She Says: Worst, Better, Best
Last Wednesday I was able to attend a Beam Green event where I heard Dr. Ginger speak about Grocery Shopping the Healthy Way. At first I thought the topic was a little strange. I mean it was a room full of women who were, I assumed, more healthy than the average consumer. I was expecting a short talk covering mostly things I already knew and didn’t need to hear again – buy whole grains, shop the perimeter, get fat free dairy. Boy was I wrong!
Dr. Ginger broke various foods and products into three groups – worst, better and best. Her ideas are based on living a less toxic life. She referenced keeping your body on the slightly alkaline side of the Ph scale where, as Dr. Ginger explained, the human body is the happiest.
Healthy is a term of comparison. I am a healthier eater than a lot of people, but I am by no means the healthiest person. According to Dr. Ginger’s breakdowns, I linger somewhere in the healthy range for most things I consume, but I am in the worst category for some things. She certainly got me thinking about a lot of things, including my dairy/soy intake.
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Product |
Worst |
Better |
Best |
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Milk: |
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Homemade nut and seed milk |
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Sweeteners |
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Bread |
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Caffeine |
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Things Not Ingested: Skin Care /Sunblock/ Dental |
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According to Dr. Ginger, soy is not a health food. It is highly processed and the vast majority of soy that is grown in the U.S. is genetically modified and sprayed with various herbicides and pesticides such as Roundup. Additionally, soy contains phytoestrogen, which (according to Dr. Ginger) alter our own natural female hormones.
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Where do I currently stand? Before living with Mark I drank non-organic cow’s milk. Mark, however, gets intense headaches when he drinks cow milk, so we buy soy milk. I buy cow milk based yogurt, sometimes organic, sometimes not.
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What do I want to do about this? I feel the need to be extra careful about getting my calcium because osteoporosis runs in my family. I am also concerned about hormonal affects of soy. I do not eat meat and rely on soy for a protein source two or three times a week. To be honest, tofu always sort of freaked me out. I sometimes think about whether I would prefer to eat a nice piece of organic free range chicken or a block of tofu off a shelf. Ideally, neither, but I would probably choose the chicken. Right now, I want to learn more about soy and its affects on me.
Sweeteners
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According to Dr. Ginger, artificial sweeteners are a no no. They contain neurotoxins, which are literally toxins of the nervous system. She advocates using agave because it is lower on the glycemic index than honey and stevia because it is the most natural. I was most surprised by her assertion that sugar in the raw is no better than white table sugar!
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Where do I currently stand? Last March, I gave up diet coke for lent. After lent was over I kept it up. Then I would have one occasionally. I still used splenda in coffee until I still do not use splenda, but I will occasionally have a diet iced tea or something else with it.
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What do I want to do about this? Well, no need to postpone this one! When I eat foods that contain artificial sugar it is out of laziness or boredom. Sometimes I will have a diet coke to have something to do other than eat. It’s a disgusting habit and I’ve been consuming it more and more lately! I want to go back to zero consumption. This includes gum, mints and … Listerine Strips! As far as non-artificial sugar, I never add it to my coffee or tea. Now, I need to pay more attention to how much sugar is in other things I eat.
Caffeine
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According to Dr. Ginger, coffee is the worst way to start your day. Overnight our bodies become slightly acidic, but ideally we are more alkaline. Coffee only makes us more acidic!
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Where I currently stand? I drink one of two cups of coffee in the morning. I love tea and drink that during the day. Usually it’s decaf.
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What do I want to do? I can go without coffee, but I like the morning routine that coffee gives me (that is a subtle way of referring to the way that coffee makes me “go” in the morning). I would like to have it less often and I want a juicer!!!!!!
Bread
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Dr. Ginger didn’t really talk much about why, but I think we all know why white flour is inferior – more processed, less fiber and protein, etc.. I am less clear on the benefits of sprouted grain.
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Where do I currently stand? I only buy wheat bread, but do eat a fair amount of white flour snacks and eat “treat” bread from the bread basket quite a bit. I almost feel defiantly awesome doing it. Like, “Oh, I am not supposed to eat white flour, watch me!” Oh and I never get organic bread.
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What do I want to do? Well, I thought I was doing pretty good with my wheat bread, but I would like to try getting more sprouted grain breads. Quite honestly, they are usually more expensive and I am not sure the differential justifies the cost. Additionally, I would like to stop eating white flour for awhile. If I think about the times I physically feel the worst, it’s after I’ve had a lot of pretzels, white bread and the like. They are tasty, but highly processed and are not doing anything to make me a healthier happier person. I will just need to remember that the next time some nice crackers cross my path.
