5 worst food to eat while following the Paleo lifestyle

5 Worst Foods

1. Soda: Sodas are perhaps the worst offenders. For starters, they are loaded with sugar, one of the items you are trying to reduce while doing Paleo. Most sodas and colas are made with High Fructose Corn Syrup, so you are not just getting sugar, you’re getting an ultra sweetener that was developed in the last 100 years. It contains GMOs and it is 180 degrees from what Paleo stands for. It is easily one of the worst things to consume while on Paleo or any other time in your life.

2. Bread: Most conventionally made bread you find is not Paleo friendly. In fact, breads will set you back on your progress with Paleo. The problem is it is everywhere, which is why it is important to start making your own meals because you will be hard-pressed to find places that have Paleo-friendly meals. You can bake your own bread it is not the end of the world if bread has become one of your favorite foods.

3. Pasta: Pasta is loaded with carbohydrates. Pastas are made from wheat or some other grain. The Paleo lifestyle works by excluding these types of foods. It is easy enough to replace it with a spaghetti squash or zucchini spirals. This gives you a serving of vegetables while at the same time saving you from a carb bomb in the form of a pile of pasta.

4. Fried Food: You do not have to give up fried foods on Paleo; you just have to fry them in the right oil. Unless you are the one that is doing the frying, you are probably not going to find a fried food out there that you should have. The majority of oils sold in stores and used at restaurants and fast food places are not Paleo friendly. Seek out Paleo approved oils and use them in your cooking.

5. Fast Food: Almost every form of fast food goes against the grain of the Paleo philosophy. It is like getting a little bit of everything you are not supposed to be eating. Low-grade, conventional meat is used regardless if you are having beef, chicken, or pork. You will likely get a serving of fried potatoes as a side dish, the potatoes loaded with GMOs and fried in a unhealthy oil. To complete the meal you will be given a giant soda, and we have already seen why soda is something you should totally avoid.

Information is always changing. I make no claim that this information is the most up to date. Please do your own research.

7 Foods That Are Ruining Your Diet

7 Foods That Are Ruining Your Diet

Today many of us eat foods we believe to be healthy. But really, just because it says it’s good for you doesn’t always mean it’s good for you.
As a conscious shopper, simply being more aware of what goes into our foods can help us avoid foods we mistake for healthy. But don’t be mislead foods that are seemingly “healthy foods” aren’t always healthy.
Believe it or not, words like “natural” or “fat free” indicate nothing about a food’s nutritional value. With that in mind, here are seven foods that seem healthy but have a hidden agenda. They’re just not that healthy:
Wrap sandwiches
Don’t be fooled into thinking wrap sandwiches are healthier because the shell is “thinner.” These shells have more calories than you could imagine. If you were to unravel the thin wrap shell, you’ll be surprised at how large they really are In fact, some wraps have equivalent carbohydrates and fat to three slices of bread spread with butter.
Make sure your wraps are filled with healthy veggies and lean proteins, and then cut the wrap in half before you roll it up.
Fruit Smoothies
It’s crucial to pay attention to the ingredients in smoothies. They should only contain the basics: fresh fruit, ice and 100 percent juice. Remember, with ingredients, less is more.
A better option: make them yourself at home. It’s quick, cheap, easy and so much better for you.
Yogurt
Yogurts are full of calcium and probiotics so you would think they should be good for you, right? Unfortunately, most varieties are unhealthy choices — laden with sugar and fat. Greek-style yogurts are a healthier choice. They are higher in protein, lower in sugar and keep us full longer.
A healthy alternative is buying plain yogurt and simply adding fresh fruit on top.
Granola
Granola is suppose to be natural and healthy but, in reality, granola has added sugars and is fattening.
Granola bars and granola cereals are also high in fat and sugar. They may seem like a healthier choice to store-bought cookies, but most are full of high fructose corn syrup and sugars also and are not very filling.
Look for granola bars that are high in fiber, they will keep you fuller longer. A better choice is some raw nuts like almonds and cashews instead.
 Store–made coffee or tea
Today, we can easily order a latte or cappuccino and top it off with many calorie laden toppings; you name it its usually available. Be careful. More translates to added calories and fat. Size matters also, avoiding drinking a 24-ounce with added toppings for your morning drink or afternoon “coffee break.” Even for the teas, added syrup is equal to added sugar.
Salad dressing
Salads are healthy but, covering it with high calorie salad dressing, is not. The next time you make a salad have the dressing on the side and check the label for hidden sugars i.e. high fructose corn syrup. The “light” salad dressings are packed with sugar, sodium and other additives as well.
Using olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the top of your greens makes a big difference. Your body will thank you later.
Pretzels & Corn chips
We often opt for pretzels over potato chips because they contain less fat and are less salty. Most pretzels are made with enriched white flour, which converts to sugar in your bloodstream — not good for you!
It doesn’t matter whether its corn chips or pretzels, it’s generally the same. Just not healthy for you in the long run.
As consumers, the only real defense against buying into supposedly healthy or fat-free foods is due diligence. Read labels and pay attention — it could save your waistline and you will enjoy a longer life.

