Many of us were raised on foods that aren’t particularly healthy and are often tempted to go for what provides brief emotional satisfaction, but ultimately these habits do damage to our health. High fat, high sugar, and processed foods are so common and so many people have been eating them for so long that it’s easy to shrug it off and say that it can’t be “that bad.” The truth is, it IS that bad and you may not see the effects immediately, but these unhealthy foods can cause longterm damage to your health. It can be a challenge to transition into a healthier diet. It’s hard to give up some of those comfort foods that we’ve become accustomed to, and for some, it can be difficult to buy real food on a budget. But there are ways to eat healthier without breaking the bank. You have to prioritize your food choices and sometimes it can take time before you find the right products for you. Here are some things to consider when trying to eat healthier (and trying to save money simultaneously).
High Quality Fats & Oils
High quality fats and oils are very important to buy because this is what you use to do most of your cooking. Eliminate yellow seed oils like corn oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil. Try using more olive oil, coconut oil, and butter. Reducing Omega 6 fatty acids and increasing Omega 3 fatty acids is key to a healthier diet. You can take fish oil or krill oil supplements that have been certified mercury free to receive your Omega 3’s as well. Fermented cod liver oil also has many nutritional benefits.
Organic Fruits & Veggies
Organic fruits and veggies are often what people think of when buying organic comes up and these foods can be quite pricey. One thing to remember is that thin skinned fruits and vegetables like grapes, peaches, and leafy greens are more important to buy organic than thicker skinned produce because the thicker the skin, the easier it is to peel and eliminate pesticides. So you can feel safer buying non-organic fruits and veggies when you’re able to peel the skin.
High Quality Meats, Fish, & Eggs
High quality meat, fish, and eggs are an important part of a healthy diet. Grass fed beef is nutritionally superior to industrially raised beef and the same can be said for any pastured meats. Try eating meats from humanely raised, pastured animals or wild caught seafood. High quality eggs are tougher to find due to misleading egg packaging and mediocre labeling standards in the U.S. The best way to go about buying eggs is to try to buy from local farmers or to buy organic. Organic eggs come from hens raised with an organic diet and without the use of antibiotics. The appearance of eggs can also tell you a lot about the nutrients. You can find out if your farmer or market is telling the truth or scamming you. Eggs that come from a pastured hen have a bigger, darker yolk that is more orange in color compared to the pale yellow yolk of battery hens.
Raw or Fermented Dairy
This may be the most difficult step/transition. Fermented dairy includes yogurt, kefir, cheese, sour cream, and buttermilk. These foods contain healthy bacteria and living enzymes. Finding “real” cheese can be tough, but you can be sure that you won’t find it in the same section as sliced sandwich and shredded cheeses. One thing you have to remember for all food you buy is READ THE LABEL! Look for raw cheeses from grass fed cows that produce milk high in A2 beta casein and relatively low A1 beta casein. This means milk from Jerseys, Guernseys, and other traditional cattle breeds, not newer Holsteins. Raw goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, and yak’s milk only contains A2 beta casein and arguably makes better cheeses than cow’s milk anyway.
Organic milk is guaranteed to be antibiotic and hormone free from healthy cows, so it’s a superior choice to standard, cheap supermarket milk, but even organic milk can come from non grass fed cows and be ultra pasteurized. The best way to find real milk is from local sources. This can be difficult, but you can visit your local farmers market or check out www.realmilk.com for a limited listing of raw milk dairies.
In our next post, we will look at ways to save money and to get the most out of your money. Stay tuned for that this week. In the meantime, please share any of your favorite local or healthy products and stores with us in the comments. Connecting with people is a great way to expand your knowledge and resources. Research, explore, and connect, and you’ll consistently find healthier and more satisfying ways to live a healthy lifestyle.
Source: http://www.foodrenegade.com/