Things Not Ingested
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According to Dr. Ginger, even the things we do not ingest can harm us. For example, parebens in many skin lotion products are toxic and have been linked to breast cancer. Dr. Ginger also advocates using toothpaste without fluoride and mouthwash without
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Where do I currently stand? Man, this was a bad category for me. I use traditional toothpastes and mouthwash.
I was a little surprised with the parabens in my lotions and moisturizers. Everything you see (minus the lush lotion and murad moisturizer – the one in the front) contained parabens. Not shocked with the Jergens, anything that changes the color of my skin is probably not that good for me, but I was surprised with the purity face soap and fresh lotion. That stuff ain’t cheap!
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What do I want to do? Learn more about the chemicals in my products! It makes complete sense that topical application of a product can affect my health, yet it is something I almost completely ignore. I would say, however, that I can’t stop using sun block (I have red hair and freckles), but I can look into safer alternatives with less chemicals than the brand I use now.
I am left wondering why I don’t think about these health issues more often. I know an awful lot about protein, fiber and sugar, but virtually nothing about the toxicity of the food I eat and products I use. I want to always feel my best, which includes exercising and eating the right types of foods, but what about all the chemicals and toxins I routinely eat?
In general, my goal is to take the week after the half marathon (starting Monday, June 1, 2009) to clarify some things and think about what I reasonably can and can’t do. When I feel confidently educated, I will share my results and my next steps. Most likely, this will become a 30-Day Hangry Pants challenge!
First I want to learn about soy. Any and all information you have is greatly welcomed!!!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
First off, this post is great.
1) I am so happy to see that sweeteners are a no no. I mean, I assumed that, but hearing it again reminds me that I need to kick the habit for good. I’m feeling good so far.
2) I was REALLY sad to see the note about coffee in the AM. I must have coffee when I start the workday. I actually needed it to keep me awake on my drive yesterday (more than likely my lack of sleep than anything). Either way, maybe I could cut down. I drink 12 ounces of coffee each day. I don’t drink after noon. Anyway… my heart broke a bit with that one.
3) I highly recommend Tom’s of Maine toothpaste. I used to work for the American Dental Association and received a free sample once. I’ve never used commercial toothpaste again. this stuff is amazing!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I understand feeling overwhelmed, I do all the time. I sometimes feel like the more I know the more I don’t want to know, which is essentially asking to be ignorant, which is obviously not the goal. There is “crap” in everything. Did she talk about Aluminum in deodorant? I tried natural versions of it and it doesn’t work. Did she talk about Sodium Laurel Sulphate? (I think I spelled that wrong) that is also in everything that produces suds – also very bad. What exactly is the role of the FDA?
May 28th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
that’s really interesting. what a cool 30 day challenge that will be!
Did she say anything more about the green juices? I guess I’m just wondering where the caffeine in the juices comes from?
I can’t wait to hear more!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Wow, that’s alot to think about. Thank you for taking the time to type this out and give us your opinions. It’s funny how processed soy and tofu prodcuts are and generally they are given the healthy stamp of approval. However, they do taste good and ‘hate to say it’ but tofu is low in calories for being a protein source. I HATE using the low in calorie excuse! I can’t wait to see to more resech you conduct in these manners.
Oh and by the way…. “the antioxidants in the food we eat are enough to protect our skin” I have seen that proven in improving the look and feel of our skin, but not protecting it from the sun. I agree that sunscreen is still something that must be worn, you now have me curious in researching better chemicals for that. I’m just scared to see what the ‘better for you’ products cost. Yikes!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Wow I had no idea about the beauty products! I need to go check mine. I use Yes to cucumbers and Yes to carrots, which are supposed to be mostly organic. I will have to check the labels! I knew about the toothpaste thing and I like Tom’s of Maine but for some reason I never buy it! I need to get on that! Great Post, I can’t wait to see what you find out about soy! I am still lost on that whole boat!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Wow, that is a ton of great information. I’m glad the session didn’t waste your time with info you alread knew.
