You see it everywhere. Headlines like “10 Minutes to a Flat Stomach!” or “Drop 5 lbs in 5 Days!” pepper newsstands from sea to shining sea. However, studies are beginning to show that your diet could be far more important than your workout regimen.
Many companies focus on marketing exercise as the primary way to better health and a “better” body. Despite what we might know of food’s correlation with our overall health and weight, we have all been guilty for falling for the workout hype at one time or another.
Although the benefits of being active can never be disputed, many facets have been greatly exaggerated. It’s time food takes the spotlight instead of dumbbells. As cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra puts it, “You cannot outrun a bad diet.”
Despite public health professionals combating the obesity crisis through the law, almost 80 million people are still considered obese. Most people like to blame the obesity epidemic on poor food choices and sedentary lifestyles. However, there has only been a formidable call to action on one of these reasons: exercise.
This is especially true when it comes to some food and drink companies. Instead of promoting eating a healthier diet that is naturally low in calories, exercising those excess calories seems to be the message that is usually expressed.
Although exercising leads to decreased risks of many debilitating diseases, Malhotra believes that a lack of exercise has little to do with the rise of obesity cases, “In the past 30 years, as obesity has rocketed, there has been little change in physical activity levels in the western population. This places the blame for our expanding waistlines directly on the type and amount of calories consumed.”
So what exactly should you be eating more of? Surprisingly, it’s fat (the good kind, that is). Avocados and almonds should make regular appearances in your snack and meals to not only help you feel satiated and fuller longer, but also to increase your body’s antioxidant absorption and metabolism. Vegetables, legumes, fruits, and spices should also be staples of your diet, as well as a glass of red wine every now and then.
Rethink Your Workout
So how much exercise do you need? Definitely not as much as what’s usua