What it Means to Over Eat

When it comes to food, just about any normal human being on earth can attest to the fact that eating is enjoyable, whether you spend hours each week cooking and preparing meals or going out to enjoy a fancy restaurant, you have a great meal to look forward to.

If you practice willpower and do your deed to earn that delicious, filling and nutritious meal, you are essentially making your meal more enjoyable with the anticipation, making it all the more satisfying.

For example, lets say you set aside your prepared protein smoothie as a post workout meal for some intense exercise. Or you decide to devote several hours of focus on work or a project or a business plan. The act of productivity sets the value for the upcoming meal that will be much more enjoyable when you have your tasks accomplished for the day.

This is, without a doubt, the best way to enjoy food. You earn the right to nourish your body and satisfy your hunger with something nutritious and sustainable. This could be a chicken salad or a protein smoothie amongst many things. Whatever suits your best self.

THE DARK SIDE OF OVER EATING

Things can get a little out of hand when you over consume and abuse eating. Now I am not saying this relative to abusing a drug, but it does involve a similar compensating behaviour. When you over indulge, you are practicing a dependency for food and in a way, compensating for something. Consider this next time you decide to munch out hard. If you are health-conscious, you will pick up on this easier.

For people who binge drink and then order a whole pizza on a regular basis, they have their own set of problems. But then again, this is a lifestyle that people choose to indulge in. But for those who are health conscious like me, will feel guilty just eating a restaurant meal that is not the healthiest option on the menu. This is good because we are aware of our habits and what we eat can interfere with the benefits of our practice.

Back on topic though with over eating. Over eating in general is unhealthy, not just for our bodies, but also, it degrades our psychology. As I mentioned, it could be something that goes unnoticed especially when you are not paying attention to it over time. Over indulging could be one’s way of compensating for what is lacking. It could be one’s way of escaping something. Surely it’s better than abusing alcohol or drugs, but overall, the habits of over eating are carried out from similar motives.

As a quick side note, if you are in the market for gaining muscle mass, more food will definitely serve you on your way. So unless you are trying to put on mass, you should avoid overeating, and even then, I believe a weight lifter looking to gain weight should not remain on such a high calorie diet for the long term. However, we will leave the debate on gaining mass for the avids in this area for now.

Aside from a dependency issue with food, there are other factors that will contribute eating disorders or over-eating and sugar cravings and they are mineral deficiencies. Mineral deficiencies are far more prominent in today’s world because of the degraded soil in which nature’s food is grown from. The soil is not full of the minerals that it once was and therefore, the foods that are grown from it contain far less minerals and other nutrients that our bodies need to function optimally. This is not to say that fruits and vegetables are no good, but they just do not contain the nutritional value that they once did.

Many of the minerals that we need to absorb certain vitamins are missing in our diets, and therefore, causing food cravings that can lead to obesity and other health issues.

An avid health food consumer can have the same issue with over eating as someone who stuff themselves with desserts, pizza and wings. This is likely the result of a mineral deficiency or a dependency issue that is used to compensate for what is lacking.

Alcohol does devoid in minerals and vitamins. This means it actually takes away the valuable nutrients that you may get from food. For this reason, more food rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients are required or the addition of multivitamins and/or whole food supplements.

COMFORT FOOD

The standard American diet consists of an array of “comfort” foods. This of course being fast food, fried food, and restaurant dishes for the most part. It is also in the form of highly processed food that is loaded with artificial ingredients and preservatives.

The typical comfort foods are high calorie, low nutrient quality foods, which leave you with no energy and are a major contributor to obesity in modern society. The lack of vitamins and minerals do not make up for the empty calories.

The term “comfort food” resonates with what many of those seek and I believe that it is by a form of dependancy or compensation. But then again, many people enjoy their lives and binge out on comfort food all the time, so I can’t really judge one’s lifestyle.  I think willpower is a lifestyle in itself. It’s all about what you can go without and only indulge in when necessary.