I know I should cut out the fake sweeteners, but often I would rather drink a diet Coke than eat something. My priorities are a little out of order, but at least when I die of cancer from fake sugars they can lift my coffin
May 28th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Interesting post. I’ve learned a lot about the negative effects of acidic foods and beverages in school. I definitely fall in the better category for nearly allof these, except for occasional love of crusty white bread and the fluoride in my toothpaste. It can defintely be overwhleming to think about doing the “best” for everything. I mean, I feel like I like doing things from scratch, but it has never once occured to me to make my own nut and seed milk.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Eek, I hope no one stops using sunscreen altogether! Chemicals suck but skin cancer sucks more. I don’t know… it makes me nervous. I’d like to read some studies about antioxidant sun protection, I suppose.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I’m so glad you posted this, Heather. This is stuff that is pretty new to me. I am definitely guilty of being in the worst category for the non ingested items. I sort of knew they were bad, but never took it on myself to learn about it or change it. I would like to improve in that, and at least learn more about it for the time being.
Coffee is another issue. I love it so much. I had cut it out, and started drinking it again towards the end of the school year and I have it more than I’d like right now.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I loved this post! So wonderfully informative and insightful. I always try to eat as naturally as possible – whole foods, as unprocessed as possible, etc. – but it’s true that the actual thought of “toxicity” is not something that frequently crosses my mind. I’ll consider it if I read something about it – like this – but it just hasn’t yet gotten ingrained in my brain. I think eating healthy, being healthy, etc. is a continual learning process, so perhaps I just haven’t reached that phase yet.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
This was a great post! Loads of info. I think I fall into the the better category for most of the things you listed, but there are areas I can improve for sure!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
This is such a wonderful post. I have been thinking A LOT about soy milk and tofu and how highly processed it is. I really do love soy milk but like you, before I think about giving up, I really want to find out more about it.
And like Rose, I am saddened about coffee. It’s weird because I keep hearing about studies that indicate coffee isn’t as bad as we think, and then…there’s stuff like this. I LOVE coffee, its taste and the ritual aspect of it in the morning.
And I buy whole grain bread too and although I prefer sprouted grains, it’s so expensive!
Thanks for this post. I can’t wait to read more!
May 28th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
This was very eye-opening. I eat a lot of soy based products and want to try to make a change with that. I would like to add more sprouted grains into my diet as well.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Jillian Michael’s new book, Master Your Metabolism is ALL about this sort of thing. (I’m LOVING her right now!) It was an eye opening read. She really opened my eyes to WHY it’s so important to eat organic fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat. (Although I’m veg but I think she makes excellent points on why it’s so important to eat organic, grass fed beef, etc.)
The one thing I was sort of in the dark about was all the chemicals in our soaps, cleaners, lotions, make up, etc. I’ve been buying natural cleaning products, shampoo, conditioners, etc but didn’t really know WHY it was so important until recently. What an awesome opportunity for you, I’m so glad to see that these issues are getting more and more attention.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
fantastic post, I think this Green Beam group is amazing and I wish I could be there to attend it! I was trying to tell people that soy wasn’t so great the other day and they didn’t believe me!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Great minds think alike! Have been planning a post like this soon — which will go in tandem for the Beam Green Whole Foods tours I’ll be leading!!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
this is all so hard to wrap my head around. i really want to move closer to living cleaner, but sometimes it just seems so hard (and sweet and lo just dissolves so nicely in cold drinks!)… how do you get mark to try all of these new things? a big part of my problem is that i get these ideas, but since i am shopping for myself and the bf, he throws a fit that its “too much work” or it is too expensive.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
This is a great post! Really really informative. I tend to fall into the better category as well..BUT I am definitely going to have a look at the products I use and see if there are parabens!
And I really really hope self tanner is not THAT bad for you! I’m so pale I need it!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
What an intersting and informative post! It really opened my eyes to a lot of ways to be healthier!
Thank you for sharing!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
i have been really turned off putting things on my skin that are full of chemicals… it’s funny, i’ve always been concerned about health but never really thought of how things get in your body through your skin. also i have bad skin so now i’m happy to just keep it really simple (i don’t wear makeup or anything). i never saw your friend kim!!!!! she didn’t have a poster so it wasn’t easy to just stop by. the paper she was on was presented during one of my other symposiums, so i never got to say hi and that i knew you!!!
it is a HUGE conference, too, so i’m not that surprised. i hope she had fun! our weather was amazing. i posted a huge recap on my blog today 
May 28th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Ahhh I feel ya on the tofu and soy situation! My grandma and aunt both back osteoporosis so everyone in my family is always telling me to eat as much cheese, yogurt, and milk as possible. But then I try to not eat a lot of dairy for my skin and stomach issues and I have never been a huge fan of tofu either but will drink soy milk. So it’s a tossup!
And that is so interesting about the beauty products! I never have really thought about the weird chemicals in shampoo and conditioner.. I only make sure that animals aren’t being tested!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Whoa interesting! I love soymilk and can’t really see myself giving it up. Silk does make a point to say that their products do not come from genetically modified soybeans.
