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6 Health foods that aren’t healthy
Hi John
No matter where I go, if people find out that I’m in the
nutrition
field, they suddenly flock to me to tell me about their dietary challenges or
ask me food questions.
A Jet Blue employee at my local airport still remembers a conversation we
had over 2 years ago as she was checking me in. She asked me about
bottled salad dressings and I blurted out a quick recipe for a delicious
homemade version…and every time she sees me to this day she tells me she’s
still loving that dressing!
Now, one of the most common responses I get when I ask people about their
diet is, “
Oh, I eat healthy.”
Sorry to say, but I
brace myself when I ask specifically what does
that mean…because what many people think is “
healthy” is anything
BUT.
Now, it’s not that these people don’t have good
intentions—the
problem is many foods are
marketed to appear healthy simply to drive up
sales.
And they’re about as good for you as eating
shredded cardboard and
drinking
motor oil.
Let’s take a look at some of the common offenders—here are 6 “health” foods
(and drinks) that are
far from healthy:
(Un)healthy food #1:
Sports drinks
Most sports drinks are loaded with unhealthy ingredients like
sugar,
highly processed
sodium and artificial
colors and flavors.
The first three ingredients (meaning they are the most
abundant ones)
on a bottle of orange-flavored
Gatorade are water, sugar and dextrose
(more sugar).
The average 20 oz. bottle of Gatorade contains a whopping
34 grams of
sugar—that’s 10 grams MORE than a Hershey’s milk chocolate bar!
The biggest question here is whether you even need sports drinks at all!
Typically if your workouts are one hour or less, water is all you need to
stay hydrated.
If you engage in longer workouts and/or want to refuel after your workout,
good choices include fresh fruit (especially bananas), dried fruit or a handful
of nuts.
(Un)healthy food #2:
Breakfast cereals
Most breakfast cereals (especially those that are heavily marketed to
children)
are loaded with sugar (including high fructose corn syrup), preservatives,
artificial flavorings and colorings and now most recently,
genetically
modified ingredients (GMOs).
Remember, food companies are not required to list GMOs on food labels—so
unless the product is 100% organic, there is a high likelihood it contains
GMOs.
Even the so-called nutrients that they’re fortified with are synthetically
derived from by-products of the
wood and petroleum processing
industries.
And trust me, your body knows the difference.
Putting it bluntly, I’d rather feed my son a bowl of ice cream for breakfast
than 99.9% of the cereals out there.
Better breakfast options include oatmeal (real oats—not the sugary instant
varieties), yogurt, fresh fruit and eggs (cooked in real butter).
(Un)healthy food #3:
Vegetable oils
Your body needs a balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio of
between
2:1 and 5:1 to effectively control inflammation. Omega-6 EFAs stir up
inflammation (such as when you have an
injury) which initiates the
healing
process, then Omega-3 EFAs come in and calm the inflammation down.
Unfortunately, our typical diets today are
loaded with inflammation
stirring Omega-6 fatty acids and severely lacking the anti-inflammatory
Omega-3s.
This is a major contributing factor to our high rates of inflammatory
conditions today—including arthritis, chronic back pain and heart disease!
And a BIG source of our Omega-6 overload is
vegetable oils.
(Isn’t it
ironic that they’re marketed as “
heart healthy when
they in fact can
contribute to the inflammation in your arteries that
leads to atherosclerosis?)
Plus vegetable oils are polyunsaturated fats which, when heated at high
temperatures, can have their molecular structure altered and turn to
trans-fats.
So when you use vegetable oils for cooking, chances are excellent you are
consuming health-wrecking, age-accelerating trans-fats.
Better oil and fat choices for cooking are extra virgin olive oil, real
butter and even lard. If you’re concerned about the salt content of
butter, buy salt-free butter.
(Un)healthy food #4: Farm
raised fish
Fish farms produce fish with high concentrations of
antibiotics and
pesticides and
lower levels of healthy nutrients.
First of all, farm-raised fish are given
antibiotics to stave off
diseases that result from horribly crowded conditions and are also treated with
pesticides to combat sea lice.
And whatever is in the fish becomes a part of YOU when you eat them.
Plus research has found that farmed fish has
fewer usable Omega-3 EFAs
than wild-caught fish and a
high concentration of Omega-6 EFAs. So
it contributes to the inflammation-causing imbalance of Omega-6: Omega-3 EFAs
that I described in #3 above.