In my recent write-up about monosodium glutamate, I talked about how it is in most restaurant and fast food. It is added to food to enhance the taste. More so, it fools your brain into thinking the food is great and therefore, you don’t feel satiety and you eat way more of the food than you should in one serving.

EAT MORE NATURAL FOOD TO FEEL FULLER

This is why it is important to eat food that is closer to what nature provides. This way, you avoid or minimize the consumption of MSG and artificially flavoured. MSG and much of the artificial ingredients will block your body’s ability to absorb essential minerals including the ones that keep satiety in check. With whole, natural and single ingredient foods, you are greatly reducing this issue. The raw almonds may not taste like the chocolate-coated ones, but you will be better off this way.

Then again, you may still be lacking vitamins and minerals, so a whole food supplement or a multivitamin may be necessary. I would suggest a whole food supplement over multivitamins because they are a complete meal in of itself and provide the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals in a balanced proportion that is difficult to get out of most food available today. Garden of Life, Vega, and Amazing Grass are companies that make top quality food supplement powders. Avoid whole food supplements that have artificial sweeteners , bindings and textures though.

WHEN TO STOP EATING

The best way to determine how much you should be eating is by monitoring how you feel when you eat, what you eat, and how much. Ideally, you should be eating every 3 or 4 hours, assuming they are sustainable meals and not just snacks. You should also not eat close to bedtime either. A whole meal with heavy foods like meat will usually need 3 hours to digest.

Take your time eating and pay attention to how your body is responding. If you eat too fast, you will likely not notice how full you are getting until it is too late. Ideally, you want to eat until you are ¾ full. Don’t fill yourself to the rim. This is hard on your digestive system and takes more energy to digest the food than the energy you get from it. It’s a balance game and you need to aim for that spot where you feel the best. Not when you have had enough. It will be too late by then. This is a strategy that will benefit you in many ways like having more energy instead of less and avoid insulin spikes and digestive issues. This is a great strategy to apply for those who want to remain productive as well because it will keep you in a better cognitive state. Too much food at once usually puts you in a brain fog.

Eating until you are close to being full is good practice for your will power regardless of what you eat. This is also a practice for better decision-making when it comes to bigger life choices and issues.

Remember, keep it simple and keep it natural. The more nutrient-dense calories you consume while avoiding artificial ingredients, the higher your energy, immunity, and mental acuity will be. It is also key to vibrance and longevity.

 

Brendan Kearney

Vibranatural

Vibranatural Supplement Store

Vibranatural on Facebook

Vibranatural on Twitter

 

Healthy Eating, Productivity and Budgeting

I am writing this blog in reference to a current lifestyle shift I made due to financial troubles and are somewhat compromising. I am going to share with you how I deal with them.

Due to my current financial situation, I have moved back home to work doing roofing construction, which is a job I have done for years in the past. I felt it was appropriate for my situation with money because I need something reliable and steady that I can depend on for decent income for the time being until I get back on my feet again.

This is not the kind of work I desire to do for life, nor is living at home at my age, but sometimes we have to fall back to move further ahead. plus, it’s only temporary.

So I want to talk about a few sacrifices that I have planned to make in order to increase the amount of leftover money I have each week.

These 2 sacrifices are of great value to me and so I can only cut back to a certain degree to make room for financial improvements. I am also going to talk about why these things are of such value to me.

My Level of Healthy Eating

The first thing I will be cutting back on is grocery expenses. This is big for me because I am very accustomed to eating highly nutritious and healthy natural foods. I have become aware of such benefits of eating natural whole foods and healthy food supplements.

For one, I am more productive and feel better, sharper and have better mental clarity. My vibrations are higher as I feel I can take on bigger tasks and projects with confidence and conviction. Also, it is important that as a natural health food advocate building a business online, I practice what I preach.

Second, I feel better body-wise. I am more energetic, flexible and less achy. This is vitally important for the rigorous work as a roofer full time as well as the martial arts training and strength conditioning that I do. I sacrificed working hours while living in Ottawa in devotion to my training to reach black belt level in karate.

