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There are 'BAD' foods

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Replies

  • Posts: 4,301 Member
    True, I don't have conclusive evidence, but based on the foods being eaten I think it's still a reasonable statement to say that many are coming short.

    True, but most people eat for adherence and long term goals. So unless you view the diary daily you aren't really sure. Maybe they are logging a select few items for other reasons.

  • Posts: 15,317 Member
    True. But again, it seems to me that many people on here aren't eating enough fruits and vegetables (even on a mostly regular basis) to meet those particular RDAs.

    How do you know this?
  • Posts: 4,301 Member
    edited January 2016
    Aside from those with very high calorie requirements (over 3500 calories a day), it's extremely difficult to get 100% of every single micronutrient and still eat those foods. I'm not at all saying one can't be healthy in general eating a balanced diet and including a small amount of pop tarts, but most likely you won't find too many people who get 100% of all vitamins and minerals and still eat low nutrient dense food. So, since this is not something that is easily achievable, I'd say it makes pop tarts unhealthy in this regard.
    Also, food dyes have been shown to have negative consequences in some cases.

    Nope. If someone eats chicken or a serving of fish, some dark leafy greens and a potato they are nailing quite a few RDA's with plenty of calories left for other stuff. Eat the rainbow as best you can each *day*, eat nutrient dense foods for your goals, blah blah blah


    *edit
  • Posts: 7,386 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »

    Why would a Keebler cookie be a "bad" food if you've eaten a balanced diet all day, are within your calorie goals, have hit/come reasonably close to your macro goals, and are having that cookie as a snack because you have room under your calorie limit for it and it sounds good at the moment?

    Context and dosage. No such thing as bad foods, but there is such a thing as a bad diet/eating habits overall. A Keebler cookie, or a bowl of ice cream, or a Big Mac or french fries or whatever aren't "bad" within the context of an overall balanced diet. Subsisting mostly or entirely upon those items would be a bad idea, just as subsisting entirely upon a diet of broccoli or kale or fresh fruits or chicken would be.

    Driving through a school zone at 40 mph at 7:30 am on a weekday would be bad. Driving through a school zone at 40 mph at 1:00 am on a Saturday wouldn't carry the same risks. Context.

    A-fricking-men.

    I just think there are two views on this issue and I doubt anyone here is going to change anyone else's mind. Bottom line? I think the right attitude for this whole site is "do what works for you." If labeling something as 'bad' helps you? Terrific. Others, like me, might not agree, but what does that matter? Do what works as long as you aren't hurting yourself.
  • Posts: 2,577 Member
    I singled out magnesium and potassium for a reason. A medium banana has 8% of the RDA for magnesium along with 9% of the RDA for potassium. A medium baked potato with the skin has 12% magnesium and 20% potassium. Unless you're basically going out of your way to get in as much potassium and magnesium as you can, it's just not that easy to get to 100% (particularly potassium). I'd love to see a diary of someone who is getting in 4700 mg of potassium from food alone.

  • Posts: 15,317 Member
    I singled out magnesium and potassium for a reason. A medium banana has 8% of the RDA for magnesium along with 9% of the RDA for potassium. A medium baked potato with the skin has 12% magnesium and 20% potassium. Unless you're basically going out of your way to get in as much potassium and magnesium as you can, it's just not that easy to get to 100% (particularly potassium). I'd love to see a diary of someone who is getting in 4700 mg of potassium from food alone.

    Your diary is closed, you go first.
  • Posts: 4,301 Member
    I singled out magnesium and potassium for a reason. A medium banana has 8% of the RDA for magnesium along with 9% of the RDA for potassium. A medium baked potato with the skin has 12% magnesium and 20% potassium. Unless you're basically going out of your way to get in as much potassium and magnesium as you can, it's just not that easy to get to 100% (particularly potassium). I'd love to see a diary of someone who is getting in 4700 mg of potassium from food alone.
    So, what else does a potato provide? Any other micronutrients? Your starting to remind me of someone who talks of all the vitamins and micros in butter. I can get 100% of some vitamins from butter...if I eat a 1,000 calories of it. Why do you need 100% potassium? Create your own diary entries for your own variable/concerns/for diet. Give it a try and get back to us with your findings. Good luck.
  • Posts: 651 Member
    suziecue20 wrote: »
    I see lots of posts stating that there are no 'bad' foods but if this is the case why do we have expressions like 'naughty but nice' when we have eaten something scrumptious we know we shouldn't have?

