I have a confession to make.

I’m an avid people watcher, especially in grocery stores. 

Don’t let that creep you out—as a nutrition coach, I need to observe people’s food habits so I have an idea as to the extent of the diet atrocities I may be helping people with.

And one thing I’m seeing about people’s grocery carts is that they contain less and less “food” and more and more “stuff.”

And the effects of that go way beyond carrying a few extra pounds.

Here’s what I mean—let’s look at the difference between food and stuff and the dear price you can pay…and may already be paying.

From real food to “processed stuff”

Real foods are things that you can actually find in Nature—meats, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables. 

Also acceptable as real foods are things that have had very few alterations—like bagged salads, quick frozen vegetables, dried beans, milk, butter or yogurt.  The fewer steps away from their natural state, the better.

But sadly, more and more of what we’re eating is NOT real food at all—it’s “stuff.”  Highly processed, loaded with chemicals, with lists of ingredients you can’t even pronounce and a far cry from anything that has ever appeared in Nature.

Putting it bluntly, I never recall sitting under the shade of a Hamburger Helper tree or picking nice, ripe Pop Tarts from my garden.

And besides the obvious consequence of eating “stuff” instead of food—not getting any nutrients to speak of other than the few that are sprinkled in to make the products appear healthy, plus no appreciable fiber—here are the other damages caused by a diet high in “stuff”:

1- Refined carbohydrate risks

The refined carbohydrates (especially high fructose corn syrup) in processed stuff are a leading contributing factor in heart disease, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, poor immune function, leaky gut, dementia and of course obesity. 

Plus high fructose corn syrup is typically made from GMO corn and has been found to contain mercury—the most deadly neurotoxin known to man.

2- Salt sadness

The salt in processed stuff can stir up hypertension in two ways.  First of all, too much sodium can increase your blood volume and drive up blood pressure. 

In addition, when you have too much sodium which is not counterbalanced by the proper amount of potassium (and a processed stuff diet is abysmal in terms of potassium), it leads to elevated calcium levels, which in turn makes the smooth muscle cells in your arteries contract, raising your blood pressure.

3- Trans-fat terror

The trans-fats in processed stuff are linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, immune dysfunction, mood swings, obesity and accelerated aging. 

And even though trans-fats are supposed to be gradually removed from our food supply, processed foods also are made with heated polyunsaturated oils, which create deadly compounds similar to trans-fats and are equally harmful.

So we’re really no better off.

4- Chemical calamity

Your body was not designed to metabolize chemicals (such as artificial flavors, colors and preservatives) day in and day out.

Instead they have to be processed by your system as a “poison”—this taxes your liver (your primary organ of detoxification) as well as your kidneys (when secreting the toxins through your urine).

Eventually your body may have trouble effectively eliminating the excess wastes from chemical detoxification, and instead they may be reabsorbed into circulation. 

From there they can then accumulate in the blood (robbing it of oxygen), invade your organs and tissues (and affect their functioning) and create a bodily environment in you that favors disease.

5- Digestive disaster

Since processed stuff is not actually food that is meant to be in your body, it requires a tremendous amount of digestive enzymes to be broken down, and is a primary trigger of heartburn, gas, bloating and constipation.

Your body knows best—not the companies that make “stuff”

Your body was designed to consume REAL foods.  They are what your body depends on for nourishment, sound digestion and proper elimination of wastes.

There’s no getting around it—if you want to help your body to remain disease-free, be at a healthy body weight and live a long life, you MUST eat real foods—NOT stuff! 

If you need some guidance on creating delicious meals featuring scrumptious, nutritious real foods, my Great Taste No Pain system can help.

First of all, Great Taste No Pain lives up to the “great taste” promise—the recipes in the system are positively delicious!

Plus Great Taste No Pain also comes through on the “no pain” part too—because it shows you which foods to pair together in your meals for better digestion and less gas, bloating and heartburn.

Help your body recover too!

If you've been a processed stuff lover for a while (be honest) chances are excellent you may have some serious gut flora imbalance going on.

That’s because processed stuff (especially refined carbs, which are abundant in processed foods!) become nourishment for the harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract, so they can thrive and overcome your beneficial bacteria. 

Not only can this worsen gas, bloating and constipation, but your immune system may be greatly hampered too (since 70 percent of your immune cells reside in your gut).

In addition to a healthy diet of real foods which nourishes your friendly flora, probiotic supplementation with a top shelf formula like Super Shield can help you achieve this important goal.

Super Shield’s full-spectrum blend of 13 feisty, powerhouse probiotic strains will help repopulate your gut microbiome and help you achieve a healthier flora balance, which in turn will support smooth, comfortable digestion and tip-top immune function!

Remember, when you eat food—not stuff—and help keep your gut healthy, a whole new world of feeling great can open up for you!

Start now.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia