The main reason that we and our families may feel unwell and sluggish can be due to the unhealthy foods we consume every day.
And, unfortunately, some so called “health foods” that we believe to be nutritious can actually be unhealthy junk foods in disguise.
So here is Part Two of a list of foods that you might want to avoid:
6. Whole Wheat Bread
Most “whole wheat” products aren’t really made from whole wheat.
The grains have been pulverized into very fine flour, which can make them raise blood sugar just as fast as their refined white bread counterparts.
Plus modern wheat is less nutritious compared to the wheat our grandparents ate. When scientists tampered with the wheat gene in the 1960s to increase the yield – they unfortunately created a crop that lost most of its natural goodness and created a grain that causes inflammation in the body – which is also not good for people who are intolerant to gluten.
Look for sprouted bread. And whole-grain, multi-grain, rye, flaxseed, oat and high-protein breads are much healthier. Read your labels to ensure that what is stated on the outside is actually contained in the ingredient listings.
7. Sports Drinks
Sports drinks were originally designed for athletes. They contain electrolytes (salt) and liquid sugar which can be useful if you are a high-performance athlete. But if you are not an NFL footballer – you do not need additional salt or sugar to hydrate yourself. Often touted as healthier than sugary soft drinks to quench your thirst – the sugar content is still very high and is not healthy at all.
To stay hydrated when it is hot and you are working out – just stick to plain water, add a squeeze of lemon for flavor. Your body will thank you for it!
8. Low-Carbohydrate Junk Foods
Low-carb diets have been incredibly popular for many years. And study after study has confirmed that these diets are an effective way to lose weight and improve our health.
However… food manufacturers have caught up on this trend and brought various low-carb processed foods to the market.
This includes highly processed junk foods. If you read the ingredients list you will see that there is NO real food in there….lots of chemicals and highly refined ingredients, unhealthy fats and artificial sweeteners.
These products can be consumed occasionally without compromising the metabolic adaptation that comes with low-carb eating. But they do not provide any nourishment for your body.
9. Sugar Alternatives
Given the known harmful effects of sugar, “natural” sugar alternatives have become very popular. Agave nectar and brown rice syrup are just a few which are touted as healthy with attractive claims on their packaging. But these products are still just sugar – and could be even worse for you than regular sugar. The problem is these products contain excessive amounts of fructose which can cause severe metabolic problems when consumed in excess.
So “natural” doesn’t always mean healthy and whether these products should be even considered healthy is highly debatable. So give them a miss and use fruit to sweeten up your meals.
10. Processed Organic Junk Food
Unfortunately, the word “organic” has become just another marketing buzzword.
Food manufacturers have found all sorts of ways to make the same junk, except with ingredients that happen to be organic.
This includes ingredients like organic raw cane sugar, which is basically 100% identical to regular sugar. It’s still just glucose and fructose, with little to no nutrients.
Processed foods that happen to be labelled organic are not necessarily healthy. Always check the label to see what you’re really getting.
Your Body and Mind will be grateful!