When I came home, I was hesitant on eating dinner and other food around the house because it was not up to my standards of “real food”. Not to be an asshole, I have just built a level of contrast between conventional processed food and quality natural organic food. I value such food for the state it puts me in. I know the regular Joe would just eat whatever is available to save money. Then again, I can’t just eat all of my parent’s food, so I am more than happy to shop for my own here and there.

I value my nutrition too because I can sustain a level of proficiency at my “JOB job” and building an online business after hours. When I eat pizza, chicken fingers, fries or Chinese food, etc. I can just feel the life force in me being ambushed.

Most people will stuff themselves with pizza, hot wings and beer all summer, after work and all weekend as their form of enjoyment. For me, I cannot succumb to this for the most part. Not to say that I am superior to these people, but it’s just important that I stick to my guns and pursue excellence and avoid things that put you in an unproductive state. I am sure any health-conscious person can relate to this.

Handling the Change

So how do I handle this change while I am on a budget? Well first off, I eat clean and healthy for the most part, from breakfast before work up until after finishing work around 4 or 5pm. If it has been a long day, I will treat myself to whatever is served at dinner and maybe a glass of wine. If I have something important to do like kick ass in karate, I will fuel up on a nutritious meal that is not too filling. I can’t have too much caffeine because I will be up all night.

My mother does have healthy food around the house so it really helps when I can snag some fruit, berries and some greens here and there haha!

Overall, I plan to save about $150 a month on groceries or even $50 a month. This would cut my monthly grocery bill in half. Not bad especially when I can still get away with eating generally quite healthy.

After long hours of work in the sun, it is sometimes best to just take a break from all of my hard work in pursuing goals and let myself recover.

At this point in my life I have come to value the security and comfort of having a steady income, so in a way I am better able to relax, but at the same time, I don’t want my desires to diminish. I value my individuality and uniqueness. As a practitioner of martial arts and body strength conditioning and also building an online business, a diet high in nutrient quality is crucial to my ability to carry out such missions. The physical arts and nutrition resonate with one-another. It keeps me in harmony and provides inner abundance that no amount of money can provide.

So my message to you today is that there is no shame in starting over. Think of it as building muscle. You work your muscles to the max and the tissue and fibres tear down. This stage is necessary for the rebuilding of the muscles to grow and strengthen.

When a situation calls for a sacrifice, identify and determine the impact of what you are planning to sacrifice. In most cases, it’s not as bad as you may think once you get settled in to the change. Just don’t throw away the things that give you the most pleasure and fulfillment. The things that make you whole and complete. The things set you on a vibration that matches your ideal being. You know what these things are and it is your gift to the world. You don’t want to neglect that.

Stick to your guns and focus more on building rather than sacrificing. Build from within and not from outsources. Live with less and feel fuller. I believe your health and nutrition keys in at the top of your priorities for overall success in life. Even if you are in a serious financial rut, don’t succumb to super cheap artificial foods. Your vibrations will be weak and you will struggle achieve true success from your own creative ability. Some may think that is ridiculous, but healthy eating and living becomes a part of you, so neglecting it after so long can have a negative impact.

You owe it to yourself to nourish your body and mind, to stay strong and sharp. Your vibrations will rise and put you in a better position to excel financially, spiritually and healthfully. Certainly a more rewarding route to go in the long run.

The power is in your hands and you can overcome any obstacle or setback when you eat whole, natural and nutritious food.

 

Brendan Kearney

Vibranatural

Vibranatural Health Food Supplements

Vibranatural Facebook 

Vibranatural Twitter 

 

MSG and your Deadly Tasteful Dish

As an avid health food consumer, I have developed quite a contrast in the spectrum of food overall. What I mean is that when I eat cheap processed food or restaurant meals (which is rare), I can’t help but notice the abundance of flavour.

