How my views have changed: Part II Food and Diet

Yummly

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Email

In the past two years my view on diet, health and exercise have changed dramatically. The changes that I have made to my diet are not just related to my food choices but where my food is sourced and  how it is produced. (warning: this is a long one)

Let me start off with the  #1 biggest change and a really hard one at that. I have eliminated high fructose corn syrup from my diet.  This was actually the first change that I made to my diet.  While research studies have yielded mixed results about the possible adverse effects of consuming high-fructose corn syrup I’m pretty sure there are some. I was amazed at how many food items in the inner isles of the grocery store have it.  Baked items are are a given, but canned fruit, salsas and canned beans are some others that are loaded with HFC.  Basically anything where sugar would have been, HFC exists.

Coming in at a close second is the addition of probiotics routinely into my diet.  I eat yogurt or cultured milk (kefir) daily and when I can’t, I take a probiotic pill.  I use to have a lot of indigestion when I was younger.  At one point I was sure I had some rare disease or was allergic to something, I just couldn’t pin it down.  Two years ago I finally got tested for Celicas (allergy to gluten), thankfully the test came back as negative but I did find out I was sensitive to it.  Eating gluten won’t cause any permanent damage to my system but I will have issues with its digestion.  Keeping my body filled with probiotics helps with that digestion.  There are also other digestion benefits to probiotics and health benefits from eating diary.  So its a win win for me.

 

The next change in my diet came in the form of reduction of soy based products, particularly Genetically Modified (GMO) soy.  Similar to HFC, soy is everywhere and most of it is GMO.  Those genetically modified seed are owned by Monsanto (the evil empire).  Okay, they are not EVIL as in death row inmate evil, but Monstanto has been really awful with its seed practices in the US.  I could go on and on about how our food is produced and how seed manufactures are ruining agriculture in the US but I won’t.   But what I will say is that new studies have raised questions over whether the ingredients in soy might increase the risk of breast cancer in some women and affect brain function in men.  So, I try not eat many soy based products.  I do like tofu on occasion and I buy NON GMO tofu and Edamame.

Another change I have been trying to make is the use of hormone free meat including dairy, poultry and eggs.  When possible I try to eat free range food including cage free eggs, pen free chickens and grass fed beef.  Grass fed beef is the hardest of that list.  It cost more and is harder to find.  I usually go to the farmers market or to Whole Foods to buy it.  It is much better for you (leaner) and tastes much better.  I hear so many *older* people say that meat today has no flavor.  I’m pretty convinced that is because they are eating meat from Jewel or Dominicks (Chicago based grocery stores) that comes from confined silage fed cows. I tend to use the 80/20 rule on this one.  I do my best when I can.  At a minimum I try to eat hormone free. 

Organic when possible, local when available.  Having my own plot at the community garden last year was a rewarding and eye opening experience.  Most people know the benefits of eating local and organic so I won’t go on about that.  I will say that I have never really liked  zucchini until I grew it myself and often the most imperfect looking tomato tasted the best.

And lastly, I buy what I need.  I rarely throw out food.  I use a document to plan my meals, exercise and shopping list every other week.  I find planning two weeks at a time helps because I typically go shopping every other week.   I rarely follow it 100% but it does help and I don’t end up with 15 apples and 2 oranges and ricotta cheese that I don’t use because I forgot the lasagna noodles. 

When it comes to food now, I try to eat the best quality food I can find.  Its really hard sometimes and I will not say I’m perfect.  I still drink diet soda on occasion and I’ll buy meat at a grocery store instead making a special trip to Whole Foods. But my diet has received a huge overhaul. I eat a ton of fruits and vegetables.  I eat a good amount of hormone free meat, poultry and diary.  I incorporate whole grains into most meals.

There are defiantly areas where I can improve, but like weightloss its a process.