Healthy Foods-Are They Or Aren't They?

Healthy Foods-Are They Or Aren't They? covers various health reports, claiming specific foods are either good or bad for us. All foods and beverages fall within these reports that blame the fats, carbohydrates and salt or applaud antioxidants or other benefits of foods. Knowing what to eat is surprisingly simple.

Healthy Foods-Are They Or Aren't They?

Whatever food or beverage you mention, over the years, you can find stories that it's good for you or it will kill you faster than a speeding bullet. Look at butter, trans-fats, eggs, wine, coffee, chocolate, red meats, fish, fruit, vegetables...it's all the same story. It just seems there's no food that's healthy. So, what do we do and how do we live with the knowledge that everything we consume might kill us? The answer is stunningly simple.

Butter, Eggs, Meats, Cholesterol And Trans-fats:

When I was growing up, there was a very strong effort to reduce or eliminate cholesterol in the diet. Butter (along with milk, cream, cheese, meats, etc.) hit the top of the 10 most despised foods list. It became common knowledge that margarine was much better for you than butter. People everywhere, including medical professionals, were proclaiming the health benefits of switching from butter to margarine. Now that more research has been done and more studies produced, it turns out that the trans-fats in most margarines will kill you, if we are to believe the media. Our politicians seem to believe it, because trans-fats are becoming illegal. Will someone tell me which is worse for me, so I can decide what to put on my fat free, salt free, low carb toast? All the other stuff tastes like plastic, and besides, I know once I change to one of these other things there will be a study to show it's the worst of all.

To add insult to injury, new studies are revealing stuff about cholesterols and animal products we never knew. It's true, for instance, that cholesterol problems aren't just from bad eating habits...genes have a lot to do with it. Some people can eat a lot more cholesterol with no harm. Some of us, thanks Dad, produce unhealthy amounts of cholesterol despite a strict diet. There are medicines for that! Now, some cholesterols are good. Some other fats are good. We're also discovering that strict avoidance of animal products produces protein deficiencies. Heavy amounts of soy products can help with that, but then there's the sodium issue. Sure, we can load up on seafood, but we could die from heavy metal poisoning and too much sodium. So, at least until the next series of studies are published, animal products are back on the menu.

Beverages, Wine, Coffee, Etc:

In my lifetime, wine has been good for you and bad for you several times. This issue is so old, even the Bible says wine is bad, good, and even medicinal. In the 2,000 years since the Bible was written, science seems to have proven all three claims to be correct about wine and other alcohols. First, they say it's "empty calories," causes weight gain, destroys the liver, leads to addiction. Then, they say it's good for relaxation and stress reduction. Finally, it's full of antioxidants, so it helps fight cancer and delay aging. Coffee, they said, causes high blood pressure, but now they're finding all kinds of benefits from coffee. Even tobacco, one of our most evil inventions, is being found to help prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Sure, cola, with or without sugar will kill you now, but who is to say they won't find out it cures heart disease in the next few years. Green tea is the holy grail of the healthy beverage faithful, but in five years, I have no doubt they will find some disease to pin on it.

Concluded at Healthy Foods-Are They Or Aren't They?-2

Healthy Foods-Are They Or Aren't They?

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Love & Hugs,
Glen