“Bad foods” are foods that really are not good for anyone. On the one hand, I am sensitive to the fact that there are people in our towns that are hungry, and that eating even “bad” food is better than being hungry. On the other hand, some “bad” food is simply not worth passing on at all. Aspartame would be an example of this. After years of anecdotal evidence that it causes brain issues, there now is more scientific evidence to suggest that the anecdotal evidence is true. I won’t touch the stuff. If you are feeling triggered by the idea of not eating some of these foods any more, please tap!
Bad fats, which includes any hydrogenated fats like Crisco, and vegetable oils that you find on the grocery shelf (think about this, vegetable oils should go rancid, and in fact, the oils are rancid, they have been treated so that they don’t smell). You need to read labels.
Processed Foods – Generally speaking, the more processed a food is, the less your body “understands” it as food. Note: Unprocessed food will normally be found around the edges of the supermarket, processed food is in the middle.
Fake sugars, which includes aspartame and Splenda. The alcohol sugars called malitol, xylitol and erythritol, as well as the herb stevia, fall into the category of transition foods in my book. The alcohol sugars have to be used judiciously, because they will cause diarrhea if you eat too much of them. Xylitol has good research to show that it is beneficial for dental health. The problem with all of them (including stevia!) is this: although they do not cause blood sugar spikes, they still stimulate insulin – very bad! Also, if you get xylitol gum or mints for dental health, play very close attention if you have animals. Xylitol will kill your dogs very quickly.
Sugar itself, which used to be called “crack” back in Revolutionary times. Refined sugar is highly addictive. (Just try to go cold turkey with no added sugar for two weeks.) High fructose corn syrup and other concentrated sugars used as fillers are part of the cause of the “diabesity” epidemic.
Soda pop is really bad for you. Regular soda has an enormous amount of sugar in it, and the diet stuff is actually worse for you and has been shown to cause weight gain. Then there is the phosphorus. Calcium leaching, tooth corrosion, and kidney disease are the issues with phosphoric acid:
Consumption of soda pop is linked higher risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis because of phosphoric acid. In addition, caffeine can interfere with calcium absorption and contribute to lower bone density. The acidity and corrosive nature of phosphoric acid negatively impacts the protective covering on teeth called enamel. The high sugar content of most sodas, often in the form of high fructose corn syrup, is strongly linked to tooth decay, gingivitis and the formation of cavities. People who drink two or more colas per day have significantly higher risk of developing kidney disease and kidney stones compared to people who don’t drink any soda pop. High levels of blood phosphorus overwork the kidneys, which may lead to damage and dysfunction.
Soda water without phosphoric acid, on the other hand, does not increase your risk of kidney problems. Carbonated soda water primarily contains carbonic acid and sometimes citric acid, but often little or no phosphoric acid. Citrus-flavored sodas contain much more citric acid and sometimes no phosphoric acid, but it depends on the manufacturer.
Finally, just a quick note on something that is bad that is not a food, but that you need to ponder at some point – personal care items. Your skin is your biggest organ. What you put on it makes a difference, and can definitely keep you from losing weight. We’re talking deodorant, laundry soap, sunscreen, as well as all the other stuff you put on your face and hair! What to do? The Environmental Working Group has done all the heavy lifting here – go to www.ewg.org for recommendations pro and con.
On to Substitutes for Bad Foods
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