A Dangerous Disguise: Watch Out for These 4 Toxic Ingredients!

June 23, 2017 by
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Anything that you consume, even water which we all need to survive, can be toxic in excess amounts. However, as you’re surely aware, some foods are much healthier than others. In most cases, natural ingredients are safer than synthetic ones, but many times foods that may appear to be healthy contain toxic ingredients that could contribute, not just to weight gain, but life-threatening health conditions. Make sure you check the food label on any processed foods and find out where everything else is sourced from to avoid these four toxic ingredients!

Trans Fats

Several years ago, trans fats were linked to heart disease, so manufacturers rushed to remove trans fats from their products and display on their food labels that there were zero trans fats. However, there’s a catch: food manufacturers are required by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to list the amounts of trans fats their foods contain per serving, but if the product contains less than 0.5 grams per serving, the manufacturer can list it as containing zero trans fats. So you could be consuming trans fats without even realizing it! Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are the main culprits of trans fats, and they are found in processed foods such as peanut butter- giving it its rich, creamy taste but increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease at the same time. It’s important to carefully read food labels and look for all-natural products that don’t contain partially hydrogenated oils.

Heavy Metals

No, I’m not referring to Metallica or Iron Maiden here, but metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium which can be found in trace amounts in your found and are detrimental to your health. Lead, which can make its way into water supplies, is toxic even in the lowest concentrations. To safeguard against lead poisoning, it would be smart to invest in a water filter/filtration system. Mercury also poses a serious health risk and it is most commonly found in seafood such as tuna. In a high enough dose, it can cause brain and nervous system damage, and it is also toxic to the kidneys, liver, and heart. Pregnant women should be especially cautious about their seafood intake because mercury can pass from the mother to the fetus. Arsenic, which can be found in rice, is linked to a variety of health issues such as vascular disease, cancer, cardiovascular and central nervous system disturbances, and bone marrow depression. Cadmium, which is associated with bronchial and pulmonary irritation, kidney stones, and liver damage, can be found in a variety of foods including vegetable oils, potatoes, shellfish, baked goods, and chocolate.

Artificial Sweeteners

I’ve discussed before how bad artificial sweeteners are for your health! Some may claim to be a healthier alternative to sugar, but avoid these anything containing sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, and acesulfame-K like the plague because they contribute to gut dysbiosis, poor carbohydrate tolerance, weight gain, increased hunger, stress, accelerated aging, cognitive decline, and headaches.

Herbicides and Pesticides

Lastly, be careful about the produce you consume and avoid processed foods. It’s best to eat organic whenever possible, because genetically modified (GM) foods or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) raise a variety of safety concerns. Of all the GMOs grown worldwide, 80% are engineered to tolerate the toxic herbicide glyphosate, or “Roundup,” which is classified as a probable human carcinogen linked to Alzheimer’s disease, depression, autism, and Parkinson’s.

The point of this article is not to scare you away from all food, but rather to steer you away from processed foods. Consumed in moderation, none of these toxins will contribute to immediate health issues. What’s important is avoid your exposure to them as much as possible. It’s easy to reduce your exposure by eating natural, minimally-processed foods.

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Be Aware of Giant Food Manufacturers

March 4, 2016 by

It’s a daunting fact that a lot of people don’t know, but thousands of food items that you commonly find at the grocery store are actually produced by a handful of giant multinational corporations. As you can imagine, these companies are not in the food industry to improve the overall health of the population or educate people about eating right. No, the only thing these 4 or 5 food giants care about is, you guessed it, making money, making a ton of money.

The way these food manufacturers are able to make so much money out of fake food is by adding a bunch of preservatives so the food lasts a really long time in store shelves and by adding a lot of additives that in the end will make the consumer addicted to the food. I know this sounds crazy, but let me take you step by step on how the process works:

Let’s say that that one of these huge food companies wants to come out with a new food product (as if they need anymore, right?). The first thing they will do is commission their food chemists to come up with two versions of said food product. The instructions are simple:

-Make sure the food product has a long shelf life.

-Make the food products as desirable as possible to every individual across the board.

