Did you know that processed foods contain ingredients that are not food? A little chemical here, a little chemical there and TADA! You have a perfect mix of delicious sorcery to make your taste buds go crazy with excitement. The unfortunate thing is the body will greatly suffer.
Ever wonder why cancer, diabetes, hypertension and chronic diseases claim more people as the years progress? If you are Gen X or a Baby Boomer, then you can remember a time when the diseases of today were rare, but now even the family pet is falling ill. As the old saying goes, “just because you can eat it, doesn’t mean it’s food”. You can chew and swallow a Styrofoam cup, but that doesn’t mean it should be done!
Now, focusing in on your plate. What are you looking for to help you eat more savvy? Well, let me tell you. The answer is in the ingredients. Look at the label on the back of the product and what you want to see is (natural whole food ingredients) things that spring forth from the earth naturally. Fruits, grains, nuts, beans, plants and flowers. What you do NOT want to see is a bunch of names you can’t even pronounce, (or that do not form naturally on its own from the earth with no need for processing) like, maltodextrin, high-fructose corn syrup, Dextrose, artificial flavors and many more. Even seeing Natural Flavors in the ingredients list doesn’t mean what is used is completely natural. It may be that only 1% of the actual substance is natural. Check out the 60 Minutes clip below to better understand the sneaky things that go on behind the food industry doors.
Read on if you are interested in a few of my ideas for avoiding cancer causing foods that destroy the body’s cells.
- Prepare your meals at home. This is the best and most sure way you can know what is in your food. The more you can prepare from scratch the better. Stay away as much as possible from the processed foods. And remember, if you buy something pre-packaged, always read the ingredients!
Breakfast
It’s always good to keep your first meal light or skip it all together. The longer your body goes without food, the more it can focus on healing and recovery. All day long we are ingesting toxins, from food, water and even the air we breathe. It is good for the body to go 12 to 16 hours without consuming anything if possible. So, say you go to bed at 10:00pm, then it would help to not eat or drink until 10:00am the next day. If you are unable to go without, have some fruit of your choice. Eat it raw or blend your favorite combo in a smoothie. You could also have a cup of herbal tea or matcha to start your day. Remember, minimal is better.
Lunch
- Your second meal should also be light, but you can add a combo of salad and fruit or salad and a smoothie or even a fruit salad. Any of these would be good options that would fill you up more than you’d think. You could eat as much salad as you want until you are satisfied. I personally like to enjoy Sour Kraut or Kimchi which gives me a pick-me-up in the afternoon. Something to fuel your body to get you the energy you need to get through the remainder of your day.
Dinner
Now is the time for you to enjoy a full meal. A protein like chickpeas, lentils, lima Beans or black beans would be good options. Add a veggie like spinach, Brussels sprouts, artichoke, collard greens or asparagus to make for a good combo. For those who may be concerned about their weight or want to avoid the sugar that comes from starchy foods, you can enjoy a cup of fruit or some nuts and figs for a full 3-course meal. For those who aren’t as concerned about the starch, you can add to your meal some homemade gluten free bread, dinner rolls, baked or mashed potatoes with olive oil. Just peel your own and skip out on the pre boxed processed stuff.
