We already worry that our food makes us fat, dull, disease-prone, and sleepy. Now we have to worry that it also makes us crazy. According to certified clinical nutritionist Carol Simontacchi, the food industries that give us packaged, processed, artificially flavored, chemical-ridden, artificially colored, nutrient-stripped pseudo foods such as sodas, processed soups, sugared cereals, and fiberless bread "wantonly destroy our bodies and our brains, all in the name of profit." We Americans (adults and children) eat 200 pounds of sugar and artificial sweeteners each year. Our children's test scores and grades drop. We become violent, illogical, moody, depressed, drug-addicted, and crazy. The reason, according to the author, who is pursuing a doctorate in brain nutrition, is that we're starving our brains with lack of nutrition. Carol Simontacci, author of "The Crazy Makers, How the food industry is destroying our brains and harming our children".
What to avoid: PLEASE READ YOUR LABELS!
Genetically Modified Organisms : Any food that doen't say NON GMO, is GMO! Must say non GMO, or organic The implications of GMO foods are grave. See the video posted on my home page, after the post.
dairy products: Especially conventionally processed, like pasteurized and homogenized anything. If the dairy had any redeeming qualities in it prior to processing it, the processing ruined it! Even organic dairy is pasteurized. If not organic dairy, then the cows have genetically altered GMO milk, not to mention the cows were fed GMO soy and corn, that's been sprayed with pesticides, the cows themselves given antibiotics, and been pumped with hormones! Poor cows. Can you say poison? Other countries will not import our dairy... or beef. I wonder why?? Cows were intended to graze on grass, not be confined and fed cheap feed that makes them sick, which creates the need for the antibiotics. Cows today, are not the cows of yesteryear. With all of that, today's dairy is a leading cause of illness and diseases, i.e. asthma, rhematoid arthritis, arthritis, diabetes, sinunitis, IBS, constipation, just to name a few... This is not rocket science. See my "why to avoid dairy" page.
soy: Avoid soy that isn't cultured and organic. Soy isn't the health food it's been touted as! Unless organic, it is one of the most genetically modified foods in the world. Soy is linked to thyroid problems, as well as autoimmune disorders. It is also one of the top 5 food allergens, which speaks volumes.
regular eggs: They are a chemical cocktails from mistreated chickens who are genetically modified, and are full of antibiotics, and other unwanted stuff! Chickens are dramatically different than the chickens of our grandparents time. Much like dairy of today, eggs and chicken of today are dangerous for our health. Chickens are not fed what they were intended to eat. Again, much of their feed is genetically modified corn and soy, heavily sprayed with pesticides. That feed make these chickens sick, so they have antibiotics sprayed into the air they breathe. That is the short story. Insanity.
partially hydrogenated oils: i.e. margarine, shortening. This is a biggie to avoid at all costs! Causes cell death. Chemically altering the chemical composition of oils, was discovered more than 50 years ago, to help replace the shortage of butter. This hydrogenation helped to create a stable, long shelf life oil. Was a brilliant discovery- but that was before the health implications were known. Now we now this is no-joke a dangerous toxic altering of food. At the very least, partially hydrogenated oils create inflammation, but very startling is it causes brain cell death. If hydrogenation were discovered today, it wouldn't be passed by the FDA, because it is soooo dangerous, but it is "grandfathered" in. What? Enough said.
high fructose corn syrup : Metabolized in your liver, not your stomach. Linked to obesity, and diseases, like diabetes and cancers. Corn syrup is a cruel carbohydrate, and is a cheap sweetener that had proliferated into our food system. Unless it is organic, this too is made from GMO corn. What is most shocking, is that this the MAIN carbohydrate used in baby formula.
white refined flour and "enriched" flour : Rats won't even eat refined white flour, but we do. Most is GMO. Turns to sugar or gluclose in your blood, faster than white refined sugar. Think pretzels are a good snack choice? Think again. There are NO healthy properties in refined flour. Your body doesn't even recognize it as food!