So how exactly do the chemists complete these two requests? Well, first they load the product with a bunch of preservatives and test them out to see which one does the best job of holding the product up through a series of aging procedures. Then, to make the food product “desireable,” which is another way of saying “make it addictive,” chemists experiment with food additives like trans fat, caffeine, MSG, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, artificial flavors, etc. Now something you should keep in mind is that these kinds of food additives alter your brain chemistry. That’s why you become addicted and begin to gain body fat. They also function in a way that you can binge on them and yet not feel super full, so you continue to eat the food product. And lastly sweet food products, for example, can actually alter your tastebuds, thus making you crave sweets more than your body really wants them.

So once the food chemists come up with their best concoction, the food manufacturer then focus on luring consumers through attractive, yet deceiving marketing that will undeniably pull in buyers. Once the food product versions are ready, the food manufacturers then test them with consumer groups and figure out which version of the commissioned food product is most addictive, and will in turn make consumers buy it no matter what. Sound evil enough to you? The end result of this process: consumers have yet another unhealthy treat to binge on and food giants continue to deepen their already deepened pockets.

I know this is a horrible reality to take in, and if this is new news to you I am sorry to break your bubble. But it’s important we educate each other of the unfortunate realities that are taking place in the food industry. We are so used to massive food production that we don’t realize what we are putting in our bodies. I bet there are a lot of food products in your house that you may think are healthy, but unfortunately are tapping into the criteria I just mentioned. So please do me a favor, go home and discard any of these kinds of food products. They are everywhere from sweets, lunch meats, prepared foods, and the list goes on. It’s time you retrain your brain, your tastebuds, and your body and cut the unhealthy addiction these food giants have introduced you to! Also, watch the movie Food Inc and continue to learn about this topic!

 

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Condiments That are Making You Fat

November 10, 2015 by
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Condiments might seem like a great way to enhance the flavors of your food or add a little spice, but did you know that some condiments are actually filled with additives that make it a lot harder for you to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight? These additives can do this in a few ways:

  • They can interfere with a hormone called leptin that tells the brain when you are full.
  • They can increase the fat-storing hormone called insulin which causes calories going in to be converted into fat instead of being stored as “muscle energy.”
  • They can also make us addicted to them by altering brain chemicals called neurotransmitters making us have more cravings and less control.

Additives to Avoid

It’s important to know what these additives are and which condiments more commonly contain them, so you know what to look out for next time you’re loading up the shopping cart. Here are 7 of the worst additives you should be removing from your diet as much as possible.

  1. Stripped Carbohydrates. These are usually listed as sugar, flour, enriched white flour, white flour, enriched bleached flour, enriched wheat flour, wheat flour, semolina flour, white rice, maltodextrin, glucose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), fructose, sucrose, dextrose, and levulose.
  2. Artificial Sweeteners. These are usually listed as NutraSweet (aspartame), Sunette (acesulfame K), and Sweet ‘N Low (saccharin.)
  3. Added Caffeine in soft drinks and energy drinks. While a few cups of green tea or coffee each day is fine, you should be aware of when you’re consuming a little extra caffeine in that energy drink you bought on the corner.
  4. Trans Fats. Trans fats are also listed as partially hydrogenated oils.
  5. MSG. MSG is also labeled as monosodium glutamate.
  6. Excess Alcohol. One to two drinks per week is okay, but you shouldn’t be exceeding that, especially in one night.
  7. Excess Salt/Sodium. This is the norm for a lot of chips, crackers, canned food items, pickles, various cheeses, pretzels, condiments, and salted nuts.

Common Offenders

Now that you know what to look for on the label next time you shop, here are some top offenders you might need to remove from the pantry:

  • Kroger and Lawry’s Marinades: contains high fructose corn syrup.
  • Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup / Heinz 57: contains high fructose corn syrup.
  • Kraft’s Light Asian Toasted Sesame Reduced Fat Dressing: contains MSG.
  • Kraft’s Thick N Spicy Barbecue Sauce: contains MSG.
  • Hidden Valley’s Ranch Dressing: contains MSG.
  • Prego’s Italian Sauce Traditional: has 10 g of sugar per half cup.
  • Old El Paso Taco Seasoning: contains hydrogenated oils.
  • Reduced Fat (or regular) Jif Peanut Butter: full of hydrogenated oil and corn syrup solids.

