We all have been there. Heck, you may be there right now! We’re ALL in love with the starchy and sugary taste of cookies, doughnuts, or bread. These foods have become our comfort in times of distress. They have become our entertainment and our excuse to have gatherings. These foods are addicting. The more you consume the more you want!
The Pringles saying “once you pop you can’t stop” couldn’t be more factual. In fact, these foods are made to be habit forming! With their high fructose corn syrup, sugar and chemicals who could resist them? And as for diet coke, don’t even get me started. I once cut out all sodas and lost 20 pounds—and my weight gain was mostly attributed to diet coke. Diet coke is proven to increase caloric intake….it signals your body to crave more carbs than you really need! It’s truly the Devil’s drink.
If you’re a constant consumer of these detrimental foods…don’t feel bad! You’re not the only one. Everyone has the propensity to become addicted, but everyone also has the capability to break the vicious cycle. I did. I went seven months without sugar/bread/dairy and felt like a million bucks. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring and it doesn’t have to be expensive. I am here as a testament to say that I felt better than ever on this healthy lifestyle change and spent less.
Did you know that these chemically enhanced foods can really break down your immunity? If you’re not getting the healthy fruits, veggies, and protein you need you’re not only going to be lacking in key “happy” chemicals (aka, dopamine, serotonin, etc…), but you’ll also probably suffer from a weakened immune system!
I am not supporting you radically switch your entire diet to organic, (because I know some organic foods are no different than regular ones) however; there is something to be said about buying organic fruits and veggies if you’re going to eat their skin. I challenge you to try organic celery up against their pesticide alternative and tell me if you don’t taste a difference. The lack of chemicals is refreshing. The pesticides are a huge reason why many people don’t want to eat their veggies! The taste is noticeable when comparing.
The positives for healthy eating outweigh the negatives. Webmd.com says that foods rich in antioxidants can really stave off colds and other illnesses that could plague you down the road. You can get your Beta-carotene and other carotenoids from foods such as: Apricots, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, green peppers, kale, mangoes, turnip and collard greens, nectarines, peaches, pink grapefruit, pumpkin, squash, spinach, sweet potato, tangerines, tomatoes, and watermelon.
Your Vitamin C from: Berries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, honeydew, kale, kiwi, mangoes, nectarines, orange, papaya, red, green or yellow peppers, snow peas, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes.
And your Vitamin E from: Broccoli, carrots, chard, mustard and turnip greens, mangoes, nuts, papaya, pumpkin, red peppers, spinach, and sunflower seeds.
Webmd goes on to talk about other foods you can find that provide the same immunity boosting power:
Zinc: Found in oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, seafood, whole grains, fortified cereals, and dairy products
Selenium: Found in Brazil nuts, tuna, beef, poultry and fortified breads, and other grain products
My recommendation is that if you have a hankering for sweets or starchy foods try alternative ways to satiate those cravings. Here are some of my top replacement foods/sweeteners and drinks that kick my sweet tooth in the bud:
Stevia
My FAVORITE sweetener. It is 100% natural and comes from a plant. It isn’t purely Stevia if it doesn’t say “Stevia” alone on the ingredient listing. There is a liquid form and it also comes in a box of individual packets. I prefer the latter because it has no after taste and it acts as any other sweetener on the market—with 0 calories and no aspartame! Sprinkle some on strawberries, put it in iced tea, in yogurt or really in anything your little heart desires! I keep packets with me in my purse for when I go out to eat. A great sweet addition to a sugar-free diet!
Kefir
I am not talking about the stuff found in the sugary yogurt drinks either. I’m talking about straight Inner Eco Kefir. You can find this at your local Whole Foods Market. I love this stuff. It gives you “boundless amounts” of live probiotics and the taste is refreshing! I struggle with Candida and this stuff literally was a life saver for me. Coupled with a low sugar diet, this is a miracle potion!
Greek Yogurt
Most yogurts are pure sugar and are as bad for you as eating a candy bar. However, Greek yogurt is amazing. The plain stuff is the best for you, but if you can’t stomach the taste buy it in vanilla or strawberry! Low in sugar and high in protein Greek yogurt can really kick the sugar cravings to the curb.
Pumpkin Seeds
These babies don’t look very powerful, but they are! They pack in 5 grams of protein for every ounce. They are a great antioxidant and a perfect snack choice for those on the go. Raw almonds are also great—but hurt my jaw. So, I opt for pumpkin seeds.
Those are just a few of my favorite foods. Healthy eating helps to stave off the doctor and keeps you feeling energetic and alive especially in these cold and dreary months. Buying healthy food can be fun and can potentially save you a fortune in the long run. READ the ingredients and be a smart consumer. Remember: once on the lips; forever on the hips!
Pushing forward
I am back on my diet and I’m excited to feel 100% again. I have been cheating throughout the Christmas season and I feel run down and sluggish. It’s not all about weight loss for me – it’s about feeling a sense of holistic well-being. Include this diet with your daily work-out regime and you’ll feel brand new!
**Side note: Have you guys heard about the orange juice? No OJ is 100% natural! They keep it in bins for years and then add “flavor packets” to revive the taste before they ship it. How gross is this? It saddens me. Orange juice is something I love. Ya gotta love the tricky FDA. So, unless you juice your own oranges I’d stay away from this chemically enhanced drink!
Very great read.
I hope readers will retain some of this information from your article and start their journey of self discovery to health, which indeed everyone must go through. =) The main key is learning to discect and brainstorm information, and find the truth, which will take some time.
I’d like to add some more information as well =)
There are alot of foods and drinks that the average consumer things are healthy due to what I believe to be blatant false advertising.
Such as any juice from concentrate.
-You are getting the lowest of the low in the fruits that are added to these, think of a hotdog. You get the rotted thats leftover that wont sell in stores. Remeber, these are also homogenized, so all the good chemicals are now changed and bonded differently.
Ceral that will lower your cholesterol and risk of heart disease.
-Ceral is mostly sugar, and they claim because there is some fiber, it can lower your risk of diseases. The negative results far outweigh any positive benefits you will get from the fiber.
Diet soda that will “wean” you off of regular soda.
-It doesn’t work, and diet soda is still bad. You must quit regular use. Water will start to taste better in time. Your tounge has been “tastewashed”
One other thing is what most people don’t realize is the actual cravings. Your body will literally hurt, and you will feel bad, for up to 2-3 weeks, while you cleanse your body with a good diet. All the bad fungus and bacteria in you lives off of processed foods and sugar, and will be begging to eat it. Your bowl movements will change.
This is probably the hardest for people. Just out last this detox, if you will, and then from there the benefits are very noticable.
Thanks, Scott. I agree. People need to educate themselves and think before they eat.