| There are many terms that are misleading in the | | | | ::sarcasm:: Plus the stuff is apparently low in fat |
| food advertising industry today. Think of how | | | | and an alternative to whey for the lactose |
| many times you see the following phrases | | | | intolerant. |
| plastered all over food containers: | | | | Why is it bad? Straight up, soy is linked to lower |
| * Fat Free | | | | testosterone and increased estrogen in males, and |
| * Reduced Fat | | | | is also linked to increased breast cancer in women. |
| * Low Fat | | | | Soy also promotes hypothyroidism, thyroid |
| * Sugar Free | | | | cancer, and infertility. Soy is extremely |
| * No Added Sugar | | | | destructive to infants, as it can effect |
| * Diet [Insert Product Name Here] | | | | development in many adverse ways. |
| Let us examine some examples of nasty food | | | | Instead choose: any high protein whole food such |
| that is supposed to be healthy: | | | | as brown rice, goats milk, coconut milk, almond |
| 1. Diet Soda | | | | milk, whole grains, nuts, seaweeds, seeds, beans, |
| Why is it good? A sugar free version of the | | | | and lentils. As a side note, goats milk is considered |
| popular carbonated beverage that you can drink | | | | one of the healthiest foods on the planet today, |
| on the go. | | | | so give it a try. |
| Why is it bad? OK, so soda is horrible for you, but | | | | 6. Fruit Juice, Dried Fruit, and Fruit Cocktail |
| take out the sugar and add in carcinogenic artificial | | | | Why is it good? Well because fruit is good for |
| sweeteners, combined with the artificial flavors | | | | you. It has a ton of vitamins, minerals, and |
| and colors that are in all sodas, and you have a | | | | antioxidants; not to mention fiber. |
| recipe for Tumor in a Can. Then of course we | | | | What is it bad? Fruit juice and fruit cocktail |
| have the caffeine factor, which is linked to | | | | normally have sugar added. Some fruit cocktails |
| hyperactivity, high blood pressure, and can mess | | | | come in a thick sugary syrup. You get no fiber |
| with your blood sugar. | | | | from fruit juice, and the stuff usually has |
| Instead choose: filtered water and the occasional | | | | preservatives added to it. |
| glass of milk or goats milk | | | | Instead choose: eat the whole fruit including the |
| 2. Sushi made with white rice and imitation crab | | | | skin if possible, but limit it to one serving of fruit |
| meat or vegetables | | | | per meal/snack to avoid insulin spikes. If you |
| Why is it good? Seaweed contains essential | | | | must have fruit cocktail, choose one that comes |
| nutrients such as selenium, calcium, iodine, and | | | | packed in its own juices instead of syrup. |
| omega-3 fats. Sushi is nearly always wrapped in | | | | 7. Smartfood (Cheesy Popcorn) |
| seaweed. | | | | Why is it good? Because cheesy popcorn is oh so |
| Why is it bad? This garbage does not deserve to | | | | tasty. |
| be called sushi. They are just small, compact, high | | | | Why is it bad? Because you are really just eating |
| glycemic, high calorie, carbohydrate nuggets. | | | | the popcorn equivalent of potato chips. Seriously, |
| There is not even much protein in these things. | | | | compare total calories and you will find that you |
| Eat 3-4 of them and you've had your serving for | | | | are not saving much on the calorie front by eating |
| the day. Aside from that, imitation crab meat is | | | | Smartfood instead of chips. |
| not even good for you. It is mostly just a crab | | | | Instead choose: get some spray butter, pop |
| flavored tofu-like substance fortified with sugar, | | | | some plain popcorn, spray a light coat of spray |
| sugar, and more sugar. | | | | butter on the popped corn, sprinkle various spices |
| Instead choose: In order to get some healthy | | | | on the corn (but go easy on the salts), and shake |
| carbs, some high-quality protein, and the benefits | | | | it up in a bad. Now you have a low fat tasty |
| of omega-3 fats, choose real sushi made with | | | | treat. |
| salmon or tuna. To make it even healthier, order | | | | 8. Beans packed in sugary syrups such as Boston |
| sashimi instead of white rice. | | | | Baked Beans |
| 3. Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter | | | | Why is it good? Baked beans are good for you |
| Why is it good? All peanut butter provides a | | | | because these types of beans are loaded with |
| heart-healthy substantial quantity of | | | | fiber |
| monounsaturated fat. | | | | Why is it bad? The sugary syrup, just as much as |
| Why is it bad? Most commercial peanut butters | | | | in a can of soda, is just going to spike your blood |
| are made with the same type of sugar that cake | | | | sugar and insulin levels. This is never good for |
| frosting is made with. Reducing the fat makes it | | | | preventing heart disease or type II onset |
| even worse because even MORE nasty sugar is | | | | diabetes. |
| added and they contain less healthy fat. I would | | | | Instead choose: Red kidney beans. These things |
| rather just eat the extra calories. | | | | are packed with protein and fiber, and can be |
| Instead choose: Choose almonds or all natural | | | | mixed with any sort of salad or pasta. Sometimes |
| organic peanut butter instead. Just remember to | | | | I enjoy kidney beans straight out of the can; no |
| pour off the top layer of oil and replace it with | | | | cooking, just wash and chow. |
| olive oil if the resulting peanut brick is too stiff. | | | | 9-15. Granola, White Pasta, Pasta Salad, English |
| Olive oil is very low in omega-6 fats. | | | | Muffins, Bagels, Croutons, and Pretzels |
| 4. Fat-Free or Reduced Fat Salad Dressing | | | | Why is it good? Granola has some fiber, pasta |
| Why is it good? Less fat means less calories. Plus | | | | salad has some vegetables, croutons make our |
| that salad dressing fat is lard just like mayo and | | | | salad crunchy, English muffins are one step up |
| Crisco. Sick. | | | | from bagels, and pretzels are a quick low-fat |
| Why is it bad? Firstly because when fat comes | | | | snack. |
| out, sugar goes in. Either that or artificial flavors | | | | Why is it bad? One word: carbohydrates. All of |
| and sweeteners. Secondly, since many vegetables | | | | these foods are made with corn syrup and/or |
| are fat soluble, taking away the fat from the | | | | processed white flour. These foods will spike your |
| dressing means fewer of the salad nutrients will | | | | blood sugar faster than Bruce Lee could have |
| be absorbed into your body. This was confirmed | | | | kicked you in the face. You also will not get much |
| by a study at Ohio State University wherein a | | | | nutrition in the way of protein, fiber, vitamins, or |
| higher fat salad dressing resulted in an increased | | | | minerals from any of these foods. |
| uptake of the antioxidants lutein and | | | | Instead choose: 100% whole grain or whole |
| beta-carotene. | | | | wheat pasta and English muffins for increased |
| Instead choose: A salad dressing made with olive | | | | fiber and protein. Egg salad because, like it or not, |
| oil, or just use olive oil and vinegar as your salad | | | | eggs are good for you and are high in protein. |
| dressing. If you try it you might like it. | | | | Almond slices are high in omega-3 fats and are |
| 5. Anything made with Soy | | | | crunchy like croutons. Substitute healthy nuts for |
| Why is it good? It's not. But in the spirit of | | | | white starches whenever you can and you too |
| argument: vegetarians and vegans eat the stuff | | | | can receive a 30% less chance of heart disease. |
| so they can get protein in their diets. Yay | | | | |