processed oils, refined sugars & grains These are of the three main culprits found in our food that make us sick and cause inflammation. Print this out, take it with you and scan the ingredients in your food to make sure that you aren't purchasing and ingesting these. What's the best way to make sure you stay away from these ingredients? Stick to whole real food found on the perimeter of grocery stores.
There are six main problems with industrial seed oils:
- The consumption of industrial seed oils represents an evolutionary mismatch.
- Eating industrial seed oils raises our omega-6-to-omega-3 fatty acid ratios, with significant consequences for our health.
- Industrial seed oils are unstable and oxidize easily.
- They contain harmful additives.
- They’re derived from genetically modified crops.
- When industrial seed oils are repeatedly heated, even more, toxic byproducts are created.
Refined sugars may increase your risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. They're also linked to a higher likelihood of depression, dementia, liver disease, and certain types of cancer. Not to mention it's extremely addictive. Sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup are particularly detrimental when consumed in liquid form, because we don’t tend to compensate for calories we drink by reducing our calorie consumption elsewhere. This can lead to weight gain from overeating, along with elevated triglycerides, insulin resistance, and other indicators of metabolic syndrome. Sugar is neither a toxin nor a replacement for real food. Ultimately, small amounts of sugar can fit into a whole-food, nutrient-dense, healthy diet, as long as you recognize it for what it truly is: a treat.
Refined and processed grains (such as white flour) are high in carbs that get digested and absorbed very quickly, leading to rapid spikes in blood sugar and subsequent hunger and cravings. They are linked to obesity and many metabolic diseases. The majority of processed grains are also partnered with loads of sugar; so double trouble there on your health.
PMID: 31142457; PMCID: PMC6538975.
