Many of the foods commonly considered to be “health foods” are
not good for your health
Eleven of the most common unhealthy “health foods” are
discussed—including fruit juices, whole grains, agave nectar,
vegetable oil and sports drinks
Real health foods are fresh whole foods, grown sustainably and
preferably locally with the laws of nature in mind, free from
pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics,
preservatives and other chemicals
By Dr. Mercola
If you grew up believing the best way to start your day was a
bowl of cereal, a piece of whole wheat toast smeared with margarine,
and a glass of orange juice, you’re in good company.
If your health is ailing and you’re reading this, chances are
your lack of progress isn’t due to apathy or poorwill power but
instead, confusion over which foods are good for you and which are
not.
Many foods considered “health foods” are doing exactly the
opposite of what is claimed, thanks to massively successful
corporate advertising campaigns. There are solid scientific reasons
why America’s waistline has continued to expand.
In an article by certified personal trainer and health enthusiast
Kris Gunnars, 11 so-called health foods are discussed,1
and unlike most mainstream nutrition articles, I agree with all of
them.
If you are stumped about why you aren’t making progress toward
your health or fitness goals, you might just be a victim of your
“health food.” It would help to take a look at those popular foods,
starting with one of the most beloved beverages among children and
adults alike: fruit juices.
Fruit Juices
In spite of beliefs to the contrary, there are several problems
with fruit juice that make it a FAR cry from “health food.” Consider
orange juice, for example—particularly nearly all commercially
prepared OJ.
Most all commercially prepared orange juices are actually highly
processed into a liquid that bears little nutritional resemblance to
fresh orange juice, as Alissa Hamilton, author of the book
Squeezed: What You Don’t Know About Orange Juice, explains in
the interview below.
First of all, it is pasteurized which decimates its vitality.
Then the juice is kept in giant tanks to ensure a year-round supply.
In order to preserve it, all of the oxygen is removed, and therefore
all of the natural compounds that give oranges their flavor are
destroyed.
Some companies add
artificial flavor packs, which are essentially chemical
perfumes. A common one is ethyl butyrate. If the “Best Before” date
is 60 days or more, you know you have a heavily processed juice.
Fruit drinks are even worse, consisting mostly of high fructose
corn syrup in a mélange of artificial ingredients. Many commercial
orange juices are also contaminated with mold from damaged fruit.
Additionally, fruit juice is far worse than the whole fruit,
especially if it is not freshly juiced and is stored in containers,
as the methanol in the juice will dissociate from the pectin and
actually
increase your risk of M.S.
But even fresh, pure orange juice—even freshly squeezed—is very
high in sugar that is separated from its beneficial fiber and
therefore detrimental to your health. One eight-ounce glass contains
about 8 teaspoons of sugar, compared to 10 teaspoons in a can of
soda.
Habitually downing this much sugar can increase your risk for
gout, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease and a number
of other serious health problems. And many commercial juices have
been found to contain unacceptably high levels or
arsenic.
Consuming the whole fruit causes less of a problem as the sugar is
modulated by the fiber and antioxidants in the fruit, so you’re
better off eating fruit whole, but in moderation. If you want juice,
making your own
vegetable juice at home is an excellent option.
Whole Wheat and Other Grains
Contrary to what you’ve been hearing for years about the
nutritional value of whole grains, there’s a sizeable body of
scientific evidence that they frequently do more harm to your body
than good.
Grains contain anti-nutrients and lectins that can damage your
gut. And it’s the fibrous portion of the grain—the bran—that
actually contains most of the anti-nutrients. These components can
cause inflammation,
intestinal permeability and “leaky gut.”
Wheat and other glutinous grains are the worst of the bunch.
Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) has been found to be inflammatory,
immunotoxic, cardiotoxic, and neurotoxic, and can pass through your
blood-brain barrier and interfere with neurotransmitter function.
Gluten intolerance may be at the root of many chronic diseases,
including many neurological and psychiatric conditions such as
depression, ADD/ADHD, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Many
people have gluten intolerance but are unaware of it, which makes it
even more insidious. It’s important to realize that ALL types of
grain contribute to insulin and leptin resistance, which are the
primary underlying causes for most, if not all, chronic
diseases—from diabetes to cancer.
Don’t be lured into believing that all products boasting the
label “gluten
free” or “low-carb” are good for you. Many of these items
contain other grains that are highly processed, which make them no
more nutritious than the average bag of chips as they will increase
your insulin and leptin resistance. And many contain sophisticated
combinations of ingredients specifically engineered to
induce cravings.
Agave Syrup and Nectar
Agave still lines nutrition store shelves, as if you should be
pouring it over everything. Most
agave nectar or syrup is nothing more than a
laboratory-generated super-condensed fructose syrup, devoid of
virtually all nutrient value. Agave syrup is mostly fructose and is
so highly processed and refined that it bears NO resemblance to the
plant for which it’s named. Depending on how it’s processed, it may
contain anywhere from 55 to 90 percent fructose. High fructose corn
syrup is also about 55 percent fructose, so even in the best case,
agave syrup offers no advantage.
The evidence is overwhelming that, when consumed in large
quantities, fructose is the most damaging sugar you can eat.
Fructose drives up
uric acid, which is a direct pathway toward hypertension,
insulin resistance, diabetes, kidney and liver disease. Better
sweetener options are stevia (an herb), and raw organic honey, in
small amounts. Honey is also a concentrated form of sugar, but at
least it can offer some health benefits, provided it’s high quality.
Sports Drinks and Energy Bars
For most average exercisers and athletes, sports drinks are not
only a waste of your money but can actually make your health worse.
