We talk a lot here about the health benefits of eating foods associated with the Mediterranean type diet, but today we will shift our focus to foods we need to avoid. Below is my list of the top 6 and a suggested substitute.
1. Vegetable Oil – Many people believe that its is the sugar that makes baked goods unhealthy, but the truth of the matter is that vegetable oil is the real culprit. Today’s highly refined vegetable oils are very high in Omega 6 and throw the ratio between Omega 3, the good stuff, way out of balance. The good news is that there are many healthy oil substitutes like olive, grape seed and coconut.
2. Margarine – Look at the first ingredient on the back of a tub of margarine and it’s vegetable oil. Why don’t we like vegetable oil? Please see item #1. In addition, margarine also consist of a whole lot of artificial stuff that just can’t be good for you. If you must, stick with butter over margarine, better yet use olive oil.
3. Deli Meats – I used to own a deli and we sold every kind of deli meat and cheese imaginable. We had a decent lunch trade and moved the stuff out fairly well. Deli meats however are loaded with a bunch of artificial flavors and preservatives. They are also loaded with fat and the bad cholesterol. Look for fresh turkey or chicken and if you crave meat, find a deli that makes a fresh roast beef.
4. Artificial Sweeteners – There is so much bad press in regards to artificial sweeteners that I may never drink another diet soft drink. There has always been a concern with artificial sweeteners causing bladder cancer, but it is a know fact that these sweeteners are not digested properly by the body and form amino acids that can cause health consequences such as headaches, mental confusion, dizziness and seizures. Drink water!
5. Table Salt – This from the Global Healing Center. “Because salt is a natural antibiotic, it kills good bacteria in the body. As a substance that draws water, it interferes with the normal absorption of water which possibly leads to constipation and the accumulations of toxins in the intestinal tract.” Substitute a natural salt sea salt or Himalayan salt. Better yet, try other herbs or spices to spark up a meal and skip the salt.
6. Microwave Popcorn – I’m guilty on this one. I enjoy popcorn and so does my son and we shared a bag almost nightly. Problem is not the popcorn but the packaging. A report from the FDA indicates that a chemical coating used in microwave popcorn bags breaks down when heated into a substance called perfluorooctanoic (PFOA). The Environmental Protection Agency has identified PFOA as a “likely carcinogen.” Another study has found an acid that can be extracted from the chemical causes cancer in animals and is “likely to cause cancer in humans.” Enough said, and I didn’t even touch on the second danger. Hey, ditch the microwave stuff, buy fresh or better yet, eat nuts.
Want to find out more about healthy eating along with great recipes both you and family will love. Download my latest eBook, “The Mediterranean Diet Recipe Book – Gracie’s Guide to Healthy Meals.” Remember you don’t need a Kindle to enjoy Kindle books, here’s the FREE LINK from Amazon.
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