Incorrect Food Choices and How You Can Correct Them
February 4 2012 |
Does your diet need a makeover? Let’s face the music. Typical Americans will gorge out on about 70-90 grams of fat within any given day, 50-100 grams of sugar and enough animal protein to feed a lion. Okay, maybe not a lion, but you get my point. The point is, most of us are overweight, sluggish, and have no energy since we are killing our adrenal glands (energy centers of our bodies), poisoning our colons, and depriving ourselves of what’s really needed: correct fats, correct proteins, and correct carbohydrates. Before you know it, the music is not a well-tuned orchestra; it’s nothing but a hideous mess with loud crashing cymbals. When we choose the incorrect versions of these macronutrients*, we begin to crave more of the same thing, leading us down the primrose path of doom.
*Macronutrients: Proteins, Fats and Carbohydrates. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals.
However, the bright, happy news of all this is that we can indeed change our patterns, one meal at a time, one day at a time, one correct choice after the other. You see, if you choose to eat the correct protein, you will not crave refined sugar. If you can choose the right fat, your body will not crave the wrong ones. People only eat the way they do because of previous choices, which create cravings–your body’s attempt to obtain what it really needs–the correct choices (although getting these usually doesn’t happen and so begins the vicious cycle). A good tip for anybody: take a good digestive enzyme supplement before meals, especially if the meal is cooked or if you’re over 30.
So how can you begin to tune your orchestra for a more harmonious lifestyle? Easy. Here are some basic starter lists I’ve compiled to give you a preliminary idea of what defines correct choices from each macronutrient category. Coupled with your own willpower to actually go out and buy these foods and find simple, healthy ways to prepare them, I think you’ll find you can play any music you want to. It’s not hard, you just need a little practice.
Good Proteins:
- Split peas, lentils, beans, nuts (raw if possible except peanuts), seeds and whole soybeans.
- NOTE: Try to obtain 35-40% of your body’s weight in grams of protein per day. For example: I’m 105 pounds, so I try and get 42-44 grams per day. Our minimum requirement is 18 grams a day, however most people (I especially) can not feel good on that little bit of protein. Never exceed more than 65-70 grams daily, as it can create long-term hardship on the kidneys and output too much uric acid. Excessive need for protein is a myth, but that’s not what this article is about. Just know that eating foods containing the correct amino acids is what’s vital here. Once amino acids are in the body, then we can build lean proteins. Common thought is that people get protein from eating protein. Not so. Take chickens for example; they are vegans by nature and build the lean muscle that people then eat. They obtain amino acids from plant foods in order to build those lean muscles. Same principle applies with us: if we eat correctly, and take amino acids from plant foods, then we can create lean, strong muscle with very little effort of “working out” per say.
- Incorrect proteins: Whey protein isolate, soy protein isolate, fried meat (chicken), soy meats, fatty meats
Good Fats:
- Avocados, hemp seed/oil, flax seed/oil, coconut, olives, walnuts, almonds, savi seeds, chia seeds, grapeseed oil, sea vegetables (kelp, dulse, nori, arame, hijiki) and seaweed oil
- NOTE: Eating good fats (and taking an enzyme to ensure absorption) will help us to reduce cravings for bad fats (fried foods, chips, saturated animal fats, excessive omega 6 & 9′s) and also reduce cravings for sugar and processed foods made with white flour. Good fats will also give you better energy, clear thinking, happy moods, better sleep, and keep you trim.
- Incorrect fats: hydrogenated oil, palm oil, canola oil, chips, oily foods, greasy burgers, boxed chips and cookies
Good Carbohydrates:
- All vegetables (broccoli, chard, turnips, radishes, carrots, bok choy, beets, parsnips, brussels sprouts, green beans, red cabbage, cucumbers and more)
- Complex carbohydrates including sprouted grain breads, quinoa pasta, rice and rice pastas, millet, barley, wheat berries, kamut, and spelt berries. But be careful to portion out just 1 serving for yourself! Even complex carbohydrates can be overwhelming to digest if there are too many. NOTE: Avoid white flour, processed sugar (10 grams or less a day is ideal, if any, but aiming to get 20 grams or less per day is good too), doughnuts, pastries, cake, cookies and most cereals.
- Whole fresh fruits. Not cooked or canned.
- NOTE: Fresh vegetables and fruits are wonderful, especially when organic! Aim to eat at least 6 servings per day up to as many as you want! If you currently don’t eat very many daily veggies/fruits, increase the amount gradually. Some individuals may experience a bit of intestinal discomfort during the adjustment period from the added fiber. I suggest doing 2 daily servings the first week, then 3 daily servings the next week, then 4, then 5 and so on.
- Incorrect Carbs: white bread, processed crackers with white flour, coffee cake, candy bars, gummi bears, anything made with refined flour, sodas, most items in a vending machine.
Where are you on your journey of healthy eating? In what ways can you make improvements? If you find that you’re craving white sugar, reach for a correct protein listed above. If you find that you’re craving a bad carbohydrate, reach for a good fat or protein on the above list. If you are craving a bad fat, eat one of the good carbohydrates plus a good fat. Hope you find this information helpful!
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Salt, Sugar and Fat…Get The Skinny!
