The 9 Most Deceptive
Foods that Everyone Thinks are Healthy but Are Not
Have you heard that yogurt can help you lose weight? Actually, lowfat
yogurt and other common "health foods" might not be the healthiest
snacks.
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Do you know that some "health foods" are not actually healthy? Common
"healthy" foods like milk, cereal, yogurt, wheat bread and even
fruit juice can actually harm your health!
Our guide dispels common myths about deceptive foods and gives you some
wholesome alternatives:
- Pasteurized Milk
Milk is touted as a healthy food, and most people assume that it "does
a body good." But pasteurization destroys active enzymes and denatures
the fragile proteins in milk. It also kills beneficial bacteria and
lowers the vitamin content of your milk.
A better alternative? Nutritious raw milk contains essential fatty acids
that boost your immunity to fight disease.
Learn more about the dangers of the pasteurization process and the benefits
of raw milk.
Please note: At Body Ecology we do not recommend milk, especially in
the first stage of The Diet. Some people never do well on dairy foods usually
because the protein casein is difficult to digest and is often dehydrating
and constipating. Dairy is often mucous-forming for many as well. If you
do introduce dairy into your diet and find you thrive on it, then please
ferment it. Kefir is unique in that it can be made with raw milk.
- Soy products
Soy products, including soy milk and soy protein have been linked to digestive
distress, immune system breakdown, PMS, endometriosis, reproductive problems
for men and women, allergies, ADD, higher risk of heart disease and cancer,
malnutrition and loss of libido.1
A better alternative? Fermented soy products like miso
soup, natto and tempeh.
- Low Fat Yogurt
Have you seen commercials proclaiming yogurt's weight loss benefits?
Most commercial yogurts are not only pasteurized but also contain substantial
amounts of sugar or (even worse) synthetic sugar
substitutes that can damage your brain and nervous system. If they do
contain beneficial bacteria like lactobacillus acidophilus, the benefits
are often outweighed by the sugar content.
A better alternative? Why not make your own probiotic-rich kefir
(as mentioned above) at home? Use a Body
Ecology starter to ferment your own raw
milk kefir. It is as easy to make as :Kool-Aid…you just have
to wait 24 hours before drinking it. Kefir made at home contains much more
potent amounts of beneficial microflora. Kefir also contains beneficial
yeast that help control pathogenic yeast.
For more information, read: Why
Dannon Activa™ and other Mass Market Probiotic Products are Not as
Healthy as You Think
- Oatmeal
Oatmeal seems harmless enough and doesn't actually contain gluten. But oatmeal
can be unsafe if you have a wheat or gluten sensitivity2
because farmers often grow oats in fields that previously had grains like
barley and wheat. The other grains can contaminate the oats and could be
dangerous for anyone with gluten sensitivity.
A better alternative? For a warm, convenient morning meal, try Body Ecology's
Hot Breakfast Porridge
recipe.
- Whole Grains
Many foods from bread to breakfast cereals advertise that they are now made
with whole grains. While it's true that the fiber from whole grains can
protect you from cancer,3 conventional
whole grains are not necessarily your best option.
Conventional whole grains lack vitamins and minerals, can be difficult to
digest, and often cause allergenic responses, contributing to autoimmune
disorders like Celiac disease.4 
A better alternative? Grain-like
seeds millet, quinoa,
buckwheat,
and amaranth
are gluten free, do not feed candida
act as prebiotics,
have a calming effect and are full of vitamins and minerals.
For more on Body Ecology's recommended grain-like seeds, read: The
Risks of Consuming Typical Gains and the Healthy Grains to Choose Instead
- Fruit Juice and Sodas
Fruit juice may be delicious, but it's often loaded with even more high-fructose
corn syrup than actual juice! High fructose corn syrup has been linked to
increased cholesterol levels, blood clots, and impaired immunity. Sodas
are no better as we all are well aware.
A FAR better alternative? Delicious, healthy and convenient Dong
Quai and Coco-Biotic,
both of which you are strongly urged to learn more about and try today!
Another good choice is Young
Coconut Kefir mixed with sparkling mineral water and flavored with Stevia
and lemon or lime juice makes a fizzy and sweet "soda."
Find out how to replace juices and caffeine laden "energy" drinks
with healing probiotic liquids by reading: Energy
Drink Nutrition: The Dangers You Need to Know and the Best Choices Instead
- Cereal
Cold cereal seems like a convenient and healthy meal, but combined with
pasteurized milk, it can be a bowl full of nutritionally damaging food.
Cereal itself undergoes a process called extrusion that denatures its proteins
(making them toxic) and destroys the grains' naturally occurring fatty acids.
The result is a nutritionally void carrier for sugar and sodium.
For more on cereal and healthy alternatives, read: The
Four Major Health Risks of Conventional Grains and the Healthy Weight-Optimizing
Grains to Choose Instead.
A better alternative? Make your morning meal green! Try Vitality
SuperGreen or a Good
Morning Greens Smoothie to start your day off right.
Follow that with some healthy
breakfast ideas from Donna Gates!
- Processed Cheese
Processed cheeses, especially individually wrapped slices, have little nutritional
value. They are pasteurized and often have fillers and preservatives.
A better alternative? Make Young
Coconut Kefir cheese or on stage two of the Body Ecology diet, once
your gut is populated with dairy-loving microflora, try cheeses
made from fermented raw milk to flavor your salads.
- Protein Bars
Protein bars now compete with candy bars in convenience stores and grocery
aisles, but these quick snacks are not necessarily healthy. Many protein
bars use soy protein and count sugars in their top 3 ingredients! Instead
of offering you a healthy option, they actually contribute to fungal infections.
A better alternative?
Soaked almonds and other nuts are easy and delicious snacks for
those on the go! Or try RenewPro
for an energizing, gut-healing source of protein. You can mix it in water
or even eat a scoop between meals. You'll love the delicious taste of this
truly healthy source of protein.
Food advertisements can be deceptive, but you CAN find delicious food that
is also good for you. Use this list to help you make decisions about what
to feed your family.
Sources:
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN. The Whole Soy Story. Wise Traditions Conference,
November 2006. http://www.fleetwoodonsite.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=11&osCsid=710d1e5b3567d83b3ec429eb228bb160
2 Oatmeal Allergies. Essortment.com.
http://nh.essortment.com/allergiesoatmea_raby.htm
3 Stephens, Betsy, "Fiber Fights Cancer," LadiesHomeJournal.com.
http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/lhj/story/data/HealthNews_FiberFightsCancer_07242003.xml
3 Thiessen, Del, "The Awful Truth About Eating Grains," Mercola.com.
http://www.mercola.com/1999/archive/truth_about_eating_grains.htm
4 Sanda, Bill, "The Double Danger of High Fructose Corn Syrup,"
WestonAPrice.org.http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/highfructose.html
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