My back, knees and joints started to ache terribly every day. My blood pressure and weight were both higher than I liked and I did not feel very good. At the time I didn’t realize it could be the fast foods and processed foods I was eating. Once I changed my diet, I felt much better.
Fast food and processed foods are for the most part one in the same. They contain chemically processed foods, refined grains and plenty of high fructose corn syrup. And this food was taking its toll on my health.
Why I Stopped Eating Processed Foods
I first realized my health was not great when I noticed how badly my knees and joints ached every morning and my ears would ring with high blood pressure. It never occurred to me that it could be my diet of fast food, junk food and processed food that was causing my health problems.
By the age of 32, I was more than 40 pounds overweight and my blood pressure and cholesterol readings were too high. On top of all of this, I injured my lower back, which turned out to be my lucky day.
My chiropractor believed in healthy eating, good nutrition and that junk food was most likely the reason for my health problems. At this time, I was skeptical that junk and processed food could be the cause of my health problems.
My doctor told me to read the book,"12 Days to Dynamic Health" by Dr. John McDougall. This book explained how processed foods, white flour, sugar and fast food can cause many of today's health problems.
My chiropractor believed in healthy eating, good nutrition and that junk food was most likely the reason for my health problems. At this time, I was skeptical that junk and processed food could be the cause of my health problems.
How I finally Broke My Processed Food Habit
My doctor told me to read the book,"12 Days to Dynamic Health" by Dr. John McDougall. This book explained how processed foods, white flour, sugar and fast food can cause many of today's health problems.
The 12-day eating plan is a vegetarian diet that eliminates all animal foods, all dairy, all refined vegetable oil and fake sugars. After reading Dr. McDougall's book, I decided to try his healthy way of eating.
We cooked all of our meals from recipes in the book and stopped eating fast food and processed foods. We continued the diet beyond the 12 days, and honestly, the cravings for fast food were so bad that I even dreamed of fast food.
After two months, I had to have fast food again. I ordered a hamburger and large fries. The first bite I took was not wonderful like I thought it would be, it was far too salty and afterwards I felt like I had a cement block in my stomach. After that, I learned that it was easier to say no to unhealthy foods more often that giving in.
I am lucky that I read Dr. McDougall's book when I did, it also taught me to eliminate all oil, limit sugar and avoid all of the vegetarian junk foods. With so many vegetarian junk foods on the market today, I am glad I learned that lesson, or I could have ended up an unhealthy vegetarian.
We cooked all of our meals from recipes in the book and stopped eating fast food and processed foods. We continued the diet beyond the 12 days, and honestly, the cravings for fast food were so bad that I even dreamed of fast food.
After two months, I had to have fast food again. I ordered a hamburger and large fries. The first bite I took was not wonderful like I thought it would be, it was far too salty and afterwards I felt like I had a cement block in my stomach. After that, I learned that it was easier to say no to unhealthy foods more often that giving in.
I am lucky that I read Dr. McDougall's book when I did, it also taught me to eliminate all oil, limit sugar and avoid all of the vegetarian junk foods. With so many vegetarian junk foods on the market today, I am glad I learned that lesson, or I could have ended up an unhealthy vegetarian.
Dr. John McDougall has written more books since 1990 about how the food we eat affects our health and how we feel. His best book is The Starch Solution. It is easy to read and understand and explains everything you need to know about eating a healthy diet.
Living Life without Processed Foods
That was 20 years ago and today I do not crave fast food. Learning how to cook and eat healthy food has actually changed my taste buds, and I now crave healthy foods instead. I also learned what real nutrition is and that processed foods do not have much nutrition.
After the first year of not eating fast food, my blood pressure dropped to a normal 110/70 and the ringing in my ears stopped. The joint pains disappeared, I lost the extra weight and my energy levels were the best I had felt in years.
About the Author
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © 2014 Sam Montana
