Leading Exercise Scientist and Author Craig Harper Reveals Healthy Foods That Aren't (Healthy)

Melbourne, VIC (PRWEB) October 7, 2008 -- As research suggests, Australia is fast becoming one of the fattest nations in the world. According to Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci), motivational speaker and author, "we're still missing the point when it comes to creating permanent change in our lives and change in a practical and effective manner." It seems we're more educated, more equipped and have more resources than ever before but the reality is -- we're also fatter and unhappier than we've ever been.

A Good Story
When it comes to marketing and selling products, the food companies have never let the facts get in the way of a good story. A lot of the information found on the front of food packaging is not so much information, as it is a somewhat misleading and deceptive sales pitch. For example, the reduced-fat peanut butter found on supermarket shelves has less fat when compared to the regular product, but it is by no means a low-fat product. It's still a high-fat, high-salt, high-calorie product that should be avoided. It's still complete crap. Complete crap with slightly less fat than it's full-fat brother. So instead of having 52 grams of fat per 100 grams, the new reduced-fat option has about 43 grams of fat per 100 grams (and a little extra sugar). Amazingly, some people will actually eat twice as much of the reduced-fat version because it's healthier. Not.

Too Much of a Good Thing
"Even foods which are genuinely healthy can lead to an unhealthy you and me if we consume too much of them. If we eat only healthy fresh, whole foods but consistently consume twice what our body needs (in terms of our energy requirements), we'll get fat," Harper says. "If we're fat, we're at greater health risk. Simple. Obviously, what types of food we eat is an issue, but for many of us, how much we eat is the biggest issue. Not only are we the sit-down generation but we are also the over-eating generation. We have an incredible 'skill' for putting food in our mouth that our body doesn't need. Our want over-rides our need and the net result is ... obesity."

Here's a few common food options that trip plenty of people up:

1. Seeds and Nuts.
2. Fruit Juice.
3. Fruit Smoothies.
4. Dried fruit.
5. Muffins.
6. Salads.
7. Muesli bars.
8. Toasted muesli.
9. Sports drinks.
10. Protein bars.
11. Cereal.
12. Flavoured rice cakes.
13. Low-fat ice-cream.
14. Low-fat frozen dinners.
15. Vegetarian meals.

Keep in mind that with many healthy products, we're buying a concept more than a reality.

To read the full article, click here. For more articles like this, visit www.craigharper.com.au.

Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci) is Australia's leading motivational speaker (according to Google Australia).