Eat Your Fruits and Veggies...But Not Too Many!

OK, here I go again with these confusing blog posts.  In theory, this post will make sense but it may leave some of you scratching your head for a few minutes.  I pose a question to you...is it bad to eat too much healthy food?  The answer to that is a definite "yes".  Too much of anything is not necessarily a good thing.  In a recent study by Loyola University Health Systems, registered dietician Brooke Schantz found that eating too much healthy food (such as fruits and vegetables) can lead to weight gain.  Now don't freak out.  Weight gain or weight loss goes back to the simple energy balance equation:

Calories In < Calories Out = Weight Loss
Calories In > Calories Out = Weight Gain
Calories In = Calories Out = Weight Maintenance

There are no fancy tricks to this equation.  If you take in more calories (healthy or unhealthy) than you expend or burn, you will gain weight!

So where do you go from here?  By no means am I telling you not to eat healthy foods.  But you have to consciously make judgment calls when it comes to food.  There are "good", "better", and "best" choices for all foods and even though you may spend the majority of your time choosing the "best" items, you still need keep in mind total calories consumed.  Nonstarchy vegetables, according to Schantz, are higher in water and fiber and create a "stretching" effect on the stomach.  Therefore it is more difficult to overeat these vegetables unless you cover them with fatty cheese and sauces.  When choosing your vegetables, be sure to limit the starchy ones such as peas, corn, and potatoes.

Keep the energy balance equation in the back of your mind at all times.  Choose healthy foods more often while still choosing the "best" items within the "healthy food" umbrella.  Once you get in the habit of eating healthier, food choices become natural and your body will crave the nutrient-dense foods.  Feed your mind and body with the proper nutrients and you will reap the rewards with a more efficient, fat-burning machine!

Still need help with making healthier food choices?  Schedule an appointment to talk with our nutrition specialist.  The fitness and nutrition professionals here at PROMATx Health Club are here to help, but you have to take the first step.  Stop by and talk with us today!

Reference:  Loyola University Health System. "Is there such a thing as eating too many fruits and vegetables?." ScienceDaily, 24 Jul. 2012. Web. 1 Aug. 2012