Can Eating so-called “Healthy Foods” Actually Hurt Me?

 

 

by Chris Wilson

Fat-free and Natural foods are healthy for you, right?

Doesn’t it make sense to eat foods with little or no fat to keep from gaining unwanted blubber around your middle? And if it says “natural” on the label it must be good for me…?

The words on a label can be extremely important in our decision making but FIRST you need to know what these terms actually mean, not what you think they mean. Becoming educated about what’s actually healthy versus what’s not is harder than you think!

We live in a world of multi-billion dollar marketing businesses and advertisers and everyone wants brand recognition. In the last decade it has gotten so competitive when it comes to selling healthy food alternatives. Why buy the regular version of these crackers when I can buy the ones next to them with reduced sodium and less fat…case closed, problem solved.

Nope, not really.

Sadly, we’ve been sold some seriously misleading information for several years now and educating the masses on what’s truly healthy is an Everest-like challenge! In short, much of what we think is fantastic for us, is really potentially harmful.

Companies want your business, period. If they can use sexy, popular terminology to make the sale, they are happy and unfortunately it’s at the expense of the consumer. Terms like ‘whole wheat’ and ‘gluten-free’ are everywhere nowadays because consumers have grown to like what they stand for regardless if they’ve been processed and chemically altered.

Whole wheat bread is still heavily refined and made with unbleached flour. More than half the vitamins and nutrients are stripped away during the refining process. Whole grain is a much better option because it still has all the fiber and contains the vitamins and minerals our bodies require but “100% whole wheat” is a very powerful phrase on food items in today’s marketplace.

Likewise, natural foods can still be chemically produced to enhance freshness and shelf life. But when our society sees “natural” we fall into the trap and convince ourselves, “It’s healthy for me, it’s natural.” Even organic foods can still be processed. Unless the label reads 100% Organic, it can be partially organic and get the stamp of approval from our USDA. It’s all about perception versus reality.

Let’s back up for a second, shall we…. I’m certainly not perfect, not even close. And I’m sure you aren’t either.

I eat foods that are processed, low-sugar, low sodium and so on. It’s just amazing how difficult it is to eat clean and avoid pesticides, harmful fertilizers, antibiotics and growth hormones. Honestly, it’s nearly impossible. Eating 100% Organic is not realistic for many of us all the time. It all comes down to moderation and smart decision making.

That being said, I’ve adopted these key principles so I can stick to a realistic diet while aiming for optimal health:

Okay, not a popular conversation but I have to do some myth-busting here. Eat some fat. Remember, fat is good for you as long as it’s not trans-fat AND it comes from things like fish, nuts, some oils, some dairy, red meat, whole eggs and avocados. It helps your joints, gives you energy and is necessary in maintaining healthy skin, proper brain function and much more. It should also come from both plant and animal products. The man-made fats or chemically altered “Franken-fats” are the ones to avoid whenever possible.

Also, try to shop locally at multiple grocery stores and health food locations like Fresh Market, Whole Foods and Trader Joes to name a few. Visit the local farmer’s market for some of the best “seasonal” produce at super low prices. This allows for variety and freshness. Colorful foods are rich in vital nutrients, antioxidants and best of all, they aren’t processed!

Thirdly, spend most of your time eating REAL food and not “space” food. I like to entertain myself with funny names for things but if it sounds like an astronaut should be eating it in outer-space, how healthy is it on a daily basis? On occasion, it’s hard to avoid but if you can’t read the word because it has nine syllables, it probably isn’t fantastic for you.

Lastly, try to go with food items that have fewer ingredients on the label. The less processed and chemically treated the better and that’s always reflected in the ingredients. Get good at reading the labels and understanding what you’re fueling your body with. If it will last for months and years, how detrimental to your health is that food item? Actually, the quicker the food spoils, the better it is for your body and your overall health!

It all comes down to educating yourself and reprogramming yourself to “enjoy” healthy, fresh, unaltered foods that provide the necessary macro and micro nutrients our bodies require to live long productive lives. Eating should be easy and not stressful. Make intelligent decisions and do some research to be sure you’re consuming quality foods that aren’t harmful. Treat the body like the temple that it is and in return it will carry you to new heights.