Healthier Alternatives

What should you buy instead?

  • Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup. This is a great choice over the original because it doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup.
  • Curley’s Famous Hot and Spicy Barbecue Sauce. This delicious BBQ sauce doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup or MSG in it.
  • Newman’s Own Salad Dressing. When it comes to salad dressings, you want a low sugar version that doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup.
  • Low Sodium Kikkoman’s Natural Soy Sauce. Their low sodium version contains 575 mg per tablespoon, while their regular contains 920 mg. That’s less than half the amount.
  • Lucini’s Hearty Artichoke Tomato Sauce. It only has 230 mg of sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar.
  • McCormick’s Original Taco Seasoning. Doesn’t contain any hydrogenated oils.
  • Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter. It contains only two ingredients: peanuts and salt.

It might seem like this is a lot to remember, but it’s actually pretty simple. As a rule of thumb, try to choose the low sodium and reduced sugar versions of food when available. Keep an eye out for high fructose corn syrup, MSG, and hydrogenated oils. And most importantly: if you’re reading a label and you don’t understand what the ingredients are, it’s probably not a healthy choice.

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Why Whole Eggs Are Better Than Egg Whites

August 31, 2015 by
Whole Eggs vs. Egg Whites

Most people don’t remember exactly why or when they formed this belief, but somehow they got into their heads that whole eggs are “bad” for you, and egg whites are the healthiest part of the egg to eat. While there is nothing necessarily “wrong” with egg whites, the yolks are actually where the majority of an egg’s nutritional value is found.

Egg yolks contains more than 90 percent of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants present in a single egg (including calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, and 89 percent of the panthothenic acid.) While it’s true that the yolk contains all the fat, it’s healthy, hormone-balancing fat (i.e. fat that is not bad for you), plus it also contains all of the carotenoids, essential fatty acids, and vitamins A, E, D, and K. Furthermore, the yolk contains about half of the each egg’s protein, and it’s necessary to balance out the amino acid profile found in egg whites. So why would anyone get rid of the yolk?

The egg white is no slacker, providing over 80 percent of the magnesium, sodium, and niacin found in eggs. Eggs are meant to be eaten in their entirety. Whole eggs are quality nutrition and one of the most inexpensive, nutritionally rich foods around. Even if you buy organic, free range eggs, they come in at less than 50 cents for every 10 grams of protein, plus all those valuable vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

At this point you’re probably remembering a key concern you were told to look out for: cholesterol. Most people worry that eggs will increase their cholesterol if they eat them, but most people also don’t really understand how cholesterol works in the body. When you eat more cholesterol, your body actually responds by producing less internally. If you avoid cholesterol in your diet, your body will respond by making more. Bodies are generally trying to create an environment of consistency. It fights change, so you might be surprised to find that your cholesterol levels will remain pretty constant over a wide range of dietary intakes. Plus, there are a ton of studies that have shown that whole eggs actually increase the HDL, or “good,” cholesterol for a more optimal, healthy cholesterol ratio.

As far as the distinction between eating free-range vs not: research from Mother Earth News, suggests that eggs from cage-free pasture-raised hens provide a drastically improved nutritional profile than standard eggs. Compared to typical supermarket eggs, the eggs from pasture-raised hens may contain:

  • 1/3 less cholesterol
  • 1/4 less saturated fat
  • 2/3 more vitamin A
  • 2 times more Omega-3 fatty acids
  • 3 times more vitamin E
  • 6 times more vitamin D
  • 7 times more beta-carotene

So what are you waiting for? Go make yourself an omelette from some tasty free-range eggs!

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Nutrition Tips To Healthy Lifestyle

August 11, 2015 by

Working out and having a well balanced diet is key to a great, healthy life. For many people, working out comes easy, and diets are the tough part. Balancing both equally to provide a healthy lifestyle can go a very long way to ensuring a nutritional lifestyle. There are also other things throughout the day which can help improve the bodies nutrition.