I have grown quite fond of naturally aspired food over the years but when I go back to fast served or restaurant food, I can’t help but notice how potent the flavour is. It’s really a little out of hand from my perspective now.

Most people enjoy such foods, which is normal, but I sense the danger of such flavour. No ordinary food that comes from mother nature has that much of an impact on taste buds and there is a reason for that. These fast foods and restaurant dishes are most certainly modified and laced with something that does not belong in the human body.

The hidden ingredient is non other than MSG, (monosodium glutamate) and is the backbone to enhancing flavour in fast food and restaurant dishes along with many, many packaged foods in grocery stores.

MSG was discovered and founded by the Japanese about 100 years ago. They were the first suppliers of monosodium glutamate and they used it as a flavour and texture enhancer for the low quality food. Today, this one of the main practices amongst food suppliers.

That 8 oz steak or chicken salad dish is likely of low grade quality disguised as top of the line beef or chicken. And yes, MSG is the deadly mask of the coverup.

DANGERS OF MSG

Monosodium Glutamate makes you crave the food like a drug. Ever wonder why you can pig out at a chinese buffet for an hour before you are even full? The food is really not that good. MSG actually blocks the signal from leptin, a hormone in the brain that signals satiety. It also makes you “think” the food is actually “that good”. Just like how beer goggles and the influence of alcohol make you think you are dancing with a princess. The MSG-laced food, however, is nothing more than cheap quality food that really has no flavour like a top grade quality untampered food would.

MSG is harmful in many ways that have been demonstrated and tested in labs and symptoms can be profound. MSG is an excitotoxin that causes cell damage in the body and brain. Many known health affects have been reported in linkage to MSG toxicity such as obesity, eye damage, headaches, fatigue, disorientation and depression. There is no doubt that MSG is also a major contributor to alzheimers disease.

Even the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) reports various symptoms of MSG toxicity yet they deem it as “safe”. Never take the FDA’s word for any approval of a food product or supplement.

ALL ABOUT MONEY

So why can’t they just use real quality food that actually has the flavour and texture that we are all so accustomed to? Because it’s a lot cheaper for the food supplier and industry and thus, cheaper for the restaurants to serve and everybody profits.

Those who control the food supply are in it for the money and not concerned about your health. Heck, it keeps the doctors and pharmaceutical industry in business.

MSG IN DISGUISE

MSG is everywhere, from various canned and packaged goods, drinks and in fast food and fancy restaurants. What is really scary is that there is no direct indicator of MGS or monosodium glutamate on ingredient labels today. Food companies have realized that more people are becoming health-conscious and aware of the dangers of MSG. So what do these major companies and suppliers do? They disguise the name with other ingredients that contain MSG, whether directly or developed through processing. This makes determining the presence of MSG almost undetectable.

Some ingredients that you may want to watch out for which have the possibility of containing MSG are:

• glutamic acid
• gelatin
• anything hydrolyzed or autolyzed
• anything modified or textured
• sodium caseinate
• calcium caseinate
• yeast extract
• anything with the word “flavour” or “flavouring”
• stock
• soy sauce
• broth
• carrageenan (watch for it in almond milk)
• anything ultra pasteurized
• soy protein isolate
• malt extract
• maltodextrin

HOW TO AVOID MSG AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

So how do we avoid MSG toxicity when it is in all sorts of food products hidden under a secondary name? I will provide you with a few tips on how to best avoid consuming MSG on a regular basis.

Become a master of reading ingredient labels. When you discover the sidekick name to monosodium glutamate, you have more power in your choice of food. It may be a tedious task, but it is necessary especially if you are health-conscious, in which case it is your deed to pave the way for your future health and well being.

Avoid restaurants and fast food joints as much as possible. If you are health conscious enough already, you likely browse the menu for a long time to pick out the healthiest option. This is almost impossible unless you happen to get them to serve your food without MSG (which may tick off the staff, but it’s for the interest of your health). For those who eat out frequently, you have some boundaries to lay down. Eat out less.