We’ve been thinking about switching toothpastes and mouthwash for a while now, perhaps it’s time! What are sunprotection alternatives? I’m not willing to just say what I eat will protect my skin, not with the current state of the environment. Makeup and lotions make total sense and I’m going to have to look into that more.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
this is super interesting, thanks for posting!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for this post. It was super interesting and got me thinking. I’m pretty aware of the things that go into my body, but I need to become more aware of things not ingested. I look forward to hearing about your findings regarding this. I love my coffee in the morning routine, but hopefully I’ll start brewing half decaf/ half regular pots.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Heather, this is awesome! Thanks for this info! I read this while drinking a Coke Zero. Naughty, naughty me. My poor bones.
I am so torn about the soy thing! I use soy milk now because I can’t do cow’s milk, and Wal-Mart doesn’t have Almond Breeze (my fave), and I use soy products like tofu and Boca burgers. I know that I shouldn’t consume as much as I do, but I need the protein, and for a poor college student, soy is often the most cost-effective way to go.
I’m not giving up coffee. Though I’ve been having an odd reaction lately–it’s been making me nauseated. No clue why. Thanks for sharing that it makes you “go.” Killed me.
I’ve known about the paraben thing, but again, the cost of other products is just too much. I did, however, switch to non-alkaline (or something) deodorant. It blows. I sweat still, but it smells like Tom’s Apricot. Maybe not the best.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Bring on the challenge! I am super exited!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Definitely a great post. My friend and I were just talking this morning about this same topic, I have been drinking soy milk instead of cow’s and definitely need to do some more research into this topic!
I have also recently started switching over to natural skin care, been using Berts Bees face wash and toner and in only a few weeks I am looking MUCH better. Need to look into the toothpaste issue though! Thanks!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Wow! Lots of great information. Sure has got me thinking. I was sad about seeing coffee as a big no no! But it is one that thing that I will not give up! I have my morning coffee and I like it.
But I will be thinking about the other stuff a little bit more that is for sure.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I want to know more about soy myself as I am no longer eating meat and don’t want to replace it with a bunch of processed soy products! Let us know what you find out
Good luck with your half marathon!
May 28th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Interesting post- I find that I read so much information that I end up more confused than I was to begin with. I have concerns about soy and can’t find straight clear answers, but I knew my artifical sweetener habit was bad
I have never heard of parabens- going to go read up…
May 28th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Great Post! I am with you on learning more about soy. I use soy milk in coffee – bad! but also love the beans… not so much the tofu – at least I am not eating that process… but the hormone comment got me thinking…
May 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
PS — I forgot to leave my thoughts on soy!
I think that soy is a very useful product for those who are transitioning into veganism, and I support it for that use. But from a purely health-minded perspective, I won’t touch the stuff: it’s mucous forming, highly hard to digest (which is why so many people develop allergies to it), and the phyto estrogens have an impact on female hormones: bad news if you’re related to a breast cancer victim or survivor. It also impedes thyroid function, and most of all, it’s nearly always sold to us in a highly processed form.
But again, soy is a useful transition food. So I would put this in the category of foods that serve a purpose, but don’t promote healing: use it for a while, but not with infinity in mind.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
another excellent post. i always get so excited when other people put out info on soy because i’m always afraid of offending people who eat it on a daily basis. it’s not a health food at all and since i’m trying to avoid all processed foods, soy is out too.
our bodies are only intended to produce dairy until the age of 3.. after that, we have a difficult time breaking is down and this results in waste within the body which leads to weight gain and toxins which flow through the bloodstream. scary stuff!!!
can’t wait to see what this challenge entails
May 28th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Wow, so funny that you just talked about parabens in skin care products. John’s mom just gave me an education on them last night! She sells L’BRI skin care products (direct sales, like avon I guess). They are 100% paraben free and supposedly the only “healthy” skin care on the market (no chemicals, only natural ingredients and such). She told me that we (women) don’t know or think much about skin care as toxic because companies don’t have to list ingredients on their products, and do not have to be approved by any governing body, like the FDA or anything. So companies can literally put ANYTHING in skin care. Very scary! To hear her and now you discuss the toxicity of parabens definitely makes me want to do more research and eventually move completely away from parabens and other toxins in my skin care. You might want to check out her website for more info… I know I will.
http://www.maryrafail.lbri.com
May 28th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
i love this post. thanks for breaking it down and sharing. i really enjoyed reading it and i eat a LOT of soy.. makes me think. although i have switched from soy milk to almond milk so that is good. i look forward to any follow up posting you do on soy products!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Ok, never mind on the L’BRI. I just did some quick research and found that skin care products CAN be certified organic. L’BRI is not. If I’m going to spend the extra money, I might as well go for the certified organic, right?
