Healthy Habit Challenge #3: Whole Clean Foods IN, Toxin Gunk OUT

Howdy and welcome to day 3 of the healthy habit challenge.

Today, my goal for you is to really think about what you’re putting in your body and to buy foods that you know how to pronounce. Or, as Michael Pollan would say, “Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.”

Now, I know that packaged and processed foods get many of us through the day. They are convenient and portable, and they stay fresh for a long time (thanks to all those preservatives).

AND, the loads of unhealthy fats, sugar and salt added make them look and taste oh, so delicious but the problem is that it comes with a hefty price!

Side effects may include:

• food allergies,
• weight gain
• decreased absorption of minerals and vitamins
• cancer and oh-so much more

Today, I’m to talk about my top 5 additives to eliminate from you diet….there are more, but these are the ones I think are easily to identify and are a great start for your healthy habit challenge.

1. Artificial Sweeteners:

• Artificial sweeteners are a combination of chemicals that exist to make our foods sweeter without the calories of sugar. Think Splenda, Sweet and Low, Equal

• Most artificial sweeteners have side effects, and their chemical breakdown in the body can be toxic.

• In addition, in combination with other food additives like artificial colors, artificial sweeteners can have a much more potent effect on nerve cells.

• Artificial sweeteners link to over 90 side effects.

2. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG):

• This is an excitotoxin used to bring out the flavor in foods.

• Excitotoxins are toxic chemicals that bind to certain receptors and can cause sensitive neurons to die.  MSG has the potential for inflicting permanent damage to the brain and nervous system.

• Side effects include headaches, itchy skin, dizziness and respiratory, digestive, and circulatory problems.

MSN is a sneaky little bugger--it has over 40 different names (here's just a handful):

hydrolyzed protein, hydrolyzed plant protein,plant protein extract, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, yeast extract, textured protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed oat flour, to name a few.

3. Artificial Colors: Rainbow colors everywhere!

• Artificial colors are synthetic chemicals that do not occur in nature. Most are derived from coal tar and can contain up to 10 parts per million of lead and arsenic.

• Artificial colors can cause allergic reactions. hyperactivity and ADD in children.

• May contribute to visual and learning disorders or cause nerve damage.

4. Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite:

• Sodium nitrate and nitrite are preservatives that are added to processed meat product, many canned foods, and Chinese food.

• These compounds  when mixed with your stomach acid during digestion, transform into cancer-causing agents called nitrosamines.

• Noticeable side effects include headaches, nausea, vomiting dizziness, numbness and., increased sweating and a swelling feeling in your face.

5. Pesticides:

• Every year more than 4 billion pounds of pesticides are added to our food supply, which adds up to more than10 pounds per person per year.

• Many of the pesticides used throughout the world are carcinogenic.

• Pesticide accumulation also undermines our ability to resist infectious organisms, may impair fertility and contributes to miscarriages and birth defects.

So, with all that good news, I want to give you your challenge of the day (and days to come):

When you are reading the ingredients on a box, be sure you can pronounce each item.

Mostly, this means buy food from the outer perimeter of the store: fresh produce, healthy meats, and even frozen fruit/veg, which is next best thing to fresh.

Stick to organic as much as possible...we don't need more toxic soup mixed into our bloodstream.

And, finally, try to eat food your great-grandmother would recognize!

In love and health, Stephanie