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Hi.

Welcome to Healthy and Whole where you can find tips and information supporting the benefits of a balanced life.

Two months ago, in the middle of moving/work/packing, we talked about how nice it would be to sip coffee and look at the new property // Now, we’re finally here, and damn the view is nice ☕️ 🌳 • • • • • • • #
It’s amazing what travel can do for your spirit // It can remind you for all you have to be grateful for - able body, financial stability, clean water. It taps into your inner explorer - no plans, no schedule, just seeing how the day unfolds. M
Explored a new Regional Park in Sonoma County // Mark West Regional Park and Preserve. •• Not only are these spaces accessible to everyone, but parks decrease health care cost and loss of productivity costs by $17.5 million dollars a year i
Quality time is for sure the way to my heart, and the best way for me to feel recharged. Pair that with a kickass adventure, and I pretty much can handle anything the week throws at me // It took me many years, but I’m finally starting to maste
Monday challenge to appreciate your body // How we perceive ourselves - the words we think standing in front of a mirror or while putting on our favorite bikini - reflect outwardly. If we think positively about ourselves and appreciate what our bodie
Fun Fact Friday // The Keto Diet - is it sustainable, how does it work? When my honey wanted to switch things up, these were the first questions that came to my mind. My philosophy is always surrounding wellness, so I did some research to figure out
Three words: Crunchy peanut butter // It goes on anything, but it makes cozy morning oatmeal bowls 10x better • • • • • • • • • • #goodmorning #breakfast #oats #cozy #peanutbutter #fruit #getinmybelly
Chimichurri Sauce. Yes, please! Whipping this up to go with tonite’s dinner // The past few days I’ve been researching a keto based diet due to my honey’s desire to switch things up. I don’t like to jump into things (especiall
Versatile meals are my jam // It’s hard to eat leftovers when it’s the same thing for two or three nights, but having an adaptable meal already cooked makes switching it up super easy! ••••••••&bull
Chemicals versus Calories

Chemicals versus Calories

Victoria Pennacchio
Science, Food

Obesity has become an epidemic in our country. According to the CDC, in 2015 and 2016, 93.3 million adults and 13.7 million children were considered obese. For adults, that is approximately 40% of the population. In addition to decreased energy and muscle mass, obesity leads to other preventable conditions such as Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. All of which have a heavy burden on a person’s overall health, as well the healthcare system as a whole.

Many studies have been conducted to determine the main cause of obesity. Body mass index (BMI) is a key characteristic studied in many experiments. BMI is determined by comparing a person’s height to their weight and can be a strong predictor of health outcomes. Yang (2010) discusses a study that compares BMI, gender, ethnicity, and diet which found those who chose to drink beverages containing artificial sweeteners had consistently higher body mass index than those who did not. In an attempt to create “healthier” options, artificial sweeteners are added to beverages to create total overall calories. However, while these drinks may have lower calories, the artificial sweeteners used actually trigger pathways in the brain that make the body crave more sugar. In fact, artificial sweeteners increase appetite and motivation for food and trigger the same reward pathways within the brain as sex and drugs (Yang, 2010). Further, artificial sweeteners encourage increased sugar consumption, and thus an overall increase in calories (Yang, 2010). Whether artificial sweeteners or actual sugar cane, if consuming sugar can trigger our bodies to crave more sugar, this creates a cycle of increased energy consumption which leads to weight gain. This increase in weight is directly linked to other comorbidities such as heart disease and stroke, as mentioned above.

Artificial sweeteners are prevalent in many of the commonly consumed beverages in this country. Examples of these include aspartame and saccharin. It is important to read labels and choose to buy real foods to limit our body’s exposure to these chemicals. Further, choosing whole foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, can help our bodies regulate sugar levels more effectively, which will reduce our cravings and help our bodies maintain a healthier weight overall.


References:

Adult Obesity Facts | Overweight & Obesity | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

Yang Q. (2010). Gain weight by "going diet?" Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings: Neuroscience 2010. The Yale journal of biology and medicine, 83(2), 101-8.



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