Whitney Thompson; Plus-size supermodel, spokesperson for NEDA and creator of "Supermodel".

My goal is to encourage and inspire you to celebrate your miraculous, exquisite, and unique body. I want you to resist the negative messages being sold to you by the media. You are beautiful. You are unique. Here, we want to help you remember that.

If I can convey one message to you:
Healthy is Beautiful. Beautiful is not a size, not an age, and not a procedure. Healthy is beautiful."

“Beautiful” is celebrating the characteristics and qualities of your body, while nourishing and exercising
it to be as uniquely healthy and fit as only you can be. We are all created differently and I want you to stop trying to fit into a mold that someone else has defined as "beautiful". No one size will ever be accepted by everyone and it's important to accept that we are all different. I want you to be the best that you can be.

Your comments are welcome here, even if we don't agree. I appreciate all comments as long as they don't hurt others.

Always remember, life is too short to not live like a SuperModel!


Thursday, April 28, 2011

The French-Fry Fog


      We’ve all heard that trans fats are bad for our bodies, but a recent study by Spanish researchers found that they can affect our brains too! Trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are mostly man-made in a process that puts hydrogen in vegetable oil and then mixes in zinc and copper to make them more solid. The grey matter that results is then bleached to make it more appealing. This process keeps food from spoiling for longer, but it creates the worst fat for the heart, blood vessels, and the rest of the body according to Harvard University. Trans fats are also called “partially hydrogenated oils" and you can still find them in many foods, unfortunately. 
       Products like pre-packaged pastries, crackers, french-fries, cookies, and processed foods contain trans-fats. There was a time when 100% of crackers and 95% of prepared cookies contained trans-fats. Many companies have started using alternatives, but it’s still important to check the labels. Surprisingly, margarine, which is low in calories, is one of the worst sources of trans-fats still out there. Even a small amount of these trans fatty acids can immediately fog your brain. Taking any in makes you 48% more likely to experience depression, according to a six-year study. Trans fats have also been linked to a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, they have been shown to adversely affect learning ability, which should make you think twice about children eating French fries in the cafeteria everyday. Finally, eliminating trans-fats altogether would keep 1 in 5 heart attacksfrom ever occurring.
       Apparently a longer shelf life for our food means a shorter shelf life for us. There are still many tests being run, but the safest bet at this point is to lay off the trans fats for your body and your mind. Actually, there are many fats that are beneficial to your body. Eating foods like avocados, nuts and olive oil, which contain unsaturated fats, can keep you from feeling depressed and they can help lower bad cholesterol. Life is too precious to risk for a bland treat. I encourage you to eat what you want, but satisfy your cravings at home when you can and read labels carefully when you can’t. You deserve the best in everything and the dollar menu is not “the best” of anything.

6 comments:

  1. But french fries are yummy, it's hard to avoid them :(

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  2. Try baking them at home in olive oil and fresh spices! They actually taste better then fast-food. They're packed with flavor, good for you and you can cook them however you like! I am a french-fry freak! I love them to be crunchy!

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  3. My bf is gonna be so fat in the future. He eats Wendy's almost 3 times a week, but he's so fit. It's totally not fair.

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  4. Thanks for this fascinating information...I did not know that trans fat affects the functioning of ones brain cells

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  5. I learned a lot from writing this post! I'm glad so many people found it to be helpful!

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