If you are reading this, you probably are interested in being fit and healthy. That is great! We are happy to have you here. Exercise is very, very important in order to be slim, healthy, fit and attractive. That said, we shouldn't forget the role that diet plays in our health and fitness.

The old saying that "you are what you eat" couldn't be more accurate in these days of processed foods, food additives, genetically modified (GM) plants and animals and generally incredibly adulterated food supply.

Remember your last visit to the neighborhood supermarket? Did you notice all kinds of novel products of food science on the shelves, those often in packages festooned with health claims? Well, if you're concerned about your health, you should probably avoid most food products that make health claims and that is simply because health claims on a food product could be a good indication that it's not really food, but in fact a food product, not something that you would want to eat, if you intend to stay healthy.

Although the public hasn't really been informed about the fact that a huge percentage of formerly perfectly healthy plants, in particular corn, have been genetically modified, that is indeed the sad truth, in the U.S. at least. The reasons for this are multi fold. The first and foremost is as usual profit and savings for the producers, processors, wholesalers and retailers. The industry will of course counter these facts by saying that they have simply made the plants more resistant to disease and to parasites, which of course requires less spraying with poisonous chemicals (read more profit) and that this is of course better for us, the economy and the environment. If you have been blessed with at least an average IQ you really should not take these claims at face value. In addition, nobody, but nobody knows at this fairly early stage of genetically modifying everything in sight, what the effects of this practice will be both for humans and their long-term health, for the animals, the plants, the environment and for the planet at large.

That's all fine and dandy, but how do you know that the fresh-looking food product that you pick up the supermarket has not been messed with by the food industry? The short answer is: you don't. Since genetically engineered soy and corn are used in many processed foods, it is estimated that over 70 percent of the foods in grocery stores in the U.S. and Canada contain GM ingredients. The problem is not just in the "classic" variety of processed foods, meaning, packaged, canned and/or frozen, but also in the fresh-looking fruits and vegetables laid out in the produce section of your store. There is no way of telling whether the corn, or the apples, or anything else for that matter hasn't been messed with in some way by someone along the line. At least the packaged foods have ingredients listed on their labels. Here you can find out that almost everything nowadays - even the foods that none of us would have suspected - contains corn in some form and the ever-present poison of the modern world: high fructose corn syrup as well as a bewildering array of chemicals, the discovery of which in your "food" should make your hair stand on end.

Let's not forget the artificial, low, or no-calorie sweeteners. Have you noticed that obese people often drink diet drinks? And why do we have a diabetes epidemic in this country? Avoid these sweeteners like the plague. Even though normal sugar might not be the healthiest substance around, it is still hugely more healthy that aspartame, Nutra Sweet, Splenda or high fructose corn syrup.

In short, if you want to lose weight, you probably have a better chance of succeeding if you stick to sugar, rather than all of the other artificial sweeteners.

Buy locally produced food. This is particularly important for those people, who are lucky enough to live near the place they were born, as the genetic makeup of plants and animals from a given area is related to that of the people born in that particular area as well and agrees with them much better than something carted from thousands of miles away.

Do not buy water in plastic bottles. Get a filter and some stainless steel, or aluminum SIGG bottles and despite the convenience try not to use your microwave oven so much, or the Teflon coated pots and pans.

Read the labels, ask questions, and demand pure, unadulterated foods. You might not always be able to get them - at least not right away - but if enough of us question these irresponsible practices of the industry, refuse to buy their products and demand access to a "clean" food supply, the industry will eventually be forced to comply and adjust. Let's just hope that it isn't too late.