| There are many of us who are dieting and trying to | | | | for countless generations in Asia. But the way we |
| live a healthy lifestyle. We exercise and go out of our | | | | now use soy is very different than the way the |
| way to eat the best foods we can. Most of us | | | | Asians have traditionally used it. The ancient Asians |
| already know that trans-fats, white sugar and white | | | | knew that the soybean was hard to digest, so they |
| flour are not the best health choices, especially if we | | | | had extensive fermenting processes that broke down |
| want to keep our weight down.Unfortunately some of | | | | most of the indigestible components, making it much |
| the very foods that we think are healthy are ones that | | | | healthier to eat. Examples of this would be products |
| can cause a lot of trouble for our bodies, and even | | | | like soy sauce, tempeh, and miso. These were used in |
| make us ill. Below is a list of some surprisingly | | | | small amounts as condiments and flavorings, not as a |
| unhealthy “health foods.”Artificial | | | | meat replacement.But the way we use soy as a meat |
| SweetenersMany people who are dieting, whether it is | | | | alternative (texturized vegetable protein or TVP) can |
| low calorie or low carb diets, will opt for beverages | | | | be very unhealthy, since soy contains large amounts |
| with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Admittedly | | | | of toxins or anti-nutrients. Some of the problems the |
| sugar is certainly a troublemaker and should be | | | | anti-nutrients in soybeans cause are conditions of the |
| avoided, but artificial sweeteners are actually worse | | | | pancreas, cancer and thyroid problems. Soybeans also |
| for you and could even be dangerous to your health.All | | | | can block the body’s absorption of essential |
| the artificial sweeteners are bad, but one of the worst | | | | minerals.Granola (and Other Unprepared Grains)For the |
| sweeteners for us is NutraSweet (Equal, aspartame). | | | | last 30-40 years granola has been synonymous with |
| There are over 92 different health related side effects | | | | heath food. But eating unprepared grains, or grains that |
| associated with aspartame consumption, including brain | | | | have not been soaked, fermented or sprouted, has |
| tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and | | | | only come about in the last 50-100 years. People who |
| epilepsy/seizures. There are more adverse reactions | | | | lived before our time understood that unprepared |
| to NutraSweet reported to the FDA than all other | | | | grains could cause dietary distress.There are |
| foods and additives combined.A much better | | | | anti-nutrients in grains (like there are in soybeans), such |
| alternative to chemically derived sweeteners is stevia, | | | | as phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors, that make them |
| which comes from a plant. It has been used for | | | | harder to digest. These antinutrients can cause serious |
| centuries with no know side effects. It can be | | | | problems like Crohn's disease, colitis, and even mental |
| purchased in most health food stores in the United | | | | disorders. Our failure to prepare our grains properly is |
| States.Sports DrinksAlthough marketers would have | | | | one of the reasons that celactic disease is so |
| us believe that sports drinks are what the body needs | | | | prevalent now.So, stay away from the granola. |
| when exercising heavily, the truth is that sports drinks | | | | Oatmeal is an excellent addition to our diets, but use |
| are filled with sugar (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) | | | | whole rolled oats (not instant) and soak them overnight |
| and salt (potassium and sodium) as well as artificial | | | | before boiling them for breakfast. Go to our recipe |
| flavorings and colorings. Add a little salt to Cool-Aid | | | | blog at for a good recipe for coconut oatmeal.Good |
| and you have about the same thing. You would be | | | | breads to eat are those that have properly prepared |
| much better off drinking spring water or diluted freshly | | | | grains, including whole grain sourdough and sprouted |
| squeezed juices while exercising.Most Energy and | | | | grain breads. You can usually find these in specialty |
| Sports BarsMost sports and bars are also filled with | | | | grocery stores and health food stores.If you are trying |
| things that are not the best for our bodies, and are little | | | | to lose weight and/or eat healthier, remember that just |
| better than candy bars. Many of them contain sugar or | | | | because a company markets a “healthy” |
| artificial sweeteners, chemicals, preservatives, and | | | | product well or a health food store sells it, it |
| synthetic nutrients. Check the ingredients before you | | | | doesn’t mean that it is really healthy for you. Do |
| buy an energy bar. Try to find one that is made with | | | | some research before you grab that sports bar, or |
| whole foods, such as oats and flax seeds, fruits, and | | | | better yet, reach for an organic apple, cherries, or |
| natural sweeteners.Soy ProductsThis is one of the | | | | some other natural (not processed) food. Your body |
| most surprising ones of all, after all soy has been used | | | | will thank you and reward you for it. |