Have you been on diet yet unable to shed weight, are you tired of trying out different diet plans and making zero progress despite cutting down the quantity of food and resorting to fat-free food items? Here’s the answer to this- Pesticides, hydrogenated oils and refined sugar are some of the hidden toxins that cause weight gain.
We live in an environment where pesticides and chemicals are used freely and preservatives have become common in everything we consume. It is important to understand that fruits, vegetables, cattle and other livestock are treated with antibiotics and hormones to make them look bigger. However, our bodies are unable to process these harmful substances, which in return, get stored in the form of toxins in the fat cells and disrupt functioning of the body. Look out for these harmful toxins as they could be leading to weight gain.
The pesticide residue found on fruits and vegetables is endocrine disrupting, which is linked to weight gain. They have several ill effects on the body of which the mimic estrogen is the most harmful. It reduces the body's ability to build lean muscles and promotes fat storage. Most of these pesticides inappropriately regulate fat and lipid metabolism to promote obesity.

Let us discuss some simple ways to stay away from the effects of the hidden toxins-

1. Opt for organic fruits and vegetables. Clean every raw food item properly before consuming it.

2. Avoid artificial sweeteners. Often people tend to cut down their sugar intake by replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners. Sugar substitutes added to food or drinks can result in weight gain, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

3. Stay away from. Sugar substitutes like aspartame, sucralose and saccharin.

4. Cut down on High fructose corn syrup. The consumption of high fructose corn syrup in beverages can result in weight gain and obesity. It can impede the functioning of the liver by increasing absorption of glucose that further leads to insulin resistance and obesity.

5. Read the labels of packaged food carefully to ensure that you aren't inadvertently consuming more of the corn syrup than you should.

6. Avoid Hydrogenated oils. Also known as trans-fatty acids, consumption of food cooked in hydrogenated oils can lead to low metabolism and increase the cholesterol levels. The oil consumes space in the body that is allotted for healthy fats and does not do the same work as that of good fats.The hydrogenated oils stay longer in the system, which leads to excess fat absorption.

7. Give up on refined sugars and carbs: Refined sugars and carbohydrates get quickly absorbed into the blood stream shooting the blood sugar levels in the body. Eating refined carbs and sugar can drastically increase the risk of several lifestyle diseases and can cause obesity, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

8. Invest in whole foods that are high in fibre and are incredibly healthy.

Ways to detox the body-

1. Consume fresh food products and avoid processed, refined and fast food.

2. Drink filtered water, which is a great way to flush out toxins from the body. Drink at least three litres of water in a day.

3. Ensure that the food is thoroughly cooked in order to destroy any harmful bacteria that may be present in it and read labels well and avoid buying those with ingredients that are harmful for health.

4. Eat organic food to cut down the intake of harmful pesticides and chemicals. Organic foods are grown without the use of any life-threatening pesticides and antibiotics.

5. Exercise regularly. The toxic chemicals get stored in the body and one of the most effective ways to break down the fat cells and flush chemicals out is through regular exercise.

Posted By Mr. Subhabrata Bhattacharjee, Lifestyle Coach, Founder Director, Mantra