There
are a number of specific foods; however, that you will want to avoid in almost
every circumstance because they provide virtually no health benefits while
posing plenty of health risks. Here are nine foods you should never eat again
if you care about preserving your long-term health.
1. Margarine.
Hidden
in all sorts of processed foods, margarine, a hydrogenated trans-fat oil, is
something you will want to avoid at all costs for your health. Contrary to
popular belief, butter and saturated fats in general are not unhealthy,
especially when they are derived from pastured animals that feed on grass
rather than corn and soy. And if animal-based fats are not for you, stick with
extra-virgin coconut oil or olive oil rather than margarine.
2. Conventional frozen
meals.
Most
conventionally-prepared frozen meals are loaded with preservatives, processed
salt, hydrogenated oils and other artificial ingredients, not to mention the
fact that most frozen meals have been heavily pre-cooked, rendering their
nutrient content minimal at best (especially after getting microwaved again at
home). With the exception of a few truly healthy frozen meal brands such as
Amy’s and Organic Bistro, most frozen meals are little more than disease in a
box, so avoid them in favor of fresh foods.
3. White bread, refined
flours.
By
definition, white bread and refined flours in general are toxic for your body
because they have been stripped of virtually all vitamins, minerals, fiber, and
other important nutrients. Because of this, the body does not know how to
properly digest and assimilate these so-called foods, which can lead to health
problems. Refined white flour has also been bleached with chlorine and
brominated with bromide, two poisonous chemicals that have been linked to
causing thyroid and organ damage.
4. Cured meat products
with nitrates, nitrites.
Deli
meats, summer sausage, hot dogs, bacon, and many other meats sold at the
grocery store are often loaded with sodium nitrite and other chemical
preservatives that have been linked to causing heart disease and cancer. If you
eat meat, stick with uncured, nitrite and nitrate-free varieties, and
preferably those that come from organic, grass-fed animals.
5. White rice.
Like
white bread, white rice has been stripped of most of its nutrients, and
separated from the bran and germ, two natural components that make up rice in
its brown form. Even so-called “fortified” white rice is nutritionally
deficient, as the body still processes this refined food much differently than
brown rice, which is absorbed more slowly and does not cause the same spike in
blood sugar that white rice does.
6. Most conventional
protein, energy bars.
By
the way they are often marketed, it might seem as though protein and energy
bars are a strong addition to a healthy diet. But more often than not, these
meal replacements contain processed soy protein, refined sugar, hydrogenated
fat, and other harmful additives that contribute to chronic illness. Not all
protein and energy bars are bad, of course — Thunderbird Energetica, Organic
Food Bar, Boku Superfood, Vega Sport, PROBAR, and Zing all make healthy protein
and energy bars. Just be sure to read the ingredient labels and know what you are
buying.
7. Soy milk and
soy-based meat substitutes.
One
of the biggest health frauds of modern times, the soy craze is a fad that you
will want to skip. Besides the fact that nearly all non-organic soy ingredients
are of GM origin, most soy additives are processed using a toxic chemical known
as hexane, which is linked to causing birth defects, reproductive problems, and
cancer. Soy that has not been fermented is also highly estrogenic, which can
throw your natural hormone balance out of whack.
8. “Diet” anything.
Many
so-called “diet” products on the market today contains artificial sweeteners
like aspartame (Equal) and sucralose (Splenda), both of which are linked to
causing neurological damage, gastrointestinal problems, and endocrine
disruption. Many diet products also contain added chemical flavoring agents to
take the place of fat and other natural components that have been removed to
artificially reduce calorie content. Instead, stick with whole foods that are
as close to nature as possible, including high-fat foods grown the way nature
intended, and your body will respond surprisingly well.
9. Microwaveable
popcorn.
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