Is Packaged Food Starving Your Gut? (Small Habits, Big Difference #10)

When was the last time you read the label on something in your pantry?

I mean really read it. Every word.

If you needed a dictionary halfway through, you're in good company! 😂

I've been reading The Eternal Norse by Astrid and Erik Halvorsen, and I'm sharing some of the everyday habits that might be worth changing as we get older.

Last time, we talked about finding one real release from stress every day.

Well…here's Habit #10.

Eating ultra-processed food as a regular habit may be doing more harm than most of us think!

Ultra-processed food is the packaged stuff. Chips, snack cakes, boxed dinners, sugary cereals, and anything with a long list of ingredients on the back.

According to the book, packaged, processed foods don't just lack nutrition. They actively damage your body.

Here's how:

• Sugar. They're full of sugar that stiffens your cells.
• Oils. They contain oils that cause inflammation.
• No fiber. They have no fiber, so the good bacteria in your gut starve and die.

That last one surprised me the most.

Your gut bacteria control your immune system and how well you absorb nutrients. So when they go hungry, it matters.

And remember Habit #3? We talked about sugar and aging there too. It keeps showing up!

Here's the habit.

Eat real, whole food.

Food that looks like it came from a field, a tree, a garden, or a farm. Vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts, eggs, meat, fish, and whole grains.

And here's a simple rule for the grocery store:

If you can read every ingredient on the label and know what it is, it's probably okay.

I served on boards for the raisin industry back when I farmed full time. Pick up a box of plain raisins and read the label. Usually there's one ingredient. Raisins. That's grapes, dried in the sun.

Now pick up a box of snack cakes and try the same thing! 😂

You don't have to clean out the whole pantry this weekend. Start small. Swap one packaged snack a day for something real. An apple. A handful of nuts. A boiled egg.

A word of caution. If you have diabetes, food allergies, or a doctor's eating plan, follow their advice.

I farmed my whole life, and one thing every good farmer learns is that healthy soil is alive.

It's full of tiny living things you can't see. Feed them good organic matter, and they help feed your crop. Starve them, and the ground gets tired. So does everything you try to grow in it.

Your gut works a lot like that field. Feed the good bacteria real food with fiber, and they take care of you.

Small habits…big difference!

This habit is a big part of why I've become interested in health and wellness and why I'm involved with Zilara.

Zilara is a health and wellness company, and its products are natural and organic.

I'm not looking for overnight transformations. I'm interested in practical ways to take care of ourselves as we get older…and sharing what I discover.

If you'd like to learn more, take a look here:

https://williamfeaver.com/zilara2

No pressure. Just take a look and decide for yourself. (I earn a commission if you join Zilara through me; your price doesn't change.)

This week, go to your pantry and pick up three things.

Read every ingredient.

If you can't say what something is, maybe it's time to find a replacement.

One little change.

One little habit.

And who knows? Maybe your gut will thank you by the end of the month!

Now, I have a question for you…

👉 What's ONE packaged food you'd have a hard time giving up?

Leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, keep learning, keep taking care of yourself, and…

Just keep moving forward!

Bill Feaver

Small Habits…Big Difference! A series about simple changes that may help us live healthier, more active lives as we age.