Nutrition Nuggets Newsletter

Watch Out For These “Health Foods” - Joy Lasseter, Ph.D. Nutritionist

You have heard many times “Don’t eat junk food. Eat healthy food instead.” Hold on… are some of the so-called healthy foods not good for us?  Let’s take a look. (Become a label reader. Take a magnifying glass to the grocery store.)

Frozen Yogurt: If you want the friendly bacteria that support intestinal health eat fresh yogurt. Freezing yogurt kills them. Frozen yogurt often has added sugar, flavorings and other chemicals.

Canola Oil: This crop is one of the genetically engineered crops whose health consequences have not been fully studied. (Other GMO crops include alfalfa, corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets and wheat.)

Grocery Store Cereals: Most commercial cereals are high in sugar and low in fiber. Best choices: old fashioned rolled oats, and whole grain cereals like Muesli. (People with wheat or gluten allergies should avoid cereals and grain products.)

Food Bar Types:

Energy bars - quick energy (for working out) high in sugar

Meal replacement bars - balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat (too sweet)

Breakfast bars - made from cereal grains (mostly carbohydrates)

Snack bars - more like candy, high in sugar

Take real food snacks: walnuts, almonds, carrots, celery, fruit, hard-boiled eggs or dried fruit.

Egg white omelets: Fat phobic people are cutting out important fat-soluble nutrients and creating deficiencies of vitamins and essential oils. (Egg yolks contain lutein and xeazanthin, important nutrients for eye health.) Enjoy whole egg omelets a couple of times a week. Buy high Omega 3, organic eggs.

Wild caught salmon - is good for us, but beware of the farm-raised salmon with high level of PCB’s and lower levels of important Omega 3 Fat.

Apple juice: Look for added sugars. Any juiced fruit or vegetable has fiber removed. Important nutrients can be damaged by pasteurization heat. Eat whole, raw fruit and vegetables to get the fiber and health promoting nutrients.

Bottom Line: Eat fresh, raw (when possible) organic foods.

Disclaimer - If you have a disease or you are on medications, follow your doctor’s recommendation about foods and exercise relevant to your disease, medications and condition.

Have a healthy day by making wise choices!

Dr. Joy

-www.joyhealth.com