May 28th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
AWESOME POST!!! That is a real eye opener…. especially the non-food items.
-A
May 28th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Wow, very informative!
Being diabetic, I tend to lean towards artificial sweeteners, i.e. sugar free coffee creamers, etc.
I should probably try to find the agave nectar –
Thanks Heather!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Wonderful, informative post!!! You know, I obsess so much about what I’m ingesting, and rarely consider the products I’m putting on my body. I should really go read the ingredient lists of my beauty and cleaning products. Breast cancer is rampant in my family, I should be doing all I can! (on a reasonable budget, I might add)
Interested to hear what you find out about soy. I actually started eating meat again to break my reliance on processed “veggie” foods. Surprisingly, my body is a lot happier with more meat in my life!
May 28th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Hey Heather!
Great information! I have been reading a lot about this in several books, and it makes a lot of sense. You inspired me to mention some of the changes I have been making in these regards in my post today. Very, very well written and thanks for sharing everything that you have learned!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
great post. I really need to cut back on soy, but it is so convienient. I’m glad that you brought up parabens because I am always suprised at how many “natural” products it is in. Parabens are naturally occuring in tiny amounts in some berries, but they are fromaldehyde releasing chemicals which is not something you want on your skin, yet they are FDA approved for topical AND oral use…what gives?!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Did she mention anything about aluminum and deodorant? I’m a degree girl myself, and just can’t seem to make the switch to something more natural. I try to get paraben free stuff but it’s hard – even stuff at the Body Shop has parabens in it!
You do need a juicer. It’s gotten to the point now that when I hear the motor turn on, I have to go.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Really great post! I definitely need to try some agave. I have an awesome protein shake which is sweetened with Stevia. It tastes amazing. I love sprouted grain breads too. But “natural” toothpaste….i’m a little scared! haha
May 28th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Oh wow – that’s very interesting! Personally, I’ve noticed a HUGE difference since I cut splenda from my diet (including gum, flavored drinks, etc.). I used to get headaches all.the.time. and now it’s a rarity for me to get them. Can’t wait for your next challenge if you choose to do it
May 28th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
This was interesting because everyone thinks that soy is so healthful…such as with tofu. I think “worst” is a bit far fetched, but I’m not entirely informed on the subject.
I certainly hope people don’t stop using sunscreen! I’d like to see research that says that your diet can provide all you need to fight skin cancer…or a nasty burn!
May 28th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
as i’ve been wrestling with various health issues (eczema, fatigue, digestion issues, hormone imbalance to name a few), i’ve been learning about these things more and more.
i found out that i have a secondary allergy to dairy and eggs, and a more moderate reaction to soy. i used to eat a lot of yogurt, cheese and soy milk, but i’ve gone dairy and egg free. i switched to hemp and almond milk in order to reduce my soy consumption, but it’s hard to do it all. (personally, i believe that RAW whole fat dairy is better for you than skim milk, but that’s another discussion.)
i also cut out artificial sweeteners. no more sugar free syrup at starbucks, no more diet coke, no more GUM (i used to chew a pack a day.) its hard, but either have to deal with the calories, use stevia, or go without. i love stevia, but it’s uses are limited.
i’ve decreased my bread consumption significantly. i switched to mostly ezekiel when i do eat it, or i make my own (whole wheat, millet, sunflower seed bread). some times i eat white flour bread because i like it and because i regularly go several days without any sort of bread at all, so i figure it’s ok in moderation.
coffee.. well besides the fact that i LOVE it, i rely on it the same way you do. i’ve reduced down to two cups, tops. i used to drink three or four throughout the day. plus, i now drink amazing grass drinks daily so i figure it cancels out (sort of..?)
considering my limited diet (i don’t like to eat meat, but now i’m essentially vegan because of allergies) i have to pick my battles sometimes.
the last category has been a huge change for me. i have probably the most sensitive skin possible. it reacts to everything. i’ve cut out all parabens, fragrances, etc. in my moisturizers, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, etc.. except my makeup. it irritates my skin but i just can’t give it up. i’d love to see if any of your readers have suggestions for make up that’s decent, not super expensive, and free of crap!