New information is available on other websites. I make no claims that this information is the most up to date. Please do further research for yourself.

20 things you should never eat!

20 things you should never eat!

Eating in the modern world can be difficult, what with all the genetically modified, chemically treated, and inhumanely raised food floating around out there. Sometimes compromising is necessary when it comes to food choices, if only to make the best of the current food crisis.

That said, there are certain foods that my philosophy will simply not allow me to eat. Here are 15 foods that will never touch my lips:

1. Artificial sweeteners and Sugar


Our bodies don't recognize these substances as food, and they tend not to aid weight loss in any meaningful way.

Alternatives: Stevia, rice malt syrup, maple syrup, dates, raw honey (in small amounts).

2. Caged eggs

These come from egg-laying hens confined to cages, meaning they don't have space to move or stretch, and they show more fearful behavior and become prone to skeletal problems.

Alternative: Go for pasture-fed and certified organic instead.

3. Breakfast cereals

Highly processed, having a high glucose index because of the high and hidden sugar content (which causes your blood sugars to drop very quickly after eating them), high in sodium, high in preservatives. Just don't eat them.

4. Farmed salmon

Farmed salmon has a high mercury content and is usually higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides.

Alternatives: Wild Sockeye salmon.

5. Processed peanut butter

The second ingredient listed is often sugar, which means a large proportion of the peanut butter is sugar!

Alternatives: 10% nut butters found from in health food stores or a health foods section of grocery stores. My favorite is 100% almond butter or ABC (almond, brazil nut and cashew) nut butter. There is also powdered peanut butter.

6. Canned tomatoes

There's tons of hidden salt and sugar! The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Acidity — a prominent characteristic of tomatoes — causes BPA to leach into your food.

Alternative: Use fresh tomatoes and sauté to make them into tomato sauce.

7. Salted nuts

When nuts come pre-salted, the sodium content is sky high.

Alternatives: Raw and activated nuts and seeds.

8. Pre-packaged or frozen meals

Frozen or pre-packaged meals usually contain hidden sugar, high fructose corn syrup, salt and preservatives.

Alternatives: Home-cooked meals

9. Table salt

Table salt is highly refined, which leaves it with little nutritional value. In high amounts it can be responsible for hypertension.

Alternative: Himalayan pink crystal salt

10. Non-organic dairy

Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk.

Alternatives: Organic milk, almond milk, rice milk, coconut milk

11. Vegetable oil

Most commercial vegetable oils are highly processed and high in trans fats. Saturated fats usually get the blame, but TRANS fats are the ones responsible for the increase in LDL — the bad type of cholesterol that may lead to bad heart health.

Alternatives: Coconut oil, olive oil

12. Packaged, processed bread

Bread you find packaged in supermarkets is typically refined and processed. These loaves are packed with (processed) wheat and gluten that the human digestive system finds very hard to break down. This kind of bread is also high in sodium, and is sometimes even high in sugar!

Alternatives: Ezeekial bread, rye or spelt, sourdough, make your own.

13. Processed meats

The animals that make these products are given growth hormones, antibiotics and other veterinary drugs, and are raised in deplorable conditions that promote disease. These meats are also filled with sodium nitrite (a commonly used preservative and antimicrobial agent that also adds color and flavor) and other chemical flavorings and dyes.

Alternatives: Grass-fed and organic meat

14. Margarine

Margarine is high in trans fats, the fats formed during the process of hydrogenation, which turns liquid vegetable oils into a solid substance.

