Everyone looks forward to the Memorial Day holiday not only because it marks the beginning of summer but most importantly because it commemorates the lives of those persons who died while fighting for our freedom and liberty as citizens of the United States of America. If this Memorial Day is anything like the ones gone by it will be a time of fun, food and frolic. It’s a day of enjoyment when we throw caution to the wind and tend to eat and drink everything in sight. However with a little planning, I believe you can save yourself from many of the ailments that usually follow a weekend of unbridled consumption.

Firstly, you should pay close attention to the type of you eat. You should already know that certain types of foods are bad for you and should not be included in your diet. Now, I don’t want to mess up your holiday menu, but let me just advise that you skip that hamburger for this Memorial Day. The main ingredients in this sandwich are the buns, burger and condiments such as catsup; all of which have been found to expose the body to various health risks.

In terms of the buns, regardless of whether they are made from corn or wheat flour, they have been found to contain high levels of herbicide and pesticide all of which are known carcinogens. Additionally, consuming these corn and wheat based foods are also highly correlated with the development of insulin insensitivity and diabetes.

Much of the chemicals found in the corn and wheat are likewise found in the burger since for the most part cattle are feed the same herbicide and pesticide treated corn and wheat which are used to make bread. Notwithstanding this, animal meat is laden with saturated fat which is the fuel for high cholesterol and high triglycerides. High readings in these two blood molecules are generally the forerunners for coronary heart conditions and hypertension.

Ever wondered how it is that catsup, salad dressing and other condiments sometimes taste sweet? Well, these foods usually contain a sweetener known as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Aside from being one of the chief contributors to the development obesity, HFCS has been linked to many common illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. But hold on to your hats, let me tell you something that you may not know, this is the stuff that sweetens your sodas, juices and all the other soft drinks out there. So while you’re passing on the burger, pass on the soft drink as well and help prevent the development of ailments like diabetes.

Oh boy, look what I have done; gone and spoiled your Memorial Day menu. But don’t worry; just replace the burger with chicken or fish and instead of the bread (buns) add some nice tossed salad spiced up with some homemade dressing. You have to protect yourself from the hidden dangers found in the foods you eat. Let’s start with the all-time favorite hamburger.