May 28th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I would have to agree with a lot of what she has said; however, I think all info must be taken into consideration with what others are saying. I have been concerned abou the soy issue. I have had a precancerous scare with cervical cancer, and I’m very aware of the overprocessed nature of soy. I also know that it’s not very good for the environment. But understand that most food studies and claims are made by companies or industries who stand to gain from one side or the other. Dairy farmers say soy is bad. Soy farmers say dairy is bad. Everything in moderation, right? From what I’ve read, Fermented Soy is OK, such as tempeh. Nonfermented soy, such as soy milk, is not.
The most alarming thing I read is her claim about coffee. There are soooooo many benefits from coffee, that I can’t imagine why you’d want to give it up. There are myriad studies linking coffee to reductions in alzheimers (65% reduction in moderate coffee drinkers), cancers (40% reduction in breast cancer for women who drank more than 4 cups/day), diabetes, etc. If you love coffee, why stop? I think there’s plenty of evidence it can be good for you. But tea also is great.
I think she had lots of valid points. And I am following a lot of those already. Splenda is my weakness in my coffee. I struggle with that one since I’m sure I’m addicted to Mocha Splenda Blends
I just feel that there have been so many drastic movements in nutrition, and I think we need to look at what has worked and hasn’t in the past. How many people do we all know that lived well into their 90s that smoked every day or ate steak every day or drank like a fish? Some of it is just genetics. I just think we need to follow how we feel and be informed of what may be better choices. I think if most of us just reduced the amount of processed foods we ate, we wouldn’t have to worry about all the other stuff quite as much.
Don’t sweat some of the small things so much. You are already doing a lot of great things for your health. One small step at a time. I just gave up diet soda last year. The first month was tough, but I would never touch it again. I saved some money just drinking water, and now diet soda seems almost dirty to me. It will come in time. Thanks for the informative post!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Wow–super informative and interesting info! Thanks for all the details. It really gets you thinking!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I learned a lot from this post, thanks for posting it
May 28th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Although, Dr. Ginger sounds like she has experience in the health arena, she isn’t a real doctor and hasn’t done any real ground breaking research. I think it is important to understand the person you take advice from without jumping on their bandwagon. As an entrepreneur it sounds like she is just trying to sell books. I’m not trying to bash her but it is necessary to be skeptical when taking such advice.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Wow thanks for all of the info! Of course I was disappointed to see her take on the coffee…I’ll have to look around for the green juice. I recently cut out the artificial sweeteners…I was addicted! Tons of gum, Splenda, diet pop..uhh..now if I have a piece of sugarless gum I can definitely feel the effects (bloating, gas, etc). I also need to research the soy issues…I’ve recently been hearing how it is not that good for you! Thanks for putting in all the time to give us the info!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
great post, as usual. i am trying so hard to cut out dairy but i put a little bit of skim milk in my iced coffee and that is hard to give up. ALSO, LOTS of packaged foods contain dairy or cow products but avoiding them in certain situations is really hard. i think for now i will try to have dairy only in my iced coffee and a couple of special meals a week (like when i go out to dinner or make pizza with pb on fridays) but it is so hard!
i love the changes you want to make in your life, from healthier to even more healthy!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Excellent post! There are so many things to comment on. Well, I gave up Diet Coke in December so I officially have the artificial sugars out, but then I realized my Arnold Sandwich Thins have sucralose, so goodbye to those! (SO ANNOYING! WHY DO THOSE NEED OT BE THERE?) I normally only eat sprouted grain bread (definitely more expensive, but a splurge I am willing to take for the taste – I love it!) Ezekiel muffins are my favorite and I can get them at Whole Foods for under $4 which is better compared to the $6 at my regular grocery store. I officially stopped using white sugar and only use raw sugar, sucanat or agave in my baked goods– I don’t like the taste of stevia in baked goods, only oatmeal or drinks. I’m vegan, so I don’t do cow’s milk and used to do ONLY soy but now I’ve switched over to almond milk but still use soy as a crutch for the protein. I’m starting to totally understand the no-soy bandwagon – I have hormonal issues so I’m freaked out about mimicing estrogen and all that stuff. As far as beauty products go, I’m pretty strict about this – paraben free ALWAYS. My Lush stuff (my favorite, sniff!) all has parabens and it bugs the crap out of me, since they’re supposed to be “natural” but the people at the store always say “oh, but the parabens are so minimal!” — Now I use TJ’s toothpaste (the best natural toothpaste I’ve found) and search out deals for other natural beauty products (because I’m cheap) but I love TJMaxx/Marshall’s because they get in tons of organic brands that are paraben free. This is officially the longest comment EVER, but I am totally into this stuff. Good luck with any transitions you make!
