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Consider yourself warned!
Not all food at the health food store is healthy! In fact, much of it can be classified as organic junk food. You can always tell healthfood store newbies as their shopping carts are typically loaded up with these types of foods which indicates that they have only recently made the transition from grocery store junk food and are simply replacing one type of highly processed boxed food with another.
Having shopped at health food stores for almost 20 years and seen many a food fad come and go, here is my top five list of supposedly “healthy” foods that are anything but nourishing to you and your family.
#1 Protein Powder
Protein is a very fragile macronutrient. When you separate it from its whole food source it will easily be denatured. Denatured foods are toxic and allergenic to the body as digestive enzymes do not work well on them and the food ends up only partially digested. Undigested food rots in the gut and is the perfect food for pathogenic yeasts and bacteria to thrive upon which rapidly leads the body down the path to autoimmune disorders.
Whey protein is especially fragile and cannot be powdered or dried even at low temperatures.
For more information on the dangers of protein powders and other high protein foods, check out the linked article.
Do yourself a favor – if you need a protein boost, skip the protein powder and eat grass-fed steak, some pastured poultry, or an egg instead!
#2 Soy Milk
Soy milk is not an ancestral food nor was it ever considered of value in traditional Asian societies. There are zero health benefits to drinking soy milk.
It is a modern invention – a cheap, mass-produced product “fortified” with an undigestible form of calcium as well as synthetic Vitamin D2 which has been linked with hyperactivity, coronary heart disease, and allergic reactions.
Not to mention the high risk of ingesting microplastics from the toxic packaging.
Soy milk is loaded with sugar to cover up its awful beany flavor. Even versions labeled as “original” or “plain” are full of sugar as unsweetened soy milk is highly gag-worthy and completely unacceptable to the consumer. Manufacturers fool the consumer with the amount of sugar in soymilk by using stealth sweeteners such as barley malt and brown rice syrup.
I took a look at an unsweetened soy milk yesterday at the health food store and it had the ominous “natural flavors” in the ingredients list where artificial sweeteners typically lurk. For example, the artificial sweetener Neotame is permitted even in organic foods with no labeling required. (2)
The most insidious aspect of soy milk is its devastating impact on the thyroid gland. Soy is one of the most goitrogenic (thyroid suppressing) foods on the planet. Those who drink soy milk are at great risk of developing thyroid problems or even becoming hypothyroid.
Interestingly, Dr. Harry Miller, the man credited with popularizing soy milk in China in the late 1930s which then spread to the rest of the world, specialized in goiter surgery in his medical practice!
#3 Organic Canned Soups
Canned soup even if organic is never a healthy food choice. Most organic soups are nothing but water, sodium, and MSG. Organic bouillon cubes are no better and the tetra packs of organic chicken or vegetable broth should be avoided as well.
Anything that is in the store that is soup related is going to have MSG in it. Organic MSG is still MSG and will produce the same damaging effects on the neurons in your hypothalamus. Remember that the hypothalamus is the Master Controller of the endocrine system, so if you don’t want your metabolism screwed up – possibly permanently – then avoid canned soup of all kinds as this is a very big source of this toxic ingredient.
If you don’t believe me, just read the label of your favorite organic soup and then read the list of MSG pseudo names. (3)
I have yet to find any organic soup brand that doesn’t have at least one and usually several more of these MSG aliases in them.
Note: Since this post was written, a few brands of organic soup have appeared on the market that appear to be free of MSG. But, canned food is nutritionless, usually packed in toxic BPA or BPS cans and not in any way health-promoting, so it’s not worth buying anyway.
If you want a decent bowl of soup, you must make your own broth first.
#4 Fish Oil Supplements
Fish oil is a very delicate oil highly subject to rancidity due to the high concentration of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fats can never be heated and even exposure to light and air hastens their rapid breakdown.
With this in mind, how then could fish oil supplements be anything but unhealthy given that they are all processed at extremely high temperatures? They are then packaged in capsules or bottles which sit for goodness knows how long on store shelves until the unwitting customer buys them in hopes that these magic pills will somehow reduce their chances for cardiovascular disease and other inflammatory conditions as so cleverly marketed.
Fat chance.
#5 Gluten-Free Foods
Healthfood stores in my area seem to all be expanding their gluten-free sections lately. Even grocery stores are adding gluten-free aisles.
