Most Americans have been conditioned to overeat since birth. According to Carrie Latt Wiatt, author of "Portion Saavy," the message in this is, "more food is better, even beyond the point of physical satiation." Judging by Americas "fattest country" status, more food is not better and Americans can unlearn that message.
Science says less is more. Reducing portions = reducing calories.
**Reducing your calorie intake:
* Burns body fat and subsequently reduces your risk of diseases associated with being overweight, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes.
* Improves glycemic (blood sugar) control and increases insulin efficiency, helping to stabilize energy levels, nourish cells, and prevent the health risks of high blood sugar levels.
* Lowers levels of blood lipids (LDL cholesterol and triglycerides), which are direct risk factors for heart disease.
* Improves immune response, helping you ward off diseases from the common cold to cancer.
* Could increase good HDL cholesterol, reduce the age-related loss of the DHEA hormone, and lower subcutaneous body temperature to slow aging and add years to your life.**
One of the first steps in developing portion healthy habits is to know the difference between being "comfortable" and being "stuffed". Most people eat two or three times as much as the body needs to function properly. Excess calories = excess weight. Next, inventory your calorie intake. It's as simple as reading the new nutrition labels on the foods you buy. If you frequent fast food restaurants, log on to www.kenkuhl.com. This is an excellent resource for finding nutrition information on foods served in just about any fast food restaurant in the country. For nutrition information about the most commonly used foods, pick up a copy of the American Heart Association's Brand Name Fat and Cholesterol Counter (it contains calories too!), published by Random House.
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