IDENTIFY GOOD FOODS THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOU
These are tools and strategies I’ve used to help me ensure I’m “eating clean”. I excluded info about gluten free, but there’s an entire industry built on gluten-free and Paleo (which goes beyond gluten-free by removing sugars, etc.), so that information is readily available.
1. Apps that identify nutritional value and “real foods”.
This is the biggest time saver I found for searching out "real foods" and label-reading. Now all I need to do is use my smartphone to scan or photograph the bar code and/or the ingredients portion of the label. In a couple of seconds, the result comes back if the scan matches an entry in the app data base. I’ve found these three to be the most useful and are free at the App Store and Google Play.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is non-profit and non-partisan. Their mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. The website (http//www.ewg.org) contains a wealth of information on “clean eating”, health risks such as skin care and sunburn, environmental impacts and food risks to consumers as well as a number of consumer guides to seafood, children’s cereals, cleaning, water, etc. I highly suggest visiting the site to help expand your knowledge on these topics . Their apps include:
- FOOD SCORES
- SKIN DEEP GUIDE TO COSMETICS
The Fooducate website (http://www.fooducate.com/) says “Eat better. Lose weight. Get healthy.” It also states they won 1st prize in the US Surgeon General Healthy App Challenge. Initially designed for calorie counting, the app also identifies how healthy foods are, based on their nutrients and ingredients.
-FOODUCATE WEIGHT LOSS COACH
1. Apps that identify nutritional value and “real foods”.
This is the biggest time saver I found for searching out "real foods" and label-reading. Now all I need to do is use my smartphone to scan or photograph the bar code and/or the ingredients portion of the label. In a couple of seconds, the result comes back if the scan matches an entry in the app data base. I’ve found these three to be the most useful and are free at the App Store and Google Play.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is non-profit and non-partisan. Their mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. The website (http//www.ewg.org) contains a wealth of information on “clean eating”, health risks such as skin care and sunburn, environmental impacts and food risks to consumers as well as a number of consumer guides to seafood, children’s cereals, cleaning, water, etc. I highly suggest visiting the site to help expand your knowledge on these topics . Their apps include:
- FOOD SCORES
- SKIN DEEP GUIDE TO COSMETICS
The Fooducate website (http://www.fooducate.com/) says “Eat better. Lose weight. Get healthy.” It also states they won 1st prize in the US Surgeon General Healthy App Challenge. Initially designed for calorie counting, the app also identifies how healthy foods are, based on their nutrients and ingredients.
-FOODUCATE WEIGHT LOSS COACH
2. Buy Kosher foods.
For most of my life I thought that if food was Kosher, it primarily meant that it had been blessed by Jewish Rabbis and that there were restrictions on mixing dairy and meat preparation. More recently I found that to qualify as Kosher means much, much more and I had been way off. I’m simplifying this, but our Jewish friends have been eating natural, safer foods over many generations. This means that by simply seeking out Kosher brands, I will have fulfilled much of my quest on a number of levels. Judaism has already done all the work for me (thank you). Now I shop in Kosher aisles and shops. Kosher foods tend to be a little more expensive, but all the dietary research has already been done.
For most of my life I thought that if food was Kosher, it primarily meant that it had been blessed by Jewish Rabbis and that there were restrictions on mixing dairy and meat preparation. More recently I found that to qualify as Kosher means much, much more and I had been way off. I’m simplifying this, but our Jewish friends have been eating natural, safer foods over many generations. This means that by simply seeking out Kosher brands, I will have fulfilled much of my quest on a number of levels. Judaism has already done all the work for me (thank you). Now I shop in Kosher aisles and shops. Kosher foods tend to be a little more expensive, but all the dietary research has already been done.
3. Search out non-GMO, organic and where possible heirloom produce.
Eliminate pesticides, fertilizers and hybrids that have become so ingrained (no pun intended) in today’s food crops. This can be tough due to product labeling or lack of labeling. You must do your research and homework, learn the terminology and be prepared to devote time to your effort.
Eliminate pesticides, fertilizers and hybrids that have become so ingrained (no pun intended) in today’s food crops. This can be tough due to product labeling or lack of labeling. You must do your research and homework, learn the terminology and be prepared to devote time to your effort.
4. Eating grass fed beef, pasture raised pork and free range/pasture raised poultry.
(And abiding by a couple of Kosher guidelines about animal physiology) ensures I’m getting beef and chicken that are good for me. Still a fan of pork but only pasture raised. (Note: Some farms supplement their natural herd/flock feeding regimens which I don’t question since I’m still way ahead of the industrial farm products.). BUT, for instance in the case of pork, I try to find brands that DO NOT inject Ractopamine into their hogs (Although FDA approved in this country, Europe, China and Russia banned imports of U.S. pork due to traces of Ractopamine found in the product.). Once again, this comes down to the blizzard of product labeling for pork. For instance, terms like: "without antibiotics", "Pasturized" and "certified organic" are good. Other terms like: "without hormones" and "natural" can just be marketing terms. Here are two short videos from The Dr. Oz Show discussing this issue. Please watch them in sequence.
