Guide To Weight Loss - A Couple Of Things You Must Avoid At All Costs

Two of the things you really need to avoid if you want to lose weight are fast food and artificial flavors. Unfortunately, most people still keep consuming them. So let's look at exactly why they are so damaging...

1. Fast Food

No Whoppers, No Big Macs, No NOTHING. These foods are stuffed with hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, saturated fats, and sugars... this is poison central. Don't eat it! It makes you tired, fat and sick. These foods are engineered to make you want more and feel lousy.

Don't eat quasi-fast food either. These include chains like Chili's, Olive Garden, Perkin's and the hundreds of others along our major thoroughfares and interstate exits. They get their foods from some of the same sources that the easily identifiable fast food joints use. It's the same stuff, just a little prettier and more expensive.

If you travel or are on the road a lot, pack a bunch of fresh fruit and vegetables (mini carrots, celery, etc.) so you can snack while you're driving. If you absolutely want some carbs, buy a bag of veggie chips or something to crunch on. Also, bring a ton of water so you can stay hydrated and awake.

2. "Artificial Flavors"

Artificial Flavors are chemicals that are put in our foods to add flavor to food products that are so over processed that they no longer have any taste at all. It's disgusting and we're buying into it every time we go to the supermarket. Most artificial additives are made from derivatives of crude oil that are chemically altered to produce a synthetic substance.

You can see why this might be a health concern. This is not food. There are health effects associated with artificial additives and flavors and what's worse is that they are added most to the foods that already have had their nutrients stripped from them by artificial pesticides and fertilizers. Here are some to watch out for.

Artificial Colors (listed on labels as F D & C colors, or as a specific color such as Yellow #5): These are made from coal-tar and have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Yum.

BHA and BHT: These are also made from coal-tar and have been linked to hyperactive behavior in children. They are on the FDA's GRAS list (Generally Recognized As Safe).

EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid): This synthetic chemical is made from minerals, is irritating to the skin and can cause allergic reactions. It also can cause kidney damage. Funny thing is, even though it's on the FDA list for further study, it's still in our food.

Nitrates and Nitrites: Nitrates and Nitrites are made from mineral salts. These are known to cause cancer in animals. They are added to most pork, especially processed meats, as well as some other meat, poultry, fish, and cheese.

Sulfites (sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfite, sodium and potassium bisulfite, sodium and potassium metabisulfite): These are made from sulfur and mineral salts. They can cause severe allergic reactions, including breathing difficulties, gastrointestinal disorders, unconsciousness, hives, and anaphylactic shock. Found in many processed foods and almost always in wine and beer.

One insidious trick the food industry uses to get around putting all these artificial ingredients on the label is this: they'll put an ingredient in a processed food, list it on the package, and then never break down the individual ingredients in that specific ingredient.

Here's an example: Ham included in processed foods, for instance, will contain nitrates and nitrites, and the shortening used may contain BHA and BHT, but only "ham" or "shortening" will appear on the product label.

Kate Fletcher has taught hundreds of people how to lose weight. Visit her website right now at Fast Guide To Weight Loss for some great information on losing weight. Or, want to see the #1 weight loss course online? Visit the Burn The Fat Review section of Kate's website.