’ve worked with a lot of busy, frazzled individuals and families who want to take control of their eating habits. Almost always, one common saboteur rears its ugly head: lack of time! Our society is busier than ever, and it’s taken a toll on our eating habits. Here’s how the no-time-to-cook-lifestyle affects our bodies and our health:

1. First, when we’re too busy, we’re usually too stressed. When we’re too stressed, we aren’t healthy. Direct effects: Chronic stress causes our bodies to produce higher levels of cortisol; cortisol causes our bodies to increase appetite, store more fat, and resist breaking down fat. Indirect effects: Chronic stress can lead to skipped meals, binges, and eating junk or comfort food to “soothe” our minds. Lastly, chronic stress is associated with poor sleep and lack of sleep. In turn, our circadian rhythms can suffer which reeks havoc on the hormones that keep our bodies in balance. For all of this, our metabolism pays the price.
2. No time to plan, no time to shop, no time to cook. The biggest barrier to healthy eating? Planning & shopping. Most people want to cook healthy foods for themselves and their families. They don’t want to eat junk. But, it takes time to plan healthy meals and time to shop. When we’re out of time, an easier alternative is often fast food or prepackaged foods which are often loaded with sodium, transfats, and preservatives. Many frozen dinners and cans of soup contain more than 1500 milligrams of sodium. They also contain transfats which are seldom found in nature and negatively affect our cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health. Preservatives and artificial ingredients can have many affects on our systems, from links to illnesses to behavior issues to allergies.
3. The other side of nutrition is eating what you should (not just avoiding what you shouldn’t). There are nutrients that you need on a regular basis, and without trying, you’ll likely miss them. Omega-3 fats, specifically DHA & EPA, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin D all come to mind. These nutrients can improve metabolism and help you maintain a healthy body weight. You won’t likely get adequate amounts on accident. It takes planning and eating a variety of quality foods.

You’ve only got twenty-four hours in a day and I don’t have any quick fixes for more time. You need eight hours for sleep, so you’re left with a mere sixteen. If you work full time with a commute, you’re likely down to about six or seven hours. With these precious hours, you have to set priorities. I urge you to make healthy eating a high one. Get your family involved. Get organized. Find quick, healthy recipes and make a shopping list. Have your ingredients ready. Take twenty minutes and make a healthy simple dinner. It may not be as easy and quick as the drive through, but the benefits are great: you’ll likely feel better, think better, improve metabolism, and be healthier!

Written by: admin on September 28, 2011.