Avoid gourmet and fresh food deli in grocery stores. They appear healthy and fresh, but without a doubt, contain MSG one way or another. These ready-to-go meals never taste that good on their own merits. Just look at the ingredient label on the back of sushi. There are a ridiculous amount of foul ingredients which is a sheer sign of bad news.

Check out the pre-packaged egg and/or potato salad. After reading those ridiculous ingredients, it’s basically not even egg or potato salad anymore. Its just a bunch of modified nonsense. Look at hummus and other dips. How many added ingredients do you see? That will tell you whether to pick it up or put it back on the shelf.

Try some Red Clover. According to a source I have listed at the bottom, Red Clover actually blocks much of the cell damage that MSG creates. I am not sure about this one but it sounds very appealing. You could take a Red clover supplement before dining out or being invited to a dinner and you are covered!

Eat natural whole foods fresh from the earth. Eat fresh produce, nuts and seeds as well as legumes. Watch out for those nuts and trail mixes coated with modified oils and sugars though. You also want to eat more organically or locally.

MSG is the secret ingredient that food suppliers and major companies use because of it’s cheapness and effectiveness. it keeps the masses illiterate. It surely works out to their favour in maintaining control over the general world population.

For those, however that become aware of this controlled chaos may choose to speak out and move away from the herd that is in custody of their minds and feeling unable to make a difference. Those who become aware and desire to defend their health, happiness and freedom will be the ones who can make a difference in their health and impact the lives of many others.

For I see the totality of this sickness amongst the masses who are blinded into corporate control, I refuse to accept it as permanent. I will continue to provide such content, whether good or bad for my desire to share with the world and make it a healthier place. As long as you are willing to make a difference, you deserve it.

Thank you for reading and I will see you on the healthier side

Brendan K

Vibranatural,

https://www.facebook.com/vibranaturalfit (like page)

Sources:

http://goo.gl/UJvI1

http://goo.gl/uWgJYd

http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/the-dangers-of-msg

 

 

Restoring Your Faith in the Natural Food Movement

After several months of consistent blogging and building of the Vibranatural brand, I have discovered the core of what I present. Not that I had no idea before, but I have came to realize that I do more than just promote natural foods and supplements through an online store.

Through my seeking of knowledge and growth in the natural food movement, I have found myself undergoing a process of elimination of “natural” foods and supplements. These are products that are found unworthy of natural labelling, but still make it to the market.

Here at Vibranatural, it is my job and desire to scope out the true nature of food, whether it’s canned, packaged, or in supplement form and determine it’s worthiness of an all natural label. Every product that I list on vibranatural.com goes through my inspection and from there, I determine which products get featured on the website. I do not just throw products up on the site that are just merely a marketing gimmick for being all natural. I go beyond that for the consumer’s interest and to gain trust. It is my job to provide customers with quality products and restore their faith in the Natural food market.

For those who are a little more health savvy and look beyond just a label that markets “natural” the resources are becoming available through the growth and expansion of my service.

Marketing hype does not fool many of us after a while and it’s no longer enough to convince the health savvy consumer. There are far too many companies out there who cut corners and use fancy Natural labels to disguise the flaws.

REVEALING THE FLAWS

I have come across a wicked amount of “natural knock-offs” over the internet. I also run into such products in grocery stores , fitness shops, and even Natural Health Food stores.

I think too many people give away their trust in companies who provide natural gimmicks and don’t bother to go deeper to inspect. If you are truly passionate about your health, you will certainly be one of those who do your homework. There are many great reputable and trustworthy companies out there who provide real quality products, but often times, they get blended in with the collage of cheap knock-offs.

To get you started on the right foot, I will give you 3 tips for identifying a real authentic natural food product.

