Nutritional road block

MissJenniLee

The more I read about what foods are good for you and what foods are bad for you, it seems everything we eat is bad in one way or another. We all know why concentrated fats and processed foods are not good for you, but apparently most grains are not beneficial, most meats are too fatty for what our bodies need and can become toxic from it rotting in our bellies since it takes a long time to digest, our bodies can't absorb most of the nutrients from veggies (although chewing better helps), fortified food has chemicals that are linked to massive amounts of problems. Apparently most of my diet now (which is WAY WAY Better than before) is still HORRIBLE! I eat original yoplait yogurt (more whole food ingredients) but it's full of sugar. I use Carnation breakfast and Almond milk, they both contains Carrageenan--which is linked to digestion problems (and I have digestion issues). Peanut butter is full of oil and sugar, salad dressings are filled with fat, iceberg lettuce is served everywhere and has 0 nutritional value. WHAT THE CRAP DO I EAT?! Just nuts? maybe a twig? I'm sure there is something wrong with that too.

SugaryLynx

I'm assuming excess amount of anything can be harmful for you. Everything in moderation is the middle of the road, safe ground for everything. I think you're over thinking it and making it more complicated than it has to be.

Calliope610

Soylent Green


ETA: Your best best is to quit believing EVERYTHING you read/watch/hear about food and nutrition. Check out peer-reviewed studies for a more accurate (and probably less food demonizing) info.

Vigilance88

If you really believe all that I don't even know what to say or link to, to make you change your mind about food.
Food isn't the enemy. I'd say read about food, but it seems you've been reading too much and gotten bad info everywhere.

CA_Underdog

Woah! Slow down there.

> Peanut butter is full of oil and sugar

USDA guidelines (based on Institute of Medicine research) allow 20-35% of your diet to come from fats, although only 10% from saturated fats. Peanut butter has 140 kcal from fat and 22.5 kcal from saturated fat. Assuming you aren't allergic, you should have no trouble fitting that into an ideal diet.

Also, their caution is against added sugars. "Added sugars are sugars and syrups that are added to foods or beverages when they are processed or prepared. This does not include naturally occurring sugars such as those in milk and fruits." The peanut butter in front of me has only 1g of sugar!

Buy the most natural kind you can, and enjoy your peanut butter.

CA_Underdog

> I eat original yoplait yogurt (more whole food ingredients) but it's full of sugar.

I like to buy Fage 0% yogurt and then add honey to taste. The same protein/calcium with less sugar!

Vigilance88

> I eat original yoplait yogurt (more whole food ingredients) but it's full of sugar.

I like to buy Fage 0% yogurt and then add honey to taste. The same protein/calcium with less sugar!

:brokenheart: this is like giving a fix to an addict.

http://evolvinghealth.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/is-it-time-to-stop-blaming-insulin-for-fat-storage/
http://evolvinghealth.wordpress.com/2014/04/27/stop-singling-out-sugar/

helizi

There are a thousand different diets out there and they all seem to like bashing each other with exaggerated claims and out-of-context scientific studies. It sounds like you've tried to research healthy eating and run into conflicting information at every turn. But don't panic. We're a remarkably adaptable species of opportunistic omnivores who are capable surviving on a myriad of completely different diets. The excesses of the modern western diet are certainly capable of making us sick, but even that takes years and decades. So don't worry about what the 'right' diet is. The 'right' diet is the one you can eat every day and be happy and healthy. What do you like eating? What makes you feel good? Starches? Fats? Sweet things? All of them? Aim to eat foods that aren't too processed, be aware than an excess of anything probably isn't good for you, and learn to count calories if weight loss is your goal. Beyond that, don't stress.

jkwolly

:noway:

AJ_G

Woah! Slow down there.

> Peanut butter is full of oil and sugar

USDA guidelines (based on Institute of Medicine research) allow 20-35% of your diet to come from fats, although only 10% from saturated fats. Peanut butter has 140 kcal from fat and 22.5 kcal from saturated fat. Assuming you aren't allergic, you should have no trouble fitting that into an ideal diet.

Also, their caution is against added sugars. "Added sugars are sugars and syrups that are added to foods or beverages when they are processed or prepared. This does not include naturally occurring sugars such as those in milk and fruits." The peanut butter in front of me has only 1g of sugar!

Buy the most natural kind you can, and enjoy your peanut butter.

Unless you have a reason to avoid sugar, it doesn't matter how much sugar you have, it's more important to track total carbohydrate intake...

knra_grl

I'm assuming excess amount of anything can be harmful for you. Everything in moderation is the middle of the road, safe ground for everything. I think you're over thinking it and making it more complicated than it has to be.

+1

JossFit

I'm assuming excess amount of anything can be harmful for you. Everything in moderation is the middle of the road, safe ground for everything. I think you're over thinking it and making it more complicated than it has to be.

+1

+2

Unless you have specific medical considerations (allergies, removed gallbladder, etc.) there is no reason you need to cut anything out of your diet entirely. There will always be contradictory information out there, so unless something is PROVEN to be harmful to you, or just plain makes you feel icky when you eat it, don't be afraid.