May 28th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
oh and i am SO anti soy. i know is terrible and my “healthy” friends get pissed off when i am asked about it, but i just don’t think it is GOOD. especially after reading some of michael pollan’s books. i will eat edamame now and again or soy sauce but i stay away from the rest of it.. tofu included
May 28th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
This was one of your best posts. I love how you broke it all down and it really made me think about myself.
I’m with you on the sunscreen. I am extremely pale but now I will look into a sunblock made from better ingredients. I do not believe that antioxidants are “enough protection” — that scares me that people will think this actually. Skin cancer would not be fun.
I actually decided to give up coffee and today was my first day! I’ve given it up before but went back to it because I like the taste. Now I am having green juice though which really is refreshing first thing in the morning. I just ordered my own juicer today!
If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend you reading Ultrametabolism by Dr. Mark Hyman. He explains everything so well, always backed with science and facts. After I read this book, I quit diet coke (I was drinking it ALL the time for years) and never looked back. I made a lot of other changes from that book too.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
and last comment i swear: my mom had breast cancer twice and ALL of her cancer doctors (oncologists and other specialists) told her to 1. stay the hell away from anything soy and 2. stay the hell away from antiperspirants. interesting right?
May 28th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
[...] the side throughout all of this, I had several giant mugs of honeyed soymilked (the worst milk I could choose, apparently, which is sad because I love it!) yerba mate. And another exciting [...]
May 28th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
such a great post, very informative and i’m going to bookmark it!
May 28th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
[...] Heather Trains « She Says: Worst, Better, Best [...]
May 28th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
A note on the milk front: I swear by Horizon Organic Skim Milk. It’s in the better category, so it can’t be that bad. I like soy milk sometimes too, just because. I’m pretty sure soy is only bad for you if you’re eating it all the time, like 2 servings a day. I probably have soy (either milk or tofu) 2-4 times a week, which I don’t think will kill me.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
As an athlete, I NEEEEEED protein. I really do. And I really do enjoy tofu, soy milk, edamame, protein shakes, etc. My boobs are small and my cycle is irregular…I may just want those extra hormones….
I know that is a totally ignorant and inappropriate comment, but you should be used to it.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
great post! You did such a wonderful job breaking everything down. I often also want to see how would it would feel to be totally healthy, but I find it hard to do so without feeling like I can’t live my life or becoming a little obsessive or social isolated. I would love to hear your thoughts on maintaining a balance between physical health and mental/social health.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
[...] hangry heather posted a really super good post that i think everyone should check [...]
May 29th, 2009 at 3:18 am
Oh man, if this is the case then I need to seriously examine both my soy AND my dairy intake. I am dependent on both. I love the taste of soymilk and things like tofu and soy yogurts, but I also love cottage cheese and regular yogurt. Basically I am a slave to dairy or dairy imitations. Ah!
Thank you for this informative post!
May 29th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Such a great post and great information! In my natural foods cooking school we’re learning about a lot of this and it really just boggles the mind all of the things that often aren’t pointed out (e.g. soy).
A couple notes: apparently fermented soy (soy sauce, tempeh, miso) do not have the same effects on the body (still need to look into this more) and are easier to digest. So you may want to look into that. Tofu and soymilk on the other hand would be out based on that.
If anyone out there feels sensitive to wheat, sprouted is a great choice as that is also easier to digest. I know it’s a little more expensive – but Trader Joe’s has some cheap ones if you have one near you, and it really does make the wheat more digestible and gets rid of some of the phytic acid that is in it otherwise. Same goes for soaking grains overnight before cooking…another great tip that I’ve heard.
Looking forward to seeing everyone’s adventures with all of this new information and continuing to work on my own!
May 29th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I don’t have any soy info for you! But i just bought TJ’s version of “ezekial” bread- it’s called “CA style high-protein sprouted bread” or something, it is supposedly high protein, sprouted grain, etc. And only 2.99 or so it’s pretty good! I usually buy grocery store, Thomas’ or Orowheat bread just for fluffiness
May 29th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I love TJ’s toothpaste. My husband refuses to use it because he’s used Crest all his life and its “normal” toothpaste. Until I can get a definitive answer from either his or my dentist that TJ’s is acceptable, he won’t use it
parabens – interesting! I’ve heard all about them…….I guess I should pay more attention. I have so many beauty products to use so i’m not gonna toss anything, but when stuff runs out I do try to buy the same product at whole foods or Trader Joe’s instead. (TJ’s ischeaper for all that stuff, tho I don’t know if everythign they sell is paraben free).
the great thing about LUSH is that it is also certified VEGAN. I haven’t looked too much at their products, but now I might.