(And abiding by a couple of Kosher guidelines about animal physiology) ensures I’m getting beef and chicken that are good for me. Still a fan of pork but only pasture raised. (Note: Some farms supplement their natural herd/flock feeding regimens which I don’t question since I’m still way ahead of the industrial farm products.). BUT, for instance in the case of pork, I try to find brands that DO NOT inject Ractopamine into their hogs (Although FDA approved in this country, Europe, China and Russia banned imports of U.S. pork due to traces of Ractopamine found in the product.). Once again, this comes down to the blizzard of product labeling for pork. For instance, terms like: "without antibiotics", "Pasturized" and "certified organic" are good. Other terms like: "without hormones" and "natural" can just be marketing terms. Here are two short videos from The Dr. Oz Show discussing this issue. Please watch them in sequence.
Dr. Oz Explains How Ractopamine Works
Watch 1st |
Dr. Oz Discusses Ractopamine
Watch 2nd |
5. I love seafood, especially fresh seafood.
But, for the most part I’ve limited the variety of products I eat to reflect Kosher guidelines. Occasionally I’ll have shrimp, mussels, oysters or octopus, but now I only look for wild caught and I never buy farm raised. Additionally, I only get fresh seafood from a couple of local fish markets that I trust and avoid the chain super markets. I’ve even developed a taste for herring in wine sauce.
6. Replace all soft drinks with lots of natural water and Kombucha
This has had a huge impact on my health. During a normal day I now drink approx 1/2 gallon of 100% natural spring water - WATCH THE LABELING!!!. In Sarasota I settled on 2.5 gallon containers of Zephyrhills® 100% Natural Spring Water (non-fluoridated). Additionally, I'm drinking Kombucha frequently to address the enzyme.... You can buy Kombucha already made but at fairly high cost or you can make it yourself. Depending on how you make it, home-made Kombucha can be time consuming (but it doesn’t have to be) and requires care, but not only is it much cheaper, it gives me the ability to create my own flavors. Since I’m now lactose intolerant, I also switched to Almond Milk. And finally, in addition to drinking a Young Living NingXia Red each day, I drink various fresh, organic, cold-pressed juices (primarily SaraFresh) that are available in some specialty shops and farmers markets.
7. Condiments, sauces, herbs and seasonings.
There’s a wide variety of gluten free products on the market, including soy sauce and fish sauce, so I continually search for them. I’ve eliminated iodized table salt and now use Kosher or Himalayan Pink salt just to name two. Granulized sugar has been replaced with local, natural honey or organic sugar where appropriate. I look for herbs at the Appleton Farmers Market and I have small garden for some of the herbs I use most often.
But, for the most part I’ve limited the variety of products I eat to reflect Kosher guidelines. Occasionally I’ll have shrimp, mussels, oysters or octopus, but now I only look for wild caught and I never buy farm raised. Additionally, I only get fresh seafood from a couple of local fish markets that I trust and avoid the chain super markets. I’ve even developed a taste for herring in wine sauce.
6. Replace all soft drinks with lots of natural water and Kombucha
This has had a huge impact on my health. During a normal day I now drink approx 1/2 gallon of 100% natural spring water - WATCH THE LABELING!!!. In Sarasota I settled on 2.5 gallon containers of Zephyrhills® 100% Natural Spring Water (non-fluoridated). Additionally, I'm drinking Kombucha frequently to address the enzyme.... You can buy Kombucha already made but at fairly high cost or you can make it yourself. Depending on how you make it, home-made Kombucha can be time consuming (but it doesn’t have to be) and requires care, but not only is it much cheaper, it gives me the ability to create my own flavors. Since I’m now lactose intolerant, I also switched to Almond Milk. And finally, in addition to drinking a Young Living NingXia Red each day, I drink various fresh, organic, cold-pressed juices (primarily SaraFresh) that are available in some specialty shops and farmers markets.
7. Condiments, sauces, herbs and seasonings.
There’s a wide variety of gluten free products on the market, including soy sauce and fish sauce, so I continually search for them. I’ve eliminated iodized table salt and now use Kosher or Himalayan Pink salt just to name two. Granulized sugar has been replaced with local, natural honey or organic sugar where appropriate. I look for herbs at the Appleton Farmers Market and I have small garden for some of the herbs I use most often.
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