TOXIC FOODS/INGREDIENTS TO AVOID AND WHY: 101

TOXIC/INFLAMMATORY Foods to Avoid and Why:

1. Stick Margarine: Most brands of stick margarine are loaded with trans fat — the toxic fat that increases bad cholesterol, lowers good cholesterol, promotes clotting, and damages blood vessels.
   1. BETTER: real butter, Coconut Oil
   2. BEST: EVOO (and Heavenly Olive Oils/Vinegars has butter olive oil that is awesome!)
2. SODA: One hundred percent of the calories in regular soda come from sugar or high-fructose corn syrup — that's why I call it "liquid candy." In fact, these empty liquid calories are largely responsible for fueling our nation's obesity epidemic. Drinking soda also damages your teeth and promotes cavity formation — and some studies show cola may weaken your bones.
   1. BETTER: Tea sweetened w/ honey or stevia
   2. BEST: water flavored w/ stevia and fresh fruits.
3. GLUTEN/WHEAT FLOUR/WHITE FLOUR: Gluten acts like “GLUE”. It literally STICKS to any symptom you may already have and INFLAMES IT/EXAGGERATES it considerably. Most people cannot digest gluten well at all, although there are exceptions. The best way to know is to completely remove it for THREE MONTHS (it takes that long to exit your system completely). There are many wonderful substitutes for gluten and now adays is MUCH easier to replace.
4. NITRATES/NITRITES: found in many sliced deli meats, bacon, hot dogs, etc this preservative is a known carcinogen and can also cause other effects such as migraines, sinus problems, etc. Fortunately, some large companies like Oscar Meyer are hopping on the “nitrate free” bandwagon and you can find non-organic meats now preservative free!
5. HFCS (high fructose corn syrup): this sweetener is completely man-made in a lab. Nothing about it is natural nor good for you body. It is bad for anyone and everyone. Period. And its in EVERYTHING. You will have to purposely seek out foods by reading labels that contain no HFCS…and don’t assume its only in “sweet” things. Think again…its in dressings, breads, condiments, soups, cereals, etc.
6. MSG: has many names. Monosodium Glumate, HIDDEN NAMES:  autolyzed yeast, yeast extract, maltodextrin, hydrolyzed protein, sodium caseinate, mono-potassium glutamate, and textured protein. This is a huge, HUGE migraine trigger for many people, but that’s not all! MSG is processed, it can cause many adverse reactions, including skin rashes, itching, hives, nausea, vomiting, migraine headaches, asthma, heart irregularities, depression and even seizures. Like HFCS, you’ll find this in many many foods and companies are using different names for it to “hide” it so you need to know what it is. It can also not even be listed in some foods and is a ‘hidden’ ingredient. Why do companies use it? It’s cheap and is an un-natural flavor enhancer; companies can use less quality ingredients but toss in MSG and it will make it taste better. Like HFCS, this is bad for EVERYONE.
7. SOY: you will find on some research that not ALL soy is bad…but I disagree. It’s a hormone disrupter so especially for women I think its just best to stay as far away from it as you can. Even “organic/non GMO” soy is bad. It can throw off our thyroids very easily. This is also in many foods. Soy lecithin for instance, is in most chocolate. Limit as much as you can. Avoid soy milk and opt for Hemp or Coconut milk instead, or go for fat free organic milk.
8. MOVIE THEATER POPCORN: oh friends…this is one of the WORST things you can eat. A medium sized popcorn is AT LEAST 1,200 Calories and that is WITHOUT THE BUTTER…which isn’t even butter but hydrogenated fats flavored w/ artificial chemicals that mimic the taste of butter. What do I do? I pack my own. Yes, I know it says “No foods allowed” but I will just tell them that I have very special dietary needs. Worst case scenario they take it from me. Oh well. But that’s never happened.
9. Refined (white) sugar: you knew it would be on here! Did you know coming off sugar is like coming off CRACK? Actually, all the science reports I’ve read said its actually a little bit WORSE! Sugar is killing America and especially our kids. Get off it asap. Switch to natural sweeteners like honey, maple, organic agave and stevia. Sugar is the cause of many diseases, inflammation, gut-related problems, insomnia, thyroid/hormonal issues, and the list goes one. And cancer LOVES it.
10. Feedlot-Raised Meat: Animals who are fed with grains like soy and corn contain high inflammation. These animals also gain excess fat and are injected with hormones and antibiotics. Always opt for organic, free-range meats who have been fed natural diets. What they eat, you absorb. This is called bioaccumulation.
11. Artificial Sweeteners: remember when zero-calorie sweeteners used to be the “trend”? Guess what…they are WORSE THAN SUGAR! Why? Sugar at least comes from a plant: sugar can. Artificial sweeteners are made in a lab and have not the slightest resemblance to nature. Run for the hills if something is “sugar free” or “zero calorie”. The only 0-CAL you should eat is STEVIA. Not Truvia, not nustevia. Just 100% ALCOHOL FREE STEVIA. (powder or liquid is fine)
12. “Artificial Flavorings”….in many protein shakes and most foods on shelves. This is why shopping the perimeter is always best. You may “pop in” for those few canned or frozen items (like frozen organic fruits or veggies!) but if you see that in the ingredients list your body will suffer for it.
13. Artificial Dye’s: you’ll see this listed in the ingredients…yellow, red and blue being the most common. Red has been linked to many many behavioral issues such as ADHD, autism, and anxiety/depression but they are all bad.
    15.  Coffee/Coffee Cream:  Instead of using a coffee creamer that has loads of ingredients, why not opt for something like Coffee Mates Natural Bliss Sweet Cream which only has cream, milk, and sugar?  That's a LOT better than so  many.  An even BETTER option would be to use a milk alternative with a  little natural sweetener (like honey) or a pinch of stevia.  ALSO:  be sure and buy ORGANIC coffee when you can as it is high in pesticides.

In summary: if you read a label and you can’t pronounce or don’t know what it is: its bad. Occasionally this is not the case, so do you research and google the ones you don’t know. Seek out people who are knowledgable (ahem…hello? I’m here!) and ask lots of questions. Read read Read!

Really serious about your health? I recommend starting a very narrow list to eliminate inflammatory foods for you and after 3 months gradually drifting to other lists to see how your body responds.

LIST: http://www.soulcraft.co/info/food_chart.htm

Book on Blood Type Diet Foods and the Science behind it: “Eat Right 4 Your Type” by Dr. Peter J D’Adamo

Another book that looks at the science behind why gluten MIGHT be bad for you:  Wheat Belly by William Davis.