange, New Jersey, to get on the road to a healthier, slimmer you this year.
