The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) said on Friday the 19th that, in order to reduce the rates of obesity and increase overall health, Coloradans should replace high-calorie, low-nutrient foods (such as white bread, candy bars and sodas) with their lower-calorie, more nutrient-rich counterparts (whole grain cereals, fresh fruit, lean meat, milk, etc).
It can be hard to believe that overweight or obese individuals can actually be suffering from malnutrition, as it is a condition usually associated with being underfed or suffering from an eating disorder like anorexia and bulimia, but the fact remains that it is not the quantity of what enters your stomach but the quality which really matters (within reason, of course, as each individual needs a certain amount of calories daily to thrive-for adults it is usually between 2,000 and 2,700). For example, consuming a regular pizza for lunch made with refined (white) flour and high fat cheeses and no vegetables, along with a soda and then a couple of candy bars for dessert, would be a meal which gives very little in the way of vitamins, minerals, proteins, antioxidants and other important nutrients, but it would certainly load you up on a large amount of calories. This, if it became the regular pattern, would lead to malnutrition accompanied by gaining weight and possibly obesity, which in turn leads to an increased risk of developing heart disease, cancers of various kinds, a lowered immunity towards infectious diseases and other health disorders.
Some of the recommendations made by the CDPHE to help people make healthy food choices include topping waffles and pancakes with fresh berries or sliced fruit instead of syrup, adding diced lean meat such as chicken to pizzas instead of pepperoni and buying whole-grain products instead of their white counterparts (breads, tortillas, etc).
To read the CDPHE's full report visit its' dedicated webpage.
For tasty, healthy recipes, information regarding the nutrients our bodies need and other food health matters , visit the Eating Well Site.