The 7 Deadly Sins: How Unhealthy is Your Lifestyle?

by Aaron Savvy

Sugar: One way or another we all have a sweet tooth—and sugar-topped-and-filled foods and desserts taste so good. But the power of “so good” packs an evil punch. There is no nutritional factor in sugar, except that there are high calories, low energy, mood swings and a nasty conversion of it being turned into fat.

Sweeteners: We know sugar is not healthy so we choose sweetners such as Equal, Sweet n’ Low, Splenda or drink diet drinks we think are better than their original counterparts. The bad news is that sweeteners are worse than good, old-fashioned sugar. Why? Sweeteners manipulate the metabolism by slowing it down and causing a decrease in calorie burning plus contribute to weight gain.

Saturated Fats: Eating foods that contain saturated fats raises the level of cholesterol in the blood. High levels of blood cholesterol increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Saturated fats occur naturally in many foods. The majority come mainly from animal sources, including meat and dairy products. Examples are fatty beef, lamb, pork, poultry with skin, lard and cream, butter, cheese and other dairy products made from whole or reduced-fat (2 percent) milk. These foods also contain dietary cholesterol.

Sodium: Sodium occurs in most foods. The most common form of sodium is sodium chloride—table salt. Processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, ham, canned soups and fast foods, are generally high in sodium. Excess consumption of sodium will contribute to high blood pressure. Healthy individuals should consume no more than 2,300 mg per day, while individuals with high blood pressure should consume no more than 1,500 mg per day.

Lack of Sleep: There can be serious health issues that result from not getting proper rest. Certainly, the most obvious side effect of a lack of sleep is reduced energy the next day. However, it is more than just feeling less than our best—the body actually performs less efficiently when we’re tired. Performance, productivity, memory, etc. are all reduced when our body is running on less sleep than we need. The body needs rest to repair tissue, cope with stress and recharge the immune system. Lack of sleep slows down the metabolism, allowing a decrease in burning unwanted calories, causing an increase in weight gain.

Alcohol: The physical effects of alcohol may be reversible if a person stops drinking, but some side effects may be permanent. Alcohol can be addictive, and when abused can result in heart and liver disease, increase complications in existing health problems and even death. Most alcohol drinks carry high levels of calories causing an excess storage of unwanted body fat.

Caffeine: We feel good in the moment, but soon experience low energy. Caffeine is definitely a pick-me-up, but with its absorption running through our body, its sponge like effect is absorbing the nutrients we so desperately need. Severe addiction can result in jitters and migraine headaches. Though we think we need it, our body is telling us otherwise by giving us the bodily symptoms of abuse.

Aaron Savvy prides himself as an elite trainer, locally training individuals to take the necessary steps to build a healthy new lifestyle. Contact Aaron at (310) 439-8766 or aaronsavvy.com.