But there’s more—farmed fish has also been found to have a 20% lower protein
content than wild-caught fish.
In addition, studies by the
Environmental Working Group have found
that cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exist in farm-raised
salmon at
16 times the rate of wild salmon.
There’s no room for interpretation on this one: If you want fish, buy only
fresh
wild-caught varieties.
(Un)healthy food #5:
Orange juice and juice drinks
Most all commercially prepared orange juices are actually highly processed
concoctions that are a far cry from juice as Nature intended it to be.
First of all, the
pasteurization process can reduce some of the
nutrients found in juice including Vitamin C and certain phytonutrients
(especially phenols).
Commercial juices are stored in giant tanks and in order to preserve them,
all of the
oxygen is removed. Therefore, the natural compounds
that give oranges their
flavor are destroyed.
And let’s not forget the obvious—by consuming juice (instead of eating fresh
fruit) not only are you lacking the benefit of the whole fruit—including
fiber,
enzymes and other nutrients—but you are also getting a high dose of
sugar.
A fresh orange contains about 9 grams of sugar.
But a 12 oz. bottle of orange juice has a whopping 33 grams!
And “
fruit drinks” that are marketed as healthy choices for kids are
even
worse, consisting mostly of
high fructose corn syrup and a
boatload of artificial ingredients.
Closest to Nature is always best, and that includes
fruits. And
if you occasionally want orange juice, squeeze your own from fresh oranges.
(Un)healthy food #6:
Low-fat foods
Sadly, many people still subscribe to the “
all fats are evil” way of
thinking…and nothing could be more
harmful to your health!
First of all, when fats are removed from foods, it leaves them tasteless and
gross. So food manufacturers load them up with sugar, sodium and chemicals to
make them more palatable.
That doesn’t sound like a health food to me.
Now, what most fat-avoiding people don’t realize is that a
moderate
amount (2-3 tablespoons) of
good fat each day is vital to your health
(especially your brain and nervous system)...and it can help you lose pounds!
That's right. These fats help you lose flab by turning off your body's
hormone messengers that direct fat storage, especially around your
midsection. Plus they also help you feel full faster, so you eat less.
Good fats include extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, butter, flaxseed oil,
fish oil, nuts and even lean meats and dairy products (preferably organic from
grass fed animals).
Healthy fats also help lower LDL cholesterol levels WITHOUT lowering HDL
levels, which can help bring your HDL/LDL ratio into a more optimal
range. Plus regular consumption of them can help lower your risk of heart
disease, stroke and cancers.
The bottom line: Close to
Nature is always best
If your mind is boggled right now by seeing how
unhealthy (and
downright harmful) many foods you thought were
healthy are, I
understand.
And I have good news for you.
Because it's easier than you think to avoid getting misled by marketing
claims of food companies, and help your body bounce back from any harmful
effects from them in the past.
The key is to stay as close to nature as possible.
Here are 4 ways that can be easy, affordable and taste really good too:
1) Avoid processed foods
There's no chance of getting misled about how
unhealthy packaged
foods really are if you don't buy boxed or packaged stuff to begin with.
2) Buy organic whenever
you can
If you must get packaged foods, at least stick to the 100% organic
varieties. By their very nature they do not contain
hidden GMO
ingredients.
Organic meats, poultry, eggs and dairy are good choices too, since the
animals are
not treated with
hormones and antibiotics.
And organic produce is the only way to guarantee you’re not getting a dose
of
herbicides and/or pesticides in your food.
I realize it can be more expensive, but there are ways to help control the
cost like shopping local farmer's markets or participating in CSA (Community
Supported Agriculture) programs. I've been doing CSA shares for years and
I love it--believe me, there IS a taste difference!
To locate a CSA farm near you, go here and enter your US zip code in the
"
Find
CSA Farms" section:
-
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
If you're on a tight budget and can't afford to go 100% organic, here are
the items which have the largest amounts of pesticide residue and are
most
important to buy
organic:
- Celery
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Nectarines
- Bell Peppers
- Spinach
- Cherries
- Kale/Collard Greens
- Potatoes
- Grapes (Imported)
3) Eat real foods and
educate yourself
Follow a reliable program that will educate you on the dangers of processed
foods, show you how to structure healthy, easier to digest meals and guide you
on making REAL foods that are positively scrumptious.
