Hydrogenated fats

These are mostly man-made fats that are used in bakery items and stick margarine. Studies show that it isn't so much how much fat there is in your diet that causes problems, as what kind of fat, and hydrogenated fats are the worst. Avoid buying cookies, crackers, baked goods or anything else that has hydrogenated oil on the ingredient list. Fortunately, the FDA now requires that food manufactures identify the amount of hydrogenated fats in their products—look for trans fats on the nutrition panel.

Olestra

Olestra is a fake fat, used to make non-fat potato chips and other snacks. You'd think, with all the bad rap fat has gotten, a non-fat fat would be great. But Olestra has been shown to bind with fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D and K and carotenoids—substances thought to keep the immune system healthy and prevent some cancers—and to eliminate them from your system. Proctor and Gamble, the company that produces olestra, has acknowledged the problem with vitamins A, E, D and K and is now fortifying it with them.

Olestra has also caused digestive upset in some people, especially when they eat a lot of it. Often, it's not just fat in the potato chips that causes problems for people; it's the fact that they are displacing healthier foods, such as fruit, so Olestra can just perpetuate an unhealthy habit.

Nitrates

Many foods, especially cured meats such as bacon and hot dogs, use nitrates to preserve color and maintain microbial safety. Nitrate is harmless, but it can convert to nitrite, which can form nitrosamines, a powerful cancer-causing chemical, in your body. Whenever possible, look for nitrate-free preserved meats. When you do eat foods containing nitrates, have a glass of orange juice at the same time (for instance, orange juice with your morning bacon). Vitamin C is known to inhibit the conversion to nitrosamines in your stomach.

Alcohol

This one item has created more problems than all the rest put together. Of course, it is possible to consume alcohol wisely and safely and enjoy it immensely, such as a fine glass of wine with a delicious dinner. But even if you exercise caution in no other area of your diet, this is the area where you should.

Raw oysters

Raw oysters can carry deadly bacteria that can cause severe illness or death. Because it is strictly "buyer beware" when buying them, you take a big risk every time you do. To date, no government or independent body inspects seafood for safety or will guarantee its quality. Oysters are a nutritious food, and are great to include in your diet, but if you do, cook them first!


Saturated animal fats

That means fatty meats, especially beef and pork, or the skin on poultry. It also includes full-fat dairy products such as cheese, milk and cream. Fatty meat and dairy products do have some contributions to make to a diet, but none that can't be found elsewhere.

Soda

Drinking soda is a poor way to get fluids. They are full of sugar or artificial sweeteners and often contain caffeine, artificial colors and flavors. Substitute homemade soda by mixing sparkling water with fresh, 100 percent juice.

Low-acid home-canned foods

Home canning can be dangerous for foods low in acid such as green beans, carrots or other garden vegetables. The potential of botulism is high because home canners often do not reach the temperatures and pressures necessary to kill the botulism spores that may contaminate the food. Low-acid home-canned foods are one of the main causes of food poisoning.

High-fat snacks, chips

Even if they are made with vegetable oil, they should be minimized. The balance of fat in our diets has shifted too far to the omega-6 variety, found in most processed vegetable oils. It is thought that too many of these fats may be leading to certain chronic diseases. Instead, focus on fruits and non-fat whole grains for snacking.

Liquid meals

They aren't inherently bad for you, but they do keep you from eating whole, natural foods that contain more nutrients and fiber and disease-fighting phytochemicals. They may be okay for people who are too sick to eat, but don't let them displace the real foods in your diet.






I guess I better cut down on my alcohol

TheCatWoman said:

i only ingulge in one of these things!

(and no, believe it or not, it's not alcohol...i only put on my drinkin' shoes MAYBE once a month these days)

wonderful info ...thanx

Mach said:

You're welcome


I actually found this very interesting. I printed it out and put it in my kitchen to read over and over while sitting for a meal. I think once I have read it a few times, it will be in my conscious memory and will resurface while I am grocery shopping

This is awesome news, everybody should know what they consume.



