Maybe we're not weak, we're just being misled by food giants...

Apr 21, 2013

I've been reading a book call Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss and I really recommend it for anyone struggling with their weight or who lives with someone who is.   We don't realize to what lengths the food industry (processed and restaurants) go to finding the "Bliss Point" - that perfect combination of salt, sugar & fat that shuts off the mechanism in our brain that tells us we are full.    Salt & sugar seem to have their own limits - at some point something can become way too salty or way too sweet to want to keep eating - but that's not the case with fat.  They can just keep adding more and more and the body - or maybe I should say the taste buds - never grow tired of it.

Reality is that these companies exist to create profits for the shareholders, and the more they sell, the more money they make.   They don't care about the health or moral implications of the damage they are causing to individuals or our society.   It's an amazing book but you will frequently want to just throw it across the room.   

I say all of this because so many of us who have battled with obesity think there is something wrong with us as individuals.   We must lack willpower or self discipline or self control.   We just do not understand how much the deck is stacked against us.  And it's not just enough to read the nutrition labels - you have to read them carefully.

If you look at individually wrapped portions, you have to pay close attention to what is considered a portion size and how many portions that package actually contains.  An "individually" wrapped serving might actually contain 2-3-4 or more servings - but the protein, fat, sugar, calories listed reflect the SINGLE serving.    And trust me, the food companies know how to wiggle around the rules to deceive you.

I could go on and on but if you are reading this blog post, I strongly encourage you to read the book or at least Google it and read excerpts about it or watch interviews on various shows - because we all know once an author releases a book they start showing up on all of the cable talk shows.   You can't solve a problem that you don't realize exists.   And food manufacturers don't WANT people to know what they are doing.  But it is so sad to see those of us who have struggled with our weight beat ourselves up as being weak or lazy or whatever when reality is there are some strong forces working against us. 

There is a reason why nutritionists tell us to shop the perimeter of the grocery store and to buy fresh produce, meats, etc - but until you read this book or at least pay attention to the labels on the food in those areas, you don't realize how much the food manufacturers have learned to creep into the perimeter and load it with unhealthy choices.   

I'd love to hear your thoughts...

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