And that, my friend, is
what
Great
Taste No Pain will do for you.
-
http://www.greattastenopain.com/great.asp
The Great Taste No Pain manuals will teach you the ins and out of why
processed foods are so harmful to your health.
They'll also show you what foods you should eat together to help encourage
more efficient digestion. When your digestion can be accomplished more
thoroughly, that can mean fewer GI problems like gas, bloating and
constipation, as well as more energy!
And the recipe book is loaded with delicious dishes featuring REAL foods
that will nourish your body and make your taste buds dance.
Now, if you’ve got gluten issues,
Great Taste No
Gluten is for you instead.
-
http://www.greattastenogluten.com/great.asp
4) Help your intestinal
flora recover from "healthy food abuse"
The sugar, chemicals, pesticides and herbicides from so-called “
healthy
foods” are not only harmful to
you, but also to your little gut
inhabitants, otherwise known as your
intestinal flora.
And since this is where 70% of your immune system is located, having
imbalanced gut flora is putting out the welcome mat for a whole slew of bugs,
viruses, infections and even diseases.
Having a diet of real foods like I mentioned above can help a LOT, but for
many people (especially those who have eaten lots of processed so-called
healthy food and/or been exposed to environmental chemicals) it may not be
enough.
That's
why probiotic supplementation is such a great idea for so many people.
Super
Shield multi-strain probiotic formula is up to this important task.
-
http://www.bluerockholistics.com/product/pross.asp
Super
Shield has been formulated with a variety of probiotic strains to help
keep your population of friendly bacteria strong and ready for whatever
dangerous viruses, infections or toxins come your way.
Plus it helps your beneficial bacteria compete with the harmful bacteria for
"parking spaces" along your intestinal wall, crowding the bad guys
out so they can be swept away with your bowel movements.
Remember this, my friend.
“Truly healthy” means as close to
Nature as possible.
Experience the power of nourishing your body with truly healthy
real
foods and maintaining a sound intestinal flora balance and I'm certain you'll
see a dramatic difference in how you feel VERY soon.
And when you do, write and tell me (like Charly did below). I'd love
to hear from you.
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
PS: In case you’re
wondering, here is the salad dressing recipe the Jet Blue employee loves so
much:
Delicious vinaigrette
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1/2
teaspoon dried)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
Blend all ingredients and serve over mixed
greens.
PPS: Charly’s
sure seeing the difference!
Sherry:
Thank you so much for all of your hard work.
I have been on the GTNP way of eating for about
6 months. I feel so good that I ordered 3 more plans for my daughters.
I have not had to take antacids, stool
softeners, extra fiber stuff, since I started. My allergies are much better
too.
I have been taking your Super Shield Probiotics
for about a year now....everybody in my office has been sick this year so far
at least twice - except me!
Love your products and would not be without
them.
Thanks,
Charly G.
Want the best probiotic on the market today? Then learn why Super Shield
outshines all the rest here.
Got low energy? Brain fog? CRS disease? You just may be low in in
just one vitamin.
One out
of four people are. Read more about this deficiency and how you can help turn
that around FAST.
Years of junk foods, meats, alcohol and soft drinks results in a decrease
in your body's ability to produce digestive enzymes. This can result in
daily painful gas, bloating, heartburn and constipation no matter how otherwise
healthy your diet is!
Digestizol
Max can help turn that around for you fast. Its effective blend of 14
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Learn more about Digestizol
Max here.
Gluten has been linked to hundreds of health problems, including
autoimmune diseases. If you are gluten sensitive or have an autoimmune
disease, see what avoiding gluten can do for you.
Great Taste No Gluten
will make gluten avoidance easy, while giving you 160 of the world's tastiest
gluten-free recipes to make you love every bite of your gluten-free life.
Learn more about Great
Taste No Gluten here.
Haven't taken the Great Taste No Pain
test drive? Why
not? Get over to
-
http://www.greattastenopain.com/freereports/
and feel the power of Great Taste No Pain.
Orders: 1-888-724-4366
Want to read past articles?
Here they are.
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(c) copyright 2013 Holistic Blends
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only. If you are experiencing health challenges, always consult your doctor for
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- http://www.greattastenopain.com/great.asp
PO Box 359 Syracuse, NY 13209
Ph.: 1-888-724-4366 FAX: 315-468-5818