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Stop Eating These 10 Foods For Fast Joint Relief

By Mike Westerdal, CPT

Inflammation is swelling that occurs as the body’s self-protection mechanism tries to remove harmful stimuli such as damaged cells or irritants. The body’s approximately 230 joints are particularly susceptible toinflammation.

And when joint inflammation occurs, it inhibits mobility and causes pain. In some cases joint inflammation can result in severe pain that can last for days, weeks or longer, sometimes becoming a chronic condition that lasts a lifetime. In either case, joint inflammation can really inhibit or even bring to a halt weight and strength training.

In an effort to uncover the reasons why some people seem to be more susceptible to inflammation than others, researchers discovered a link between diet and occurrences of painful sudden or chronic joint inflammation. Their studies showed that people who at certain foods—or types of foods—had few instances of joint inflammation and when it did occur, these people recovered at a faster rate than others, who did not eat these foods.

Even more interesting is the fact that they discovered that people who at a different type of food—or types of foods—were more likely to be plagued by either sudden or chronic joint inflammation. Not surprisingly, it also took these individuals much more time to recover from joint inflammation than those who belonged to the other group.

 

And there’s good reason to be concerned about joint inflammation—particularly chronic inflammation—and it’s not just the painful joints, muscles, swelling and loss of mobility. In fact, chronic joint inflammation can increase your risk of developing serious and potentially deadly diseases and conditions including diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and certain types of cancer.

Other factors such as genetics, overall health, lifestyle, amount of sleep and more play a role as well, but nevertheless, chronic joint inflammation can be a significant contributing factor.

Because it is how our bodies obtain the nutrients they need to thrive and be healthy, diet can be linked to an increased likelihood of developing any of the conditions or diseases above. But diet isn’t the only common thread here—chronic joint inflammation can actually be viewed as a ‘precursor’ to these other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and the others.

That does not necessarily mean that every person with chronic joint inflammation will develop these other illnesses or conditions, but it does increase the chances.

Unfortunately, outward symptoms of joint inflammation can take years and years to develop, meaning that many people are not even aware of the fact that their joints are inflamed until it becomes painful and inhibits mobility. Luckily though, measuring C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the bloodstream can help tell you the degree to which you are on the path towards developing chronic joint inflammation.

Researchers have discovered a link between increased CRP levels in the bloodstream and systemic joint inflammation. Even more important, they now know that there is a correlation between diet and CRP levels.

People whose diets include healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and antioxidant-rich foods showed lower levels of CRP than persons with diets that mostly consist of highly processed foods, refined sugars, trans fats and simple carbs.

 

Here are the top ten foods to avoid, if you want to reduce the probability that you will develop systemic joint inflammation:

1. Sugars—especially ones that are refined
2. Processed foods
3. French fries
4. Fast foods
5. White bread
6. Pasta
7. Ice Cream
8. Cheddar cheeses
9. Snack foods
10. Oils that are high in unhealthy fats such as vegetable and corn

When I saw this list, the first thought that came to mind is that all of these are foods that most typical Americans eat if not daily, at least four to six times a week. It’s no secret that the typical American diet includes excessive unhealthy (saturated, trans) fats, enormous amounts of sugar, far too many simple carbs and a mind boggling quantity of highly processed foods. Given this, it is no surprise that obesity rates are through the roof and that some studies show that nearly one in five Americans suffers from painful joint inflammation.

A diet high in these foods not only increases CRP levels in the bloodstream—and therefore increasing the chances that you’ll wind up with systemic joint inflammation—but it all but guarantees obesity, which also contributes to joint inflammation. In reality, a diet high in the 10 foods above contributes to system joint inflammation on multiple fronts—not just by increasing CRP levels.

If you already have symptoms of systemic joint inflammation, you should certainly consult a medical professional to see if you have any other conditions (e.g., diabetes, etc.) or require additional treatment or medications. But regardless of whether you do or do not have any symptoms of systemic joint inflammation, eliminating these ten foods from your diet can place you well on the path towards living a life free from painful joint inflammation.

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