    I know that with CICO I could spend all or most of my daily calories on foods like full fat cheeses, cakes, pastries, biscuits [cookies], ice cream, deep fried chips [fries], sausages, fatty meat and still lose weight but at what cost to my health?

    There are lots of foods that are 'bad' but obviously only when they are eaten in high volume and too frequently.

    I eat 'bad' foods occasionally under the premise that 'a little bit of what you fancy does you good' and the fact that they stop me feeling deprived and becoming a self-righteous martyr.

    So come on, admit it folks, there are 'bad' foods.

    Essentially, yes, there are bad foods and good foods. Many of the foods on your 'bad' list above are on my 'good' list and that is no problem as it is just a simplified label based on my food values and priorities. I lost a bunch of weight and improved health and function by finally correctly identifying my personal bad foods and minimizing or eliminating them from my diet.
  • Posts: 5 Member
    Of course highly processed foods filled with chemicals are bad. What idiot would argue with that?
  • Posts: 24,208 Member
    I singled out magnesium and potassium for a reason. A medium banana has 8% of the RDA for magnesium along with 9% of the RDA for potassium. A medium baked potato with the skin has 12% magnesium and 20% potassium. Unless you're basically going out of your way to get in as much potassium and magnesium as you can, it's just not that easy to get to 100% (particularly potassium). I'd love to see a diary of someone who is getting in 4700 mg of potassium from food alone.

    As far as I know there is no RDA or RDI for potassium. You have specific references for 4700 mg??
  • Posts: 15,317 Member
    Of course highly processed foods filled with chemicals are bad. What idiot would argue with that?

    Possibly you?
  • Posts: 4,301 Member
    Of course highly processed foods filled with chemicals are bad. What idiot would argue with that?

    Can you list the chemicals?

  • Posts: 2,238 Member
    As for the multivitamin, yes that is true, although one would miss out on other components that certain foods (particularly fruits and vegetables) provide.

    When it comes to magnesium and potassium, those are very tricky to meet the RDAs from food alone. I've heard it said on here that because those nutrients aren't listed in many foods, a lot of people probably meet the recommendations. However, looking at a lot of the diaries from others on here, I have a hard time believing that.

    Potassium doesn't even have an RDA in the US.

    According to the Mayo Clinic, the reason potassium is not included on nutritional labels and has no RDA is because deficiency is extremely uncommon. Potassium is found in almost all foods, and pretty much all meat, some dairy (milk and yogurt), and many fruits and vegetables have good amounts of potassium.

    Magnesium is another one that is typically hard to actually be deficient in, since your body can stockpile excess in your bones, and the kidneys are good at moderating the amount of magnesium that is excreted in your urine.
  • Posts: 15,532 Member
    I singled out magnesium and potassium for a reason. A medium banana has 8% of the RDA for magnesium along with 9% of the RDA for potassium. A medium baked potato with the skin has 12% magnesium and 20% potassium. Unless you're basically going out of your way to get in as much potassium and magnesium as you can, it's just not that easy to get to 100% (particularly potassium). I'd love to see a diary of someone who is getting in 4700 mg of potassium from food alone.

    Again, with the labels and therefore the entries being inaccurate, you really don't know.
  • Posts: 14,464 Member
    I admit I read page 1, 2, and 7. Just wondering. Has anyone asked if there is such a thing as "bad" children? I think the same rule applies. Demonise a food and you may fail to see the good. Take avocados for instance. When fat was "bad" avocados were, too. But there are so many good things about avocados.

    How about snails fed champagne?

    Raw oysters?