Alternatives: Organic grass fed butter, grass fed ghee and coconut butter

15. Unfermented soy products

Unfermented soy products, including tofu and soy milk, can mess with your hormones.

Alternatives: Fermented soy such as tempeh, miso and natto.

16. Swordfish

Swordfish is notoriously high in the heavy metal mercury, a potent neurotoxin that can damage developing children and even trigger heart attacks in adults. Aside from obvious health concerns, swordfish is often over fished and some of the gear commonly used to wrangle in swordfish often kills turtles, seabirds, and sharks. Just don’t eat it.

Alternative: Atlantic mackerel

17. Sprouts

Sprouts have been the source of so many major food recalls that they're not worth the risk. Whether bean or broccoli, alfalfa or pea, sprouts have been at the center of at least 40 significant outbreaks of food borne illness over the past 20 years. They're often found to be contaminated with salmonella, E. coli, and listeria; they're vulnerable to contamination because the seeds require moist, warm conditions in order to sprout—conditions that are ideal for bacteria to multiply.

Alternative: Shredded cabbage or carrot

18. Bread

Modern wheat is nothing like the grain your mother or grandmother consumed. Today, wheat barely resembles its original form, thanks to extensive genetic manipulations of the 1960s and '70s to increase yields. "You cannot change the basic characteristics of a plant without changing its genetics, biochemistry, and its effects on humans who consume it. I mean all bread: white, whole wheat, whole grain, sprouted, organic, French, Italian, fresh, day-old…all of it."

Alternative: Quinoa, buckwheat, millet, and wild rice, but in smaller quantities (less than a half cup) because these can also trigger high blood sugar,

19.Corn

Today's corn plants are more like little pesticide factories with roots. Most of the nation's corn supply is genetically engineered.

Alternative: To avoid genetically engineered corn, which has never been tested for long-term impacts on human health, choose organic or Non-GMO Verified foods.

20.White Chocolate

White chocolate's health profile is blank. "The data on the health benefits of cacao is pretty awesome. Much of this is due to a set of amazing phytonutrients that can increase blood flow to the brain, protect blood vessels, and boost mood and focus. White chocolate is missing all this goodness.

Alternative: Dark chocolate. Look for organic versions

New information is available on other websites. I make no claims that this information is the most up to date. Please do further research for yourself.

10 Healthiest Paleo Foods

10 Healthiest Paleo Foods

Broccoli - Broccoli is one of the healthiest foods you can eat on any diet plan, including the Paleo diet. It will provide you with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and even some protein. Always choose organic.

Chicken Breast - Boneless, skinless chicken breast is loaded with protein, and is low in fat, not that we’re counting fat grams on Paleo. Free range or pasture raised is always the best.

Salmon - You’ll get a big boost in omega-3s from one serving of salmon, as well as tons of protein. Most health experts recommend eating it a few times a week, which is totally in line with the Paleo plan. Try it baked with fresh herbs and lemon.  When buying any fish look for wild caught.

Kale - This may be one of the trendier vegetables these days, but that shouldn’t deter you from eating it, as it contains plenty of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and some protein Kale chips are arguably the tastiest way to eat kale. Always organic whenever possible.

Apples - Nothing forbidden about this fruit. Apples are one of the healthier foods you can eat, and there are a recommended fruit on the Paleo diet. Try them every which way you can think of.

Almonds - Almonds provide a satisfying crunch, plenty of healthy fats, and fiber to help your digestion. Raw almonds or nuts are the best.

Grass-fed Beef - Keep your beef lean and you’ll be getting a high-quality protein and plenty of minerals without as much fat and cholesterol. 90% lean is a good place to be if you go the ground beef route.

Spinach - This should be your leafy green of choice, and can be used in a number of ways. The easiest way to consume? Add it to a smoothie to make it green and boost your intake of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Organic and non GMO.

Olive Oil - You’ll get plenty of healthy fats when you use olive oil. It will likely end up being your go-to oil for Paleo cooking.  When buying olive oil try and get virgin olive oil. You can also use coconut oil as well.

Beets - There’s a specific antioxidant in beets called betalains, and these are pretty much exclusive to beets, making them an important part of your Paleo meal plan. Think organic or fresh from a farm stand when purchasing your vegetables.

New information is available on other websites. I make no claims that this information is the most up to date. Please do further research for yourself.