.
[Edited 1/12/06 6:17am]

i printed this out too.

some of my favorite foods are on this list. chips, cheese...

thanks, now i can enjoy my cup of water and bowl of air!

brownsugar said:

make that a double... i'll join you

If no one sees me eat, the food doesn't have fat or calories.....


M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

great answer i like that one

brownsugar said:

tap water has phenols and other chemicals, and i certainly hope you're not drinking it from a metallic cup. and that bowl of air you're eating? pesticide city.

Anxiety said:

oh no

U can pretty much add all processed foods to the list, including white flour products, white sugar, and high fructose corn syrup.

XxAxX said:

Mine too.

Anxiety said:

ROFMAO!!!

thanks!

Good info I've really changed the way I look @ food over the past few years. If it's white I gotta really want it to eat it, threw out all my white flour/sugar/rice & replaced them w/ brown flour/sugar (raw & unprocessed)/rice.

Processed meats are easy to avoid w/ the substitutes they have these days (love the soy breakfast patties! any of the veggie patties are good substitutes really)...

organic juice vs. soda (Trader Joes strawberry lemonade beats a Coke ANY day)...

rice snacks vs. chips (the rice snacks are SO GOOD now!! Quaker, GenSoy, Pirates Booty/Veggie Booty)...

cheese is still a pitfall but I try to do soy whenever possible, I think it's better...

fried anything is bad


It's just the habits we fall into, but if you focus for a while to modify your diet it's easy to change over time & becomes second nature It's also easier to forgive yourself when you indulge b/c you're eating better overall anyway...



.
[Edited 1/12/06 16:29pm]

CalhounSq said:

Exactly!

I have also changed so much of the things I eat, going from white to wheat. And I can't even eat white bread anymore, it smells so bad . My down fall is cheese also, but I have managed to go from eating it 3 times a week to maybe once a week.

I always keep water stocked up in the frig and in my bedroom, this helps alot to keep it handy because when I get thursty, instead of going to the frig and seeing a cold soda drink, I will just grab a water instead.

TheCatWoman said:

[Edited 1/13/06 7:23am]

jerseykrs said:

mmm hmm.. tell me about it


I hated hearing this to I HATE the truth

I ain't given up my dranks.....I will cut down even more on other things but not the drank

TheCatWoman said:

YES, white bread is so unnecessary - I wish every establishment would make wheat/brown rice, etc. more available. But I can't really complain - California is probably @ the forefront of that kind of thing in the US. And more & more places are embracing healthier choices. I love that I can go to somewhere like High Tech Burrito & get wheat this, non-fat that & it tastes just as good as the stuff I used to eat only healthier

CalhounSq said:

this thread made me hungry and I got out some chips to eat

charlottegelin said:

CalhounSq said:

I now need to wash it down with some coke zero before I go and try to sleep all buzzing from that toxic cocktail!

charlottegelin said:

I can't really be mad @ you. I passed by a new bakery tonight, the smell lured me in, I left w/ 2 cookies & a cupcake... ONE cookie remains

Did I mention I nibbled on samples too?

AND 2 brownie bites earlier in the day I fucking went OFF today

CalhounSq said:

is that it? yesterday i ate a whole can of cherry pie filling using those individual graham cracker pie shells it was so good i couldn't help it.

brownsugar said:

CalhounSq said:

I dunno. I changed to whole grain breads only about a year and a half ago. I can't say that I dislike it. I think whole grain breads are really delicious, but there is a place for white bread in my life. If I'm gonna have a PB&J, I'd prefer it on some white bread. I want my PB&J so sloppy that the bread is torn to shreds with big ass gaping holes for the jelly to fall out of. You can't get that with whole wheat.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I hear ya, I guess since I've divorced pb&j it's easier for me to kill off white bread completely