Keep it simple.

Hi there. Happy Saturday! 

We were treated to a sunny, hot day yesterday and today it's back to gray and weird. Ahh, Spring!! :) I took my boys for frozen yogurt after work last night. That was fun and they enjoy it. They keep wanting to give me my Mother's Day gifts early. So cute!! 

It seems like every day there is new information in the news about what is good for us and what is not.  Sometimes there are healthy trends. And all these new bright ideas. I think there is relevance with some things but others...ehh..not so much. I tend to stick with the foods that have been around since the beginning of time. One great thing about our ancestors traveling, exploring and immigrating is they brought new foods to new places. I am personally very thankful for chocolate, coffee, tea and spices! And I grew up in the Willamette Valley in Oregon where the fertile land produced an abundance of perfect fruit and vegetables. There were areas where you would drive and smell mint in the air. It was a lovely way to grow up. These views were a normal part of life! Pretty nice right? :) 

Now on to the point of my post! The foods that are good for us and those that are not. I'm sure many of us get confused about what is really good for us. 

Agave syrup has been in the news a lot as a better alternative to sugar. Well, according to many doctors it's hardly any better than high fructose corn syrup and is in fact very high in fructose. 

Soy. It is advertised as a better alternative to meat and dairy. Unfortunately soy products are processed and often genetically modified. There are hundreds of studies that link soy to issues such as malnutrition, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, infertility, birth defects, reproductive issues, heart disease and cancer. If you're a vegan, it's better to focus your protein from plant sources such as lentils, beans, chickpeas, quinoa and leafy greens. 

Fish. It is often farm raised and crammed into small spaces to increase production. These spaces are filled with feces and rampant with parasites and disease. Large amounts of antibiotics and chemicals are poured into the water to keep the fish alive under these dire circumstances. And we are then consuming this contaminated fish. Fresh caught is better but many fish are full of mercury which is the second most toxic element on Earth next to radiation. 

Fruit juice. It is full of sugar. Drink vegetable juice instead. And juice your own if you can. 

Subway. This restaurant is advertised as healthy. Their meats are processed and the sauces are full of sugar and preservatives. A fresh sandwich made at home or a deli is much better for you. Mayo, mustard are going to be better than those sauces. It's really not much better than going to McDonalds. You save on the "Frying" aspect...but that's about it! 

Olive oil. When consumed at room temperature it's fine but did you know when it's heated it turns into a carcinogen? Well, now you do! Coconut oil, Grapeseed oil and Safflower oil all have a high smoke point. Coconut oil is the best as it is stable against heat. 

These are a few ideas of the foods that are advertised as "healthy" and really are not. We are told certain things and end up just believing it. Yes fish is full of good things too but wow, when you compare it to the bad..it's definitely an eye opener. To me..when in doubt eat your fruits and vegetables, plant based proteins when possible. Keep your foods as clean as possible. Make your own sandwiches or at least use ingredients that are not full of sugar and junk. I read a lot of labels and the fewer and easier to read ingredients are those I generally go for. 

Have a great day! 

xoxoxoxo

Tam