white refined sugar : Sugar is not healthy in it's natural organic state. Refined sugar, is stripped on any nutrients, and all that is left is the sucrose. What makes it especially dangerous, is that it is chemically processed, and bleached. Sugar can be addictive like drugs, dramatically spikes blood sugar, then shortly thereafter, your blood sugar crashes, creating a vicious cycle! Sugar causes inflammation, makes the body acidic, wreaks havoc on brain chemistry, and is an anti-nutrient, AND causes WRINKLES. Anti-nutrient means that not only is it not healthy, but actually leaches nutrients, namely B vitamins, out of your body via urine. Sugar, not nice.
table salt : Table salt is linked to high blood pressure and other diseases. Sodium is hidden all over in processed foods, so most consume far more than they even realize!
artificial colors, flavors and preservatives: Far more dangerous than people know... wreaks havoc on brain chemistry. Is linked to ADD, ADHD, learning disorders, and other cognitive issues! Also, many of these fake, artificial chemicals are linked to cancer. They make food pretty, but at the cost of our health?
vegetable oils, other conventional cooking oils: Vegetable oils sold at the market, the ones we grew up with, are toxic! They are so chemically processed, so they are shelf stable for years. Damaging to the body, similarly to that of partially hydrogenated oils. If you have any, throw them out today.
What to add:
Earth Balance spread or Organic Smart balance (butter alternatives)
Organic Cultured, pasture fed, butter and Organic Ghee: Since 1999, I 've stopped using butter, until recently in 2013. There is just mounting evidence that butter oil, is very healthy for humans. Most recently when researching reversing dental caries, uncovered that mothers have reversed their kid's dental cavities, by using butter and fermented cod liver oil.
Coconut and palm oils (as butter and shortening alternatives)
Rice, flax, almond, hemp, oat and coconut milks ( cow milk alternatives)
Organic eggs (One of the best animal proteins, void of the chemicals in conventional eggs.)
Real maple syrup, raw agave nectar, and raw honey (as sugar alternatives)
Organic brown sugar, organic evaporated cane juice: Used exactly as their conventional parts, but with no toxins, no chemicals, no pesticides, etc. Not healthy, but a lesser of the evils.
Sea salt : Has micro minerals needed, without the damaging effects of regular table salt and sodium! Begin to replace all of your table salt, and cooking salt to sea salt. They make fine grain for salt shakers, and course for cooking.
Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour : As refined white flour alternative. This can be used exactly as flour in any recipe.
Organic whole grain spelt flour : An ancient wheat flour better tolerated than conventional whole wheat. Not a healthy choice per say, but lesser of the evils. Ancient spelt, is not genetically modified, and has been in existance for thousands of years.
Quinoa pasta : As refined white flour pasta alternative. It is delicious, but some quinoa pasta brands are made with corn as well as the quinoa. So beware if you have a corn allergy.
Olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, organic cold pressed canola oil: These are the oils of choice for cooking, and baking. Olive oil is most often cold pressed, and is a monounsaturated fat. Extra virgin is the first press of the olives, and has a fruitier flavor, and greener color, and is most expensive. Use for salad dressings, or dipping. Olive oil is the later presses, and is just fine for all other purposes for cooking- sauteeing, baking, etc. Never cook higher than medium heat with olive oil. Coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids, and is rich in lauric acids, and is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. Just a powerfully healthy oil! Coconut oil, has a higher smoke point, so you can sautee at a medium-high heat if you choose. Coconut oil is a perfect substitute for shortening, and has a long shelf life, as it is very stable. Organic cold pressed canola oil is the only other vegetable oil you should have on had. You do want organic here, as other canola oils are chemically processed. Canola oil is perfect for times when you want a neutral flavored oil.
Avocado oil, macadamia nut oil, walnut oil: These are not for cooking y'all! These are perfect as a finishing oil, for soups, or veggies, and are really magical for homemade salad dressings!! So healthy, but not very shelf stable. Purchase small bottles, and use quickly.
This is just a start y'all. More to come on this page, with links, and where to purchase, etc... Knowledge is not only power, but health!
Yours in health,
Natalie