    A valentine Twinkie colored with Red food dye no. 2?
  • Posts: 4,301 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    I admit I read page 1, 2, and 7. Just wondering. Has anyone asked if there is such a thing as "bad" children? I think the same rule applies. Demonise a food and you may fail to see the good. Take avocados for instance. When fat was "bad" avocados were, too. But there are so many good things about avocados.

    How about snails fed champagne?

    Raw oysters?

    A valentine Twinkie colored with Red food dye no. 2?

    Your list is probably nearing the naughty list. Except the avocado.....then again.....
  • Posts: 15,317 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    I admit I read page 1, 2, and 7. Just wondering. Has anyone asked if there is such a thing as "bad" children? I think the same rule applies. Demonise a food and you may fail to see the good. Take avocados for instance. When fat was "bad" avocados were, too. But there are so many good things about avocados.

    How about snails fed champagne?

    Raw oysters?

    A valentine Twinkie colored with Red food dye no. 2?

    No one used the 'bad" children analogy, you're good.
  • Posts: 2,238 Member
    I singled out magnesium and potassium for a reason. A medium banana has 8% of the RDA for magnesium along with 9% of the RDA for potassium. A medium baked potato with the skin has 12% magnesium and 20% potassium. Unless you're basically going out of your way to get in as much potassium and magnesium as you can, it's just not that easy to get to 100% (particularly potassium). I'd love to see a diary of someone who is getting in 4700 mg of potassium from food alone.

    Unless you have kidney problems or are on certain diuretics, you don't actually need anything like 4700 mg per day. The 4700 mg was not the amount of potassium you need to avoid deficiency, which is much, much lower - it was the "optimal' amount of potassium for its positive effects on blood pressure.

    Your body recycles potassium very efficiently, and only about 200 mg are lost per day through urine and other environmental loss. At a minimum you must at least replace that.
  • Posts: 18,343 Member
    Of course highly processed foods filled with chemicals are bad. What idiot would argue with that?

    Solid contribution, thanks for joining the conversation.
  • Posts: 2,577 Member
    RDAs for nutrients are listed here http://www.thirdplanetfood.com/rda.htm

    I already know I don't get 100% of the RDA for potassium and magnesium, and this is with eating numerous foods made from scratch and less processed than many of the foods I see in others' diaries.

    I don't think that most people are necessarily deficient in these micros, but rather eating the RDA would provide more optimal health. I'm not saying that people need to be eating more than the RDA, but again my point is that I don't think most people are getting the RDA for these two nutrients.
  • Posts: 651 Member
    rankinsect wrote: »

    Potassium doesn't even have an RDA in the US.

    According to the Mayo Clinic, the reason potassium is not included on nutritional labels and has no RDA is because deficiency is extremely uncommon. Potassium is found in almost all foods, and pretty much all meat, some dairy (milk and yogurt), and many fruits and vegetables have good amounts of potassium.

    Magnesium is another one that is typically hard to actually be deficient in, since your body can stockpile excess in your bones, and the kidneys are good at moderating the amount of magnesium that is excreted in your urine.

    I've never read anywhere that it is hard to be deficient in magnesium, in fact completely the opposite is said routinely. Where are you getting your info on magnesium deficiency as I could not locate anything stating that it is hard to be deficient in !magnesium.
  • Posts: 2,238 Member
    umayster wrote: »

    I've never read anywhere that it is hard to be deficient in magnesium, in fact completely the opposite is said routinely. Where are you getting your info on magnesium deficiency as I could not locate anything stating that it is hard to be deficient in !magnesium.

    From the NIH:

    "Symptomatic magnesium deficiency due to low dietary intake in otherwise-healthy people is uncommon because the kidneys limit urinary excretion of this mineral [3]. However, habitually low intakes or excessive losses of magnesium due to certain health conditions, chronic alcoholism, and/or the use of certain medications can lead to magnesium deficiency."
  • Posts: 28 Member
    . If they are not meeting their nutritional needs, it is because they chose not to. [/quote]

    Or they don't have the tools, knowledge, and means to do so.

