I read an article in the Sydney Morning Herald earlier (view it here: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/nearly-half-the-australian-diet-is-ultra-processed-food-20190828-p52lmd.html) stating that nearly half the Australian diet is ultra-processed food, and that a third of Australians’ energy intake comes from discretionary food (energy-dense foods, usually high in salt, sugar, saturated fats, or alcohol).
Was I surprised? Unfortunately, no.
The article went on to state that convenience is a major factor, but what is this convenience really costing us?
Often, processed foods are:
- Low in nutrients and fibre
- Calorie dense
- Engineered for over consumption
- High in salt, sugar and trans fats
- Easily digested, leaving us feeling hungry again sooner
- Full of artificial ingredients.
It’s easy to see that highly processed foods are not only putting our health at risk, but also contributing to weight gain, overeating, food addiction, uncontrollable cravings, dips in energy and mood swings.
At Outdoor Grit we promote a diet high in whole, minimally processed foods such as lean meats, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, whole grains, nuts and seeds. However, we understand that changing the way we eat is no easy feat – it takes time, knowledge, dedication, planning, money and sometimes even support, to get us off on the right track and hold us accountable.
If you would like to speak with one of our team about how we can help you on your nutrition journey, drop us a line today.
Dayna – Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified