Polyunsaturated oil
People think that polyunsaturated fats, which are found in nuts, vegetables, and seeds, are healthy. But when these fats are turned into oil, they can easily turn rancid and do more harm than good. Over the past 50 years, the ratio of omega-6 fats to omega-3 fats in Western diets has changed a lot, going from 2:1 to 14:1 to 25:1. Omega-6 fats come from polyunsaturated oils like corn, safflower, sunflower, cottonseed, and soybean oils. This change in the proportions can cause inflammation, weight gain, depression, and immune system problems. Omega-3s, which can be found in fish, fish oil, chia seeds, walnuts, hemp, flax, seafood and grass-fed meat and dairy are not in our diets in enough amounts. Omega-3s can also be found in lesser quantities in vegetables, beans and whole grains, but not as much as they are in the other foods listed above.
Canola oil
Canola oil is a monounsaturated fat, just like olive oil, because it only has one double bond. This means that it can be used to make salad dressings, prepare cold foods, and cook on low heat. But it is not recommended for a big reason: a lot of canola oil comes from crops that have been genetically modified (GM). Trans-fat levels in processed canola oil can be as high as 4.6%, according to research from the University of Florida in Gainesville. This is a problem.
Trans fats
Trans fats are made when oils are hydrogenated, and you should avoid them at all costs. Getting coronary heart disease is more likely if you eat trans fats. Trans fats are often found in commercially baked goods like crackers, cookies, cakes, and muffins, as well as fried foods like doughnuts and French fries. Standard shortenings and some kinds of margarine can have a lot of trans fats.
Margarine and butter replacement spreads
Margarine is made by mixing together different kinds of oils, emulsifiers, vitamins, coloring, flavoring, and other things. The oils are often hydrogenated to make them solid, which makes margarine that can be spread. A recent report from Harvard researchers says that trans fat, which is found in margarine and other processed foods, could be to blame for 30,000 heart disease deaths in the United States each year. If you are looking for natural spreads to use instead of butter, it is important to read the labels carefully and know what kinds of oils are in them. Spreads made from olive oil or coconut oil are usually safe, but you should avoid those made from polyunsaturated oils or canola oil (unless they say they are non-GMO).
Salt
Choose either Celtic sea salt or gray salt as the type of salt you like best. Because the minerals in these options are similar to those in our blood, they are thought to be better than regular table salt. Table salt, on the other hand, is a very refined form of sodium chloride that is often mixed with other things to make it easier to pour. When table salt is made, important minerals are taken out and replaced with anti-clumping chemicals like potassium oxide or aluminum calcium silicate, iodine, and even dextrose (sugar). All types of salt, including Celtic and gray salt, should be used in moderation because too much can cause the body to hold on to water.
All kinds of sugar
A lot of the sugar we eat is hidden in drinks like soda, desserts, packaged foods, cereals, energy bars, snacks, and yogurt. High-fructose corn syrup, which is added to many foods like ketchup, crackers, processed meats, tomato sauces, and even some health foods, is a big part of this sugar. Most people use it because it’s cheap, but many health experts think it’s to blame for the rise in metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, and obesity. The more you stay away from sugar, the less you’ll want it and the more likely it is that you’ll lose weight.
High-fructose corn syrup, sucrose (which is white sugar and another major GMO product), brown sugar, honey, dextrin (a complex sugar molecule made when an enzyme breaks down starch), sugar alcohols like sorbitol and manitol, and xylitol are all types of sugar that you should avoid (choose only organic xylitol sourced from birch trees as much of the xylitol available in the market is derived from by-products of the wood pulp industry, cane pulp, seed hulls, or corn husks). Also, you should stay away from sugar cane juice, sucanat, and molasses.
Artificial sweeteners
If you care about your overall health and not just your weight, you should stay away from artificial sweeteners, which can cause a number of health problems. Also, if you think that these sweeteners help you lose weight, you should check out the research. People who eat sugar substitutes are more likely to gain weight than those who eat sugar, which is bad for both your weight and your health.
Watch the movie “Sweet Misery” for an interesting look at aspartame (NutraSweet). Dr. Woodrow C. Monte says that methanol, which is a byproduct of aspartame, is toxic and that two teaspoons of it are enough to kill a person. Aspartame can cause brain cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Graves’ disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), and epilepsy, which makes it a ticking time bomb.
In light of a recent study on sucralose, James Turner, the head of Citizens for Health, has asked the FDA to review their approval of Splenda. The study found out some scary new things about how this artificial sweetener might hurt humans, which has led to a lot of people complaining about its side effects. Turner thinks that the study, which was published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, proves that the chemicals in the yellow packets need a big red warning label. According to a press release from Citizens for Health, the study found that Splenda can cut the number of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%, raise the pH level in the intestines, cause weight gain, and change the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the body in a way that could cause it to reject important drugs for health. The study also shows that this sweetener might make people gain weight.