GREAET to know that Murad is paraben free. I will stick to them once my neutrogena moisturizer runs out. I love murad! I guess I should check my aveeno lotion and the scrubs I use on my face – eek.
enlightening -thanks!
May 29th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
oh I only use TJ’s or Tom’s deodorant now, if at all..I dont think they really work.
I stay away from aluminum deodorants except for the RARE dressy occasion where I don’t want to be sweating in which case I use the clinical strength – sue me.
but I’m pretty happy not using deodorant.
I’d like to hear more about soy. I’m conflicted with this too. As a vegan, its my only protein source. I’m eating it more now that I’m actually dieting again and trying to lose weight. But once I get down to my goal weight (by end of the summer) I hope to cut out most of my soy intake and maintain my weight without it. We shall see. When I first went vegan I realized I was eating waaaaaay tooo much soy and cut it out. I was having soy milk with my kashi go lean crunch (the protein in it is from soy!), and eating tons of clif & luna bars – again w/ t hes oy protein! in addition to the tofu and edamame. ughghghghhgg. I’m tryign to low carb too and its impossible without having SOME egg whites, greek yogurt and laughing cow cheese. (and the soy meatless products like Tj’s meatless balls, tofu, edamame, etc) ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 29th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
oooh and on the antioxidants being sun protection……….
oprah had dr. oz on recently – not sure if it was a repeat or not – last week or earlier this week I think? he showed experiments that had been done on a really pale lady and showed her sunburn dots on her arm (experiment). Then for like 2 weeks ? i think she had to consume 4 Tablespoons of TOMATO PASTE. Then she went back for the sunburn test and her sunburn was DRASTICALLY reduced. lycopene is apparently a really good sunblock – eat your tomatoes!!! and is really good for your prostate (err mark’s prostate)
you wanna keep that healthy right?@!
sorry for the novel, I keep getting distracted and new thoughts come to mind that I wanna share.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Very interesting Heather. I’m pretty good on all the food/beverage stuff, but I’ve totally fallen off the natural product bandwagon in an effort to save money. I love love love Kiss My Face toothpaste, but it’s like $5 a tube! I don’t use a lot of products, and I know I could find some inexpensive paraben free ones. Might just need to do a little research.
Soy = bad news. I think fermented soy products like tempeh & miso are good, but otherwise, I stay away from the stuff. My stomach doesn’t like it anyway. Stick with the nut and seed milks, and homemade ones are really easy!
May 29th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
interesting post! I think so many people just don’t pay attention or care that what we consume now, or absorb , could be harmful later!
May 29th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Oh, In answer to “what does the FDA do?”…….I asked my mom, since she works for the FDA. She got a pretty good response from her boss:
FDA, with its bare bones resources, tries to regulate products with the highest risk of harm to the American consumder. Most FDA regulated products are approved on a risk benefit basis, meaning the potential benefit of the product out weighs the potential risks. NIH and other research organizations look at the composite effects of the risks of multiple products on individuals and not FDA (at least FDA research resources are extremely limited to non-existent). For example, women who have take oral contraceptives and smoke run a higher risk of breast cancer. It’s not under FDA’s jurisdiction to find this out. However, with this type of knowledge, they will add warnings on oral contraception labels.
Hope this helps a little?!
May 29th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
[...] had a little stir-fry with peppers, broccoli, string beans and tofu (ironic, yes, but I have lots to use up). I added a teensy amount of low sodium soy sauce because I did not [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 1:17 am
I think the hormone issues with soy are still very much up for debate. Eating minimally processed soy products like edamame, tempeh, tofu, etc is much different from those found in faux meat products, and alot of the debate stems from how much processing is too much. One can look at many Asian cultures and see that soy foods have been consumes for ages, and they are very healthy people. But they aren’t out there, eating tofurkey and the like, like we are in North America.
I would be very leary at going without sunblock myself – but I’m a pasty white gal with red hair as well.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 am
[...] writing the Worst, Better, Best Post and preparing for my Clean Living Month I’ve been thinking about organic food and [...]
June 4th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
[...] in an effort to live a less toxic life. This was all based on Dr. Ginger’s opinion of some of the worst, better and best products to eat and [...]
June 8th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
what a wonderful post, heather…good luck..i know you start this today … i know you can do it…good luck and keep your head up…
say hi to mark for me..
best,
amie