One thing to help is to always stay hydrated. Drinking fluids early and often throughout the day can drastically improve health. Drinking water, and other carbohydrates often is important to sustain a healthy life, waiting until you get thirsty is not the goal of any day. It is normal to have eight glasses of water each day. Going above and beyond is a great thing. Working to reach these goals daily can help any workout or diet tenfold.

When working out, it is common to loss a great deal of electrolytes, replacing these is important, in moderation. Sports drinks are important when playing sports, thinking these when not working out can lead to extra sugars in the body which are not needed. But replacing these electrolytes after a competition or event is of utmost importance.

Proteins should naturally be apart of any diet. It is said that consuming roughly 1.5 grams of protein to every kg in the body is average and healthy. Which means, a 150 pound man would consume just under 90 grams of protein each day. Having this much protein is great, but making sure to not overdue it is even more important. It can also lead to eating fats which the body does not need.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

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Interesting Food Facts

August 5, 2015 by

With so many interesting foods and diets out there, we are bound to run into some interesting, and fun facts about diets, and the stats behind certain foods. Some of these snacks are alarming and should be concerning for parents and nutritionists.

The first, surprising, and fairly alarming fact, is that over 30 million Americans skip breakfast. That is just about 10% of the countries population, skipping out on the most important meal of the day. Breakfast can change the outcome of any day, a healthy, well balanced meal can help boost metabolism and give the brain and body the energy it needs to push through the day. Vegan meal

Another interesting fact which many people are unaware of is that lemons are actually one of the healthiest foods anyone can have. With ample amounts of Vitamin C and immunity boosters, simply adding lemon to water can help cleanse the system. Adding lemon to water is important, but keeping toxins out of the body is just as important. A recent poll uncovered that about 33% of Americans do not drink alcohol. Avoiding alcohol is fantastic, even though many admit to having one or two drinks at a gathering, one third of Americans do not drink at all.

With such an increase in the amount of vegetarians and vegans around the country, it is shocking to know that only .5% of Americans are vegan, and 3% are vegetarians. Cities like New York, San Francisco, and Portland are all making strives to make the world a healthier place to live.

With so many surprising facts, and much more to learn, visit SheKnows to get a full list of truly shocking nutrition facts.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

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Health Food Tips For Professionals

July 28, 2015 by

If it was everyone’s decision, everyone would eat healthy, and be as fit as possible. Unfortunately, we all have to work, take care of loved ones, and enjoy simple pleasures of life. These distractions are reasons why people tend to grab a quick meal from their local fast food joint, which after a while becomes routine. These habits that form can head to obesity and other illnesses. For those who work long hours, or have a full family to feed while taking care of so many, here are a few ways to get yourself through the day, while remaining healthy.

People who work long work hours, find it difficult to eat healthy, one way to remain healthy and avoid grogginess is to have small meals throughout the day, not one giant lunch. When the body consumes too much food too quickly, this can cause the body to crash and become very drowsy.

While working, it can be very easy to grab a quick bag of chips or a candy bar. Avoid these temptations by packing your own food from home. Celery or carrots are a good alternative for a mid day snack. Little changes like this can go a long way in eating healthy.

Throughout the work day it is of high importance to drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated is a great way to increase tiredness while getting the recommended eight glasses needed a day. Not only will this cut out unnecessary sugars, but will keep grogginess at bay.

The last way to healthy living is to avoid alcohol on weekdays. This will lower productivity and fill the body with extra sugars, and toxins which are unneeded. If remaining healthy is the ultimate goal, following a few short keys can truly make a long term difference.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

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Drinks Which Cause Fat

July 14, 2015 by

Many drinks on shelves today claim to have 100% juice or no added sugars. Even though they may seem healthy for the average consumer, these drinks are actually packed with additives and non-natural ingredients such as fructose, glucose, and dyes to appeal to the target markets.

The first, and probably most surprising on this list of unhealthy drinks is Gatorade. The energy drink which is expected to replenish athletes contains a large amount of fructose corn syrup as its second ingredient. This seems redundant considering the fact that athletes need water and nutritious foods to sustain high energy levels, and fructose corn syrup tends to drain energy and has tendencies to cause grogginess.imgres

The second, and least surprising of the beverages which can cause fat are energy drinks, more specifically Rockstar Energy. Against popular belief, drinking this will not help you get a rockstar body. It will do the complete opposite with its 62g of sugar per can. Four grams of sugar is one teaspoon, I do not see anything pouring fifteen spoonfuls into their water and downing it for energy. So why drink Rockstar?