  • Posts: 1,706 Member
    There are foods I consider treats and foods I consider "not worth it". Pretty much everything else is fair game to be consumed as long as I like the taste of it.

    When I'm actively dieting a lot more foods cross into the treats/not worth it column.
  • Posts: 24,208 Member
    edited January 2016
    RDAs for nutrients are listed here http://www.thirdplanetfood.com/rda.htm

    I already know I don't get 100% of the RDA for potassium and magnesium, and this is with eating numerous foods made from scratch and less processed than many of the foods I see in others' diaries.

    I don't think that most people are necessarily deficient in these micros, but rather eating the RDA would provide more optimal health. I'm not saying that people need to be eating more than the RDA, but again my point is that I don't think most people are getting the RDA for these two nutrients.

    Those aren't RDAs, site author states that in parathesis she's substituted other values (AI) for these. Not the same thing. At all.

    AIs generally represent what an average individual may get on a ref diet. Not a need.
  • Posts: 3,303 Member
    a lot of people justify their unhealthy habits and weights by stating that there are no bad foods, lifting heavy is all you need etc etc.....i think it is more than anything else just an effort to justify in their own minds their suboptimal choices regarding food and exercise. results don't lie though so visually you are able to see who is who.
  • Posts: 10,322 Member
    edited January 2016
    NormInv wrote: »
    a lot of people justify their unhealthy habits and weights by stating that there are no bad foods, lifting heavy is all you need etc etc.....i think it is more than anything else just an effort to justify in their own minds their suboptimal choices regarding food and exercise. results don't lie though so visually you are able to see who is who.

    Yea, it has nothing to do with the perfect health markets and high fives from my doctor...

    #proofisinthepudding
  • Posts: 15,532 Member
    edited January 2016
    ruralife wrote: »
    .
    Or they don't have the tools, knowledge, and means to do so.

    With the exception of people living in poverty, I find it hard to believe that people who are using this site are unable to access the information needed to make informed choices. Trying to sort though the excessive amounts of misinformation is another thing altogether though.
  • Posts: 30,886 Member
    rankinsect wrote: »

    Potassium doesn't even have an RDA in the US.

    According to the Mayo Clinic, the reason potassium is not included on nutritional labels and has no RDA is because deficiency is extremely uncommon. Potassium is found in almost all foods, and pretty much all meat, some dairy (milk and yogurt), and many fruits and vegetables have good amounts of potassium.

    Magnesium is another one that is typically hard to actually be deficient in, since your body can stockpile excess in your bones, and the kidneys are good at moderating the amount of magnesium that is excreted in your urine.

    This.

    Also, when I logged for a while on cronometer using the USDA information (which does include these) I found that I typically easily met the amount that crono had as the default goal.

    Anyway, as others have said, there are bad diets, not bad foods (other than things that are actively harmful at small doses -- I do avoid transfats). I might call something I dislike a bad food on occasion too, can't promise I haven't.

    I ran 17.2 miles today and did some extra walking too, so I happily ate a toasted ham and cheese miga sandwich and turkey and cheese on a croissant (both from a little bakery), followed by a piece of my friend's pumpkin bread. Those are things I don't eat all that often, but I certainly don't think they were bad. (They were delicious.)
  • Posts: 2,577 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »

    Yea, it has nothing to do with the perfect health markets and high fives from my doctor...
    I'm not disputing that, but there are some things that aren't routinely checked at a general checkup. I went in for a checkup a few months ago and found out that my body's glucose regulation is not behaving perfectly. But the particular test used to diagnose this is not one that most people would get tested on (unless there is a reason to suspect that the patient is having blood glucose issues). The key thing is that I had no idea at all that my body wasn't regulating glucose properly. I didn't have any symptoms that I thought would indicate it, and my doctor wasn't necessarily going to use that particular test if I hadn't requested it. I'm just using this as a personal example to say that it's possible to get a regular checkup and miss something that's not right.

This discussion has been closed.