MissJenniLee

ETA: Your best best is to quit believing EVERYTHING you read/watch/hear about food and nutrition. Check out peer-reviewed studies for a more accurate (and probably less food demonizing) info.

That's why I am discussing it here. Because I am trying to get my diet in order and it's difficult when every diet fights the next. It's like trying to find a religion.

MissJenniLee

If you really believe all that I don't even know what to say or link to, to make you change your mind about food.
Food isn't the enemy. I'd say read about food, but it seems you've been reading too much and gotten bad info everywhere.

I didn't say I believed any of it. This is what I am reading. I'm trying to plan out a diet good for me while doing research and the research is nothing less than overwhelming and confusing. I closed right out of one page when I started to read a women go off about how veggies aren't that great for you and fatty processed food isn't that bad. It just seemed she wanted to take an opposing opinion.

MissJenniLee

There are a thousand different diets out there and they all seem to like bashing each other with exaggerated claims and out-of-context scientific studies. It sounds like you've tried to research healthy eating and run into conflicting information at every turn. But don't panic. We're a remarkably adaptable species of opportunistic omnivores who are capable surviving on a myriad of completely different diets. The excesses of the modern western diet are certainly capable of making us sick, but even that takes years and decades. So don't worry about what the 'right' diet is. The 'right' diet is the one you can eat every day and be happy and healthy. What do you like eating? What makes you feel good? Starches? Fats? Sweet things? All of them? Aim to eat foods that aren't too processed, be aware than an excess of anything probably isn't good for you, and learn to count calories if weight loss is your goal. Beyond that, don't stress.

This is the kind of reply I was looking for. Thank you!

MissJenniLee

The reason why I am doing so much research is because I am sick often. I have serious digestive issues and have had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, blood work, allergy testing, etc.. which came up with nothing. I'm still throwing up a lot, diarrhea, ibs, lots and lots of excessive acid, and lots of stomach/abdominal pains. I also have a very weak immune system which they also cannot figure out what is wrong. Now I am learning that foods can very well be causing this in me. It is a definite concern. But how can I tell what's bogus and what's not?

CA_Underdog

Sorry to hear that. Given your special needs, have you discussed diet with your doctors or a registered dietician, perhaps a specialist in this area?

sarahcav123

The reason why I am doing so much research is because I am sick often. I have serious digestive issues and have had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, blood work, allergy testing, etc.. which came up with nothing. I'm still throwing up a lot, diarrhea, ibs, lots and lots of excessive acid, and lots of stomach/abdominal pains. I also have a very weak immune system which they also cannot figure out what is wrong. Now I am learning that foods can very well be causing this in me. It is a definite concern. But how can I tell what's bogus and what's not?

I think different foods have different effects on people. For example, some people are lactose intolerant, whereas others are not. Some people react badly to nuts, others don't. Some people have severe bouts of digestive issues following fatty foods, whereas others may not. This is true for many foods - it is a very individual thing. I can relate to your digestive issues, since I suffer with them too. However, it is just a case of trial and error I'm afraid. Try to stop listening to what's being sensationalised in the media about "bad foods" and instead listen to what your body is telling you. I've managed to figure out what my body can and cannot handle, and from that I feel much better. Hopefully, in time - you will be able to do the same.

Good luck x

MillyWriter

Jenni you can go to winco with me and get real peanut butter. Out of the jar is mainly just oil flavored like peanuts. Also, the yoplait isnt too bad. Like the other guy said. I eat fage greek yogurt. Also I eat oikos sometimes. Fage is the better though. Salad dressing you should make your own if you are concerned with the ingredients. I made one the other day with balsamic vinegar water strawberries kiwi lemon and a little evoo. Also fruit should be eaten in the morning and afternoon as it gives you your energy/natural sugars and eat more vegetables in the late afternoon and evening. If you eat fruit after a cooked meal it causes the food in your belly to ferment so since you have a sensitive tummy see if eating fruit earlier helps. Also if you are craving sweets or carbs later in the evening its because you haven't had enough fruit in your day. Just eat what feels right to your body and continue to make those small changes as time goes on and your body adjusts.

Chaskavitch

There are many many foods that are known to be common-ish allergens (well, common enough that they have been pointed at as an allergen, anyhow). Look up the Paleo Auto-Immune Protocol, the GAPS diet, or look for some sort of elimination diet to find a list, and see if any of them are things that make you feel worse than others. If you're super dedicated, try to cut them ALL out of your diet for a while, see if you feel better, then add them back in one at a time to see which one is making you sick. Honestly, I imagine it is SUPER difficult, and I haven't done this myself, but I know that I would never have thought of some of the things that people are mildly allergic to. Good luck, and I hope you end up feeling better!

MissJenniLee

Just went to Sprouts today and got a ton of natural/organic foods. I even found almond milk ice cream (organic). I have vegan and vegetarian food filling up my fridge.