Staying energized comes in many ways, of course the obvious energy drinks, coffee, and now there is a twist. Starbucks has a Doubleshot Energy plus Coffee which serves as a quick alternate of drinking a cup of coffee. Seems too good to be true? Yes, because it is, this small container contains just under 30g grams of sugar. Sure, coffee is expected to give a nice kick, but not be the cause for fat.

One final beverage which is more of a mixer is Jose Cuervo’s Margarita Mix which has a great amount of high fructose corn syrup, and packs a punch with 400 calories. Remember this is an additive to an already unhealthy beverage, alcohol. Not the best mix if you ask any nutritionist.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

 

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Snacks Which Cause Fat

July 1, 2015 by

Many of your favorite snacks can be the reason the ever anticipated summer body has yet to emerge. Mentioned in previous posts, nutrition labels are not as truthful as once expected, they hide true numbers and give false numbers to when someone is eating. Many of the foods, drinks, and even supplements on the fat causing list are ones you would least expect!

The first on the list is a Slim Fast drink mix. The fact that this drink has sugar as its first ingredient explains why they are served in such small portions which generally do not fill anybody up. These tricky drinks are the reason consumers over indulge in these snacks and drinks, they are un-filling and do not provide the right nutritional ingredients.

The second supposedly nutritious or healthy food is Weight Watchers chocolate chip cookies. Their first ingredient is enriched wheat flour, and the second ingredient is sugar, this so called healthy product is anything but healthy. If anything, having normal cookies in the right portion can have the same effect as having these cookies. 

Also making this list of unhealthy products is the Special K candy bars which contain sugar and partially hydrogenated oil as their first two ingredients. These ingredients are accompanied by the third ugly ingredient of high fructose corn syrup. All of the ingredients and nutritional facts can be very closely compared to a Snickers bar. You take a pick on which one sounds more enticing. And for many, picking up the Snickers bar is the more appealing choice.

The scariest of these foods is the Atkins Advantage chocolate peanut butter bar. This small bar which most likely will not satisfy hunger contains 6g of saturated fats and 12g overall. They also have just around 250 calories which does not make this bar advantageous in any way.

It is important to always read ingredients and facts closely, but also understand that portion sizes need to be accounted for when purchasing and eating snacks throughout the day.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.

 

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Do Not Avoid White Food

June 24, 2015 by

According to Josh Bezoni, he once encountered a registered nutritionist who swore by the “no white foods rule.” While some white foods, especially those that are processed such as bread, crackers, and pasta, leave a lot to be desired from the perspective of a nutritionist, there a plenty of options that are quite healthy!

It is certifiably crazy to ban outright such items as bananas or potatoes merely because they are white. Each are fully natural, and are packed with important nutrients such as potassium. They could be a good food to begin the day with, or even refuel after an exhaustive workout. Knowledge is key here, folks, particularly if you want to achieve your health goals.

Bezoni mentions loads of other foods that are white that can help burn belly flab and fuel one’s metabolism. Turnips, parsnips, onions, cauliflower, mushrooms, and garlic are all vegetables that are very healthy. Each is packed with an array of minerals, vitamins, and minerals. You shouldn’t be avoiding these foods. In fact, you should be seeking them out!

soak-the-beans - bezoniWhite beans, which are very low glycemic and boast loads of protein, are also a great option.

Even certain organic dairy products are good for you. Cottage cheese and milk both bring a lot of protein to the table, and yogurt carries the benefits probiotics.

While you may not instantly think of seeds with the mention of white food, many are, in fact,white. Chia seeds and pumpkins sees are packed with protein, fiber, and omega-3s.

Last, but certainly not least, are fish. There is a wide variety of white fish, and by and large they represent some of the healthiest eating choices you can make. For the most part, they are packed with tons of protein and taste great.

It’s almost sad that so many people have this misconception regarding white food. As highlighted above, there is a plethora of white foods that are quite good for you.

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