Gluten-free went mainstream when Chelsea Clinton requested a gluten-free cake be served at her wedding reception.
Don’t be fooled by the hype. Gluten-free foods are not healthy and are not any better than regular store-bought processed versions.
Gluten-free processed foods are made for folks who aren’t ready or are unwilling to switch to Real Food but are very allergic to regular processed foods. Moreover, they are ridiculously expensive and nutritionless to boot.
If you are allergic to gluten, it is much better to work on your gut health by buying and traditionally preparing Real Food rather than the band-aid approach of buying gluten-free processed foods. Once you rebalance and rebuild your gut so that beneficial bacteria dominate rather than the pathogens that are in control in the gut of a gluten-intolerant person, you might be delighted to find as my husband did that gluten no longer causes symptoms or immunity issues!
I hope this list helps you become a much savvier health food store customer. Don’t fall for the highly processed organic junk food. Buy organic produce and one to three-ingredient foods such as nut butter or traditional sourdough bread at your health food store and you will be well on your way to loading your pantry and refrigerator with foods that will really enhance your health and not just give you a false sense of security and empty your wallet!
References
(1) Not Milk and Uncheese: The Udder Alternatives
(2) Neotame: USDA Organic’s Dirty Little Secret
(3) MSG Aliases
How funny! I was just talking about how if “organic maraschino cherries” were made with rice syrup, someone would undoubtedly tout them as “healthy!”
Have a great holiday weekend, everyone!
Darn! I didn’t know that about organic broths, thanks for the info!
I know .. such a bummer. A lot of the time I spend in the kitchen is making homemade broths, soups, and sauces because you simply can’t buy good ones.
That’s good info. I just looked up the Kroger-brand organic chicken broth, and 1 cup contains no protein, no vitamins, and 570mg of salt. That’s 24% of the daily recommended value. You’d be much better off just drinking water.
You are so right about the gluten free foods.
When we first went gluten free we would attend gluten free fairs. My husband and I always had “hangovers” after them from all of the sugar and refined flour.
Once I even needed to pull off the road after attending one of these fairs in order to get some whole grains into my body as I was having trouble driving.
People w/ celiac disease or intestinal issues need to build up their digestive systems with healthy foods — not with gluten free processed foods. That being said, there are a few companies trying hard to put out whole grain gluten free products. They deserve to be applauded for their efforts. I prefer to make my own, but at least they are doing their best.
It is misleading and may be damaging to many to tell people that once they get their gut health in order they can let go of being gluten free. They can try, but that won’t work for most of us who have no choice. At the least there should have been a consideration that this will only work if celiac or gluten intolerance is not a medical issue for you. And being a genetic medical issue for many there are severe consequences when eating gluten even in small amounts. Many of us can’t go back!
I agree Cherrri
It is a tad presumptuous to assume people who are gluten intollerant are simply the product of a destitute menu.
As a family we grow our own fruit, veg and herbs, eat only local, pastured ethical meats, dairy and eggs, forrage for local wild foods, including seafoods and sea vegitables and gluten and carbs are off the menu for reasons completely asside from gut function. MTHFR, histadelia and Autism spectrum do not do away with gut health innitiatives as our gut health is now for the long term well cared for.
It would be neglegent when gluten and carbs cause siezures to pretend that if a bout of pro and prebiotics is adhered to all will be well and have breads .. even long ferment sour dough.
The pain of breads and cakes and gluten rich (even home made from the best of intentions is not worth the pretension that if my gut is well I can do this .. I can’t, he cant .. we all cant
All great tips but I must say…. the Omega 3’s have helped my autoimmune and inflammatory issues. If I miss a day, I hurt like you can’t believe. They have changed my life and I do see benefit from them.
Try a non rancid form of omega 3’s like fermented cod liver oil. The fish oils at the healthfood store are all rancid and I am not convinced they have more benefit than harm.
Can you site your sources for this comment please, Sarah?
There are much better options for autoimmune conditions than rancid oil, which accelerates the aging process. Look up “lipid peroxidation”.
“In experiments that last just a few weeks or months, there may not be time for cancers to develop, and on that time scale, the immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory effects of oxidized fish oil might seem beneficial.”