1: READ THE INGREDIENT LABELS

This is the first step in determining a real natural food or supplement. Check the ingredient label for artificial ingredients. It may be hard to determine what ingredients are natural and artificial, but you generally want to avoid products containing complex sounding ingredients as this is a good indicator in determining if it is artificial. Here are examples of these ingredients:

aspartame, aspartic acid, aceulfame potassium, erythritol, dissodium EDTA, maltodextrin, sucralose, sodium chloride, monosodium glutamate (MSG), glutamic acid, glutamate, high fructose corn syrup, caramel colour, sodium benzoate 

These are some of the faulty ingredients that can appear in “natural” food products, so watch out for them. These are also amongst the most unhealthy. These ingredients show up on many packaged foods, nutrition bars, trail mixes, protein powders, sports drinks, cereals, and canned goods.

Instead , opt for ingredients that resemble an actual food. Here is an example list of natural ingredients:

almonds, almond butter, dates, date paste, organic cocoa, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds,  sea salt, cane sugar, raw honey, agave nectar, buckwheat, spelt, kumalt, vanilla extract, stevia, cranberries, oats, hemp seeds

2: KNOWING WHAT THE INGREDIENTS ARE

This step is a little more advanced and requires some more knowledge, but over time it will become easier and actually less of a burden.

Many of the simple names you come across are actually unhealthy even if they are derived from a natural source. This is where quality is considered. Here are some example ingredients that are actually unhealthy:

soya oil, soybean oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, sugar (unspecified), corn starch, corn syrup, gluten, wheat, wheat starch, corn oil, natural flavour, yeast extract, soy protein (GMO) yeast food, soy sauce, malt extract, rice meal, chocolate flavour, milk ingredients, enriched wheat flour, wheat flour, anything with the word modified

There are also some artificial sounding names that are actually healthy, so if you see them listed as an ingredient, don’t worry:

guar gum, xantium gum, tapioca starch, sillicon dioxide (silica), inulin, xylitol, soy lecithin (in moderation)

You also want to opt for organic products whenever you buy natural. Although they don’t have to be organic all the time, it is a good indicator of a healthy all natural product because it means less ingredients to substitute for flavour or texture that are otherwise unhealthy and poor quality.

Now I have been just as gullible as you may have. I used to take the fancy label’s word for it and assume that the ingredients listed on the back were all natural. It’s easier that way, but the more you learn, the more your realize how much you are being fooled.

3: PROCESSING METHODS

At this stage we are determining how raw and close to nature a food product remains. While there is a lot of controversy and debate in this area, I will leave you with the basics of what to look for.

Cold processed means that heat was not involved in the processing of the food and therefore, remains closer to a raw form and the nutrients remain intact. This is also important when considering a product that uses many different oils.

Many companies use high heat processing and this causes the ingredients to bind together in a way that makes it harder to absorb in the body. Nutrient quality is also lost after a certain temperature with most food ingredients, so it’s questioned whether you are really getting the amount of protein, carbs, fat, etc. that is stated on the nutrition label.

Many protein powders and bars use high heat processing. It is always best to seek out a protein powder or bar that states ‘cold processed’ so you know it’s closer to nature. You may also have to do your research. Look up the companies processing methods if accessible and/or read up on the internet.

 

You also want to avoid items that are refined. This is usually indicated on the label. In most cases, refining involves some sort of modification to the ingredients and it is hard to tell what the purpose is behind it. In some cases it can be beneficial as well as heat processing, but in general, it denatures the quality. Anything that is refined, denatured, processed, enriched or modified usually means that the end result of the product is not as good as what it is set out to be. You will see indicators of this by the price as they tend to be cheaper. However, if you want true quality, you will always pay a little more.

My objective with Vibranatural is to carry out the mission of uncovering the natural market hype and to serve those who take their health and nutrition a little more seriously. Those who are passionate in this area, will find that it’s not really a burden, but rather enjoyable to grow with knowledge and mature in the field of natural nutrition. A way that will take your heath and fitness to the next level. 

Restoring you faith in the natural food movement

Brendan K

http://www.vibranatural.com

https://www.facebook.com/vibranaturalfit

https://twitter.com/Vibranatural1