Most sports drinks are loaded with things you DON'T want, like high
fructose corn syrup, sodium, and artificial colors and flavors. Less
than one percent of those who use sports drinks actually benefit
from them.
Sports drinks are up to 30 times more erosive to your teeth than
water. And brushing your teeth won’t help because the citric acid in
the sports drink will soften your tooth enamel so much it could be
damaged simply by brushing. A far better alternative is
coconut water, sporting a long list of beneficial nutritional
compounds including natural electrolytes, enzymes, trace elements,
amino acids, and antioxidants.
Coconut water also has anti-inflammatory and blood
pressure-lowering properties, making it the perfect “sports drink.”
But even coconut water is loaded with sugar and ideally should be
limited to when you need to replace minerals and fluid, like after a
sauna or long duration cardio. Energy bars are no better than sports
drinks—essentially just overpriced junk food. Most commercial
energy bars are comprised of cheap soy protein, high fructose
corn syrup, synthetic vitamins, and waste products from industrial
food production.
Vegetable Oils and Fake Butter
Americans’ massive over consumption of vegetable oils is largely
due to the demonization of saturated fats that’s been going on for
decades. As the push to avoid animal fats rages on, people are
consuming unhealthy quantities of highly refined vegetable
oils—corn, soy, canola, and safflower oil. Unfortunately, all of
these are highly processed and have virtually no nutritional value.
And they have turned the average American’s
omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratios upside down, which is a
major driver of chronic inflammation.
Soybean oil is one of the worst vegetable oils, and processed
foods are positively loaded with it. Whether partially hydrogenated,
organic, or made from newer soybean varieties modified in such a way
as to not require hydrogenation, soybean oil can cause dysfunction
and chaos in your body at a cellular level. More than 90 percent of
the soybeans grown in the US are genetically engineered, and as a
result contaminated with dangerous levels of the herbicide
glyphosate, which compounds their toxicity.
Margarine is basically a heart attack in a tub, loaded with trans
fats (from hydrogenation, the process of turning liquid vegetable
oils into a solid). Trans fats contribute to heart disease, cancer,
bone problems, hormone imbalance and infertility, as well as low
birth weight, growth problems and learning disabilities in children.
Butter, on the other hand, is the real health food—it’s loaded
with vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, CLA (if the cows are limited
to eating grass and not grains), and many other nutrients your body
needs.
Low-Fat and Fat-Free Foods
The low-fat craze has been one of the most damaging dietary fads
in history, leaving many tens of millions with chronic illness in
its wake. The idea that all fat (especially animal-derived fat) is
bad for you is nothing more than a mistaken interpretation of
science—one that has become “stuck” in Western culture. Of course,
you want to avoid the previously touted “healthy” vegetable oils as
not only are they highly processed but they have far too much
omega-6 fats.
A healthier fat alternative that is not promoted by the media or
most nutritionists, are
saturated fats from animals and vegetables. They provide a
source of a number of important health benefits. In fact, your body
cannot function without saturated fats! They are needed for
the proper function of your cell membranes, immune system, heart,
brain and other organs. In fact, a recent “landmark” study provides
compelling evidence that the type of fat you consume, not the
amount, is what imparts the cardiovascular benefits of the
Mediterranean diet.
When fats are removed from foods, it leaves them tasteless and
unappealing. So manufacturers load them up with sugar and sodium and
chemicals, in massive quantities. So stick with unaltered whole
foods, including
full-fat unpasteurized dairy. They’re much better for you—and
they taste much better too!
Breakfast Cereals
Breakfast cereals are a favorite way to start the day for many,
but they are rife with toxic ingredients and misleading advertising.
Of course, the first problem is that they are grain-based, which
I’ve already covered. But even many of the so-called “natural”
varieties are contaminated with toxic pesticides, carcinogenic
fumigants and solvents, and genetically modified ingredients. The
only label that can give you any peace of mind is the “USDA
Certified 100% Organic” label.
Independent testing by the Cornucopia Institute has shown that
several breakfast cereals marketed as “natural”—even some that claim
to avoid genetically engineered ingredients and are enrolled in the
Non-GMO Project—contain high levels of genetically engineered
ingredients. Typical American
breakfast staples, such as cereal, muffins, and the like, are
popular because of wildly successful corporate PR. You might even
consider skipping breakfast altogether.
But wait—isn’t that the most important meal of your day?
Compelling new research indicates differently.
Skipping breakfast may reduce your hunger, stimulate your
metabolism, level out your blood sugar, and stabilize your insulin
levels throughout the day. Properly done
intermittent fasting will actually help eliminate most food
cravings and help you achieve your ideal body weight.
Choose Real Food Instead!
When considering food—regardless of whether it’s organic, local,
from a supermarket or from a farmer’s market, make sure you keep the
following criteria in mind. Most often, the best place to find
high-quality foods is from a
sustainable agricultural group in your area. If you’re unsure of
what foods you should be eating and in what proportions, or you just
need some help getting started, please refer to my
free
nutrition plan. Make sure that your food is:
Grown/raised without pesticides and chemical fertilizers
(organic foods fit this description, but so do some
non-organic foods)
Is fresh (if you have to choose between wilted organic
produce or fresh conventional produce, the latter may still
be the better option as freshness is important for optimal
nutrient content)
Not grown/raised in a confined animal feeding operation
(CAFO)
Contains no added growth hormones, antibiotics, or other
drugs
Grown/raised with the laws of nature in mind (meaning
animals are fed their native diets, not a mix of grains and
animal byproducts, and have free access to the outdoors)
Contains no preservatives, artificial sweeteners, or
artificial anything
Grown/raised sustainably (using minimal amounts of water,
protecting the soil from burnout, and turning animal wastes
into natural fertilizers instead of environmental
pollutants)