Toxic Fats:
Commercially refined cooking oils, like corn, vegetable and even canola oils, over-flow with "free radicals", aggravating inflammation. These over-processed, refined oils are heated at extremely high temperatures, creating cancer-causing peroxides. In addition, clear bottles of oil allow light to further degrade these oils, generating even more free radicals.
In the same vein, hydrogenated oils, like those in stick margarine, act like super-glue to solidify the cardiovascular system! Grab any package of cookies or crackers. Unless it states hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated ingredients are strictly avoided, you can bet you are crunching on these toxic substances right about now.
Toxic Carbs:
Bleached, "boraxed", brightened white sugars and white flours, trigger just as many problems as toxic fats. Overdoing sugars and starches -- especially the refined versions, creates an acidic condition in your body, leading to more inflammation. They create a high glycemic load on your bloodstream, which means your blood has way too much sugar. This condition is known as hyperglycemia, and is a trigger for previously mentioned conditions, like inflammation, cardiovascular disease ...plus diabetes. Over-eating sugar, starch or any over-processed glycemic carbohydrate causes:
- brain fogginess and sleepiness
- elevation of blood fats. (a.k.a., "triglycerides")
- compromised immunity
- hormonal imbalances due to a deficiency of plant fibers
- hormonal imbalances from environmental additives: pesticides, fungicides and herbicides
Toxic Proteins
Have you eaten, yet? Let's chat a bit about sources of protein. Hormone and antibiotic-injected meat, poultry and dairy products can expose your immune system to low-doses of hormones and antibiotics over decades. Exposure to low-dose antibiotics may lower responsiveness to antibiotics administered by doctors.
Read those labels and search for grass-fed beef, free range chicken and eggs; Choose cold-water wild fish rather than farmed fish. For example, Wild Alaskan Salmon are well exercised, higher in omega-3 fatty acids and avoid chronic exposure to pesticides and antibiotics stored in fat cells. Larger mercury-rich fish like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tuna must be eaten in moderation. The larger the fish, the higher the mercury content is likely to be. So, if you are seeking an omega-3 rich source of fish, experiment with sardines in olive oil, herring, and canned red salmon.
Toxic cooking utensils
Want to hear more about potentially hazardous materials in your kitchen? Much has been written about plastics in our environment entering our stomachs, moving through our lymph systems, destabilizing our endocrine systems and mucking up our circulatory systems.
Ingesting molecules of plastic can also throw hormones out of whack, creating more inflammation. The plastic spatula to flip your pancakes can melt into your meal. Beware of the plastic wrap on your micro waved meal! Prevent it from touching your food when heated up. One more thing about plastic, cloudy containers holding water and juices seep plastic molecules into the fluid they contain. Re: TEFLON. Don't even talk to me about it. If it kills birds when heated, what will it do to you? Just toss it! Pay attention!. The enemy is everywhere! Those killers are lurking in the cupboards!
Now your awareness has been raised. Keep an eye out for hydrogenated and refined oils, bleached sugars and starches. Select expeller-pressed or cold pressed oils and be sure to transfer them into dark bottles.
Choose organic products as often as possible. Select whole grains with more than 3 grams of plant fibers per serving, plus plenty of fresh, colorful produce to manage the pH of your bloodstream. That is to say, sugar, starch, protein and fats all acidify your system. If you are on medications, they also acidify your system. Plastics acidify your sytem. Prevent coagulating your protein-rich organs and bloodstream, from being "cooked" in an acidic environment. Dark green vegetables are perfect for alkalizing your bloodstream. By the way, they also preserve bone mass. I'll tell you how that works in a future blog.
For details to load up on healthy ammunition for the kitchen, visit http://www.healthypeople.com/ and download your free copy of "metabolic makeover" mental checklist. My metabolic makeover checklist will give you plenty of ideas on how to stock your kitchen with therapeutic foods to enhance immunity and fight diseases!
Over time, as you progress, you will discover the desire to get garbage out of your life. You will easily spot enemies to health and vitality. This process may take years, but it is a transformation which energizes you, and keeps you in tune with your Self.
Copyright© 2007, Helene Berk, M.Ed., R.D.
For More Information Contact: Helene Berk, M.Ed., R.D. at healthypeople.com Tel: 818-508-0070 [please leave a message. I will call you back]Email: helene@healthypeople.com
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