In energy medicine, we seek to restore balance between the Sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and Parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous systems. There are various techniques and technology that work really well. Donna Eden’s book is packed with exercises and routines that make a powerful difference in all types of conditions.
Edgar Cayce frequently said that “mind is the builder, physical is the result”. He recommended the vibrations of carbon steel to harmonize the body’s energy systems, which complements everything else people do for themselves: diet, energy balancing exercises, attitude, etc.
-James
I needed to hear this, specifically about the GF products. I have a child recently diagnosed with gluten intolerance and I kept wondering why people (who were normally anti-processed foods) were touting all of the processed foods my child could eat.
Ughhh add “organic agave syrup” and “organic expeller Pressed canola oil.”
My mother buys the latter of those two. It’s so weird because she’s such a whole foodie in every other sense but refuses to give up her canola oil because the organic expeller pressed part of the equation and Indian people using rapeseed oil puts her mind at ease. There’s no changing some people’s minds!
I’m confused about the Fish Oil supplements one. I’ve read previously on your site that you were giving your son cod liver oil to reverse a cavity. In your recent Vitamin D article (the fish roe one) there was a link to the Weston A Price site and their list of cod liver oil brands by country – which included Green Pastures fermented cod liver oil and Carlson’s capsules if that was not available. Is cod liver oil (liquid or capsules) considered a Fish Oil supplement or are you referring to something else?
Greern Pastures oils are not heat treated. That appears to be the big difference. It’s also quite expensive, though.
In the past I have used Solgar brand fish oil (no burpy fishy aftertaste) and had no problems. It is made in the UK and, to my current knowledge, is no longer available in the US because of gubment regulations. I guess it was good stuff and our leaders don’t want us to know about good stuff! Solgar is a very reputable company and if their fish oil is ever available again, I’ll be using it because I can hardly tolerate cod liver oil. Makes me gag – sorry, it just does. It can be flavored however you wish, but it still burps up as fish – and I HATE fish. I’ve never liked eating fish and I don’t like taking the liver oil or skate oil either. But that’s just me. I know it’s healthy though.
The cod liver oil I use cannot be bought at the healthfood store (Green Pasture Products) and it is fermented ..not industrially processed like all the plain fish oil supplements at the healthfood store.
I buy Carlson’s. I used to buy Nordic Naturals but they molecularly distill it. I feel like Carlson’s is a good option, since it’s not processed much at all. What’s your take on this Sarah? I would like to switch to GP, but have been waiting due to the expense.
Thanks for the clarification!
Another good post. I wonder, though, if Omega 3s are so heat-sensitive, should we only eat raw fish? How is is that studies show a benefit from fish oil, when most of it has apparently been heated?
Not all fish are high in omega 3’s. Those that are are (like salmon) best seared and not cooked to death. Eaten as sushi is probably the best way to go but then you have the risk of parasites potentially (though the risk is small) and so seared might be a good compromise.
Freezing the salmon before eating it raw will take care of parasites
Just some details about freezing fish from fda.gov:
“Freezing and storing at -4°F (-20°C) or below for 7 days (total time), or freezing at -31°F (-35°C) or below until solid and storing at -31°F (-35°C) or below for 15 hours, or freezing at -31°F (-35°C) or below until solid and storing at -4°F (-20°C) or below for 24 hours is sufficient to kill parasites. FDA’s Food Code recommends these freezing conditions to retailers who provide fish intended for raw consumption.”
I’m also a bit confused on the Omega-3 part. We take cod liver oil daily. Isn’t that supposed to be good?
Hi Drea, the answer depends on the brand. There are only a few cod liver oil brands that are decent. The best of the bunch is Green Pasture Products which is fermented and not heated.
I disagree over the fish oil as well its like every thing in this world you get what you pay for, if you buy the cheep fish oil caps in the supper market or chemist goodness knows where its comes from and what process it has under gone but you can buy high end supplerments that are the real deal you just have to pay more for them.
I fear that an eletist “The cod liver oil I use cannot be bought at the healthfood store” attitude may well put people off doing the best they can. Even with an abundant source of pristine water and forragable and fishable coastline I am unable to eat seafoods due to phobic horror so supplimenting is my only option. With omega 3’s potential for reducing inflamitory response, diabetic potential and leptin and insulin resistance I would encourage anyone to just do the best they can …..