Three ‘Healthy Foods’ You Should Avoid Eating

28th March 2012

By Jordan Miller

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

As our consciousness continues to evolve it is only natural that we learn and appreciate new things. In this current system of governance however, most people tend to listen to authority or specialists to make decisions for them. On the other hand, there is an ever growing number of people awakening to find that the answers have always been known to them through intuition.

Many people are looking to the outside world for a generic answer. The problem with this type of reasoning is that we get caught up in the idea that there is a set of criteria that should be applied to all. This is not only misleading, but it is wrong on all accounts because we are all biochemically different, and thus we require different nutrients to fuel our bodily processes.

With information coming at us from several different sources (mainstream media, the food pyramid, and countless other websites, including our own), it is sometimes overwhelming. It takes research and personal experience to figure out what works best for you! Considering this premise, there are foods that are often marketed as healthy, but in fact they are not. In an effort to help you filter through some of the misinformation, we have listed below some of these foods.

1. Soy

Soy milk and tofu are considered by many to be a healthy protein alternative to meat and dairy. In our experience and research we actually believe soy (in its non-fermented form) is no better than the quality of most factory farmed meats. Essentially, most of the soy products sold on the market today are extracts or derivatives from genetically modified soy crops. Nearly 90% of all soy crops in the USA and in many parts of the world are genetically modified. Since we are now producing so much of this monoculture (like GMO corn) which is primarily used for biofuel, it is easy for companies to use the remaining crop in our food to make a little extra profit – indeed a sad reality. Several studies are now linking premature death and many forms of cancer to its ingestion. Many of us in the western world are under the impression that products such as soy milk, tofu, and soy protein isolates and extracts are good for us. This can’t be further from the truth; it’s merely a powerful marketing strategy by companies to get you to eat more soy in an effort for them to make a good return. Hundreds if not thousands of clinical and laboratory studies are now linking soy to a variety of different illnesses, including: malnutrition, digestive distress, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, infertility, birth defects, immune system breakdown, heart disease and cancer. If you are looking to consume soy, always do so in small quantities, and make sure the product is fermented (i.e. tempeh, miso, natto) and organic. For more information, please check out The Whole Soy Story by Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD.

2. Fruit Juice

There are some common misconception about fruit juice these days. People actually believe that juice products we buy in grocery stores are actually good for us; probably because of the fact that the same companies that have always sold the product are now promoting juice as a healthier alternative – given that pop is now getting a bad rap. The truth is, commercial fruit juice is far from healthy; in fact, it can be considered just as unhealthy as some pop/soda. You see, most conventional store bought juices are loaded with sugar. Through the process of juicing, the fruit is striped form its natural fibres, then it is heated to kill any potential pathogens, and most times chemically derived sugars are then added to the mix, creating a product that is 90-95% sugar. When juice is consumed, the body instantly converts it into sugar, thereby throwing one’s blood sugar out of balance, and if consumed overtime, can lead to obesity and type II diabetes. If you get a hankering for juice, always ensure to drink juice that has been fresh squeezed, and keep your consumption to a minimum, as whole made juice is also loaded with sugar. Alternatively, always drink water when possible.

3. Agave Syrup

Many people in the health community considered this product healthy at one point or another, ourselves included. Only recently have we discovered that this product is not actually healthy. For some, including Dr. Mercola, this product is no better than high fructose corn syrup. Agave syrup is most times highly processed, leaving it both devoid of nutrients and high in fructose (sugar). If you are looking for a healthier alternative, raw honey will do the trick. Even though raw honey has many beneficial nutrients, it should only be consumed once in a while, as this too is high in sugar.

Honourable Mentions

• Pasteurized Dairy: These foods are considered very acidic, and actually leave your blood leaching minerals form your bones into to stabilize blood pH. For this reason, dairy actually takes calcium form one’s body rather than introducing it. Further to this, almost all commercial varieties of pasteurized dairy products are full of pus and hormones. If you want to learn more about dairy, click here, or check out our post on dairy. or pick up a copy of The China Study by T. Colin Campbell.
• Farmed Fish: Treated much the same as factory farmed animals, farmed fish, are usually contained in small areas, fed, soy and corn derivatives, and live in confined spaces, forced to live in atrocious conditions. Many often develop parasites due to them swimming around in their own feces. For this reason, massive amounts of chemicals are poured into the water in order to neutralize parasites. If you like to consume fish, always look for varieties that wild, and/or organic. Further to this, you may also want to verify the levels of mercury in a particular fish. Please click here for a list of the most and least contaminated fish.
• Cooking with Olive Oil: When olive oil is consumed at room temperature, it is extremely healthy for you. However, if you cook with it, it can be detrimental to your health. Olive oil is not a very stable oil, so when it is heated, it changes its chemical structure which can have carcinogenic effects on our bodies. Always ensure to cook with an oil that is much more stable at high heat, like Coconut Oil.
• Subway: This company has us believe that its subs are the healthiest thing for us. This is merely a clever marketing ploy they have presented us with. For example, their meats are processed, most of their dressings are loaded with processed sugars, and they sell cookies, pop and chips as side dishes. How is this considered healthy? See the ingredients in most of their products for yourself here.

When choosing a diet, always ensure that you are experimenting with the food to see if it works for you. As everyone is made differently, it is important to experiment with different food options. Most importantly, always ensure to eat whole, organic foods, in order to avoid many of the ‘foods” listed above. Continue to research; when you are in doubt always look to your instincts for guidance.

About the Author

Jordan is passionate about his health; he has overcome illness through dietary and lifestyle changes, and the art of practicing a positive mindset daily. Jordan currently holds a B.A. in Political Science and History and is currently learning about traditional North American medicinal herbs, in hopes of becoming a Certified Herbalist.
For more information, please visit the following sites; guidinginstincts.com, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or Pinterest

10 Reasons to Become Self-Sufficient & 10 Ways to Get There

By Michael Edwards and Jeffrey Green

Activist Post

We are now three to five generations removed from the rural backbone that strengthened America. The world at large has undergone a similar transformation as the promise of easier work has created a migration to big cities. These mega-cities could be seen as an experiment gone awry, as general well-being has declined, with suicide rates increasing across the world. Crowded conditions and economic strife have led to rampant crime, pollution, corporate malfeasance, and a dog-eat-dog type of competition that can be described as a temporary insanity.

The economic crisis we are living through has been the final straw for many people, as promises of a better, easier, and more creative life seem to have been sold to us by carnival-style tricksters who are laughing all the way to (their) bank.

Here are the top reasons for becoming self-sufficient; these are based on fundamental, systemic concerns for why undertaking this life change will not be a fly-by-night fad, but rather a long-lasting means for personal independence.

Reasons to Become Self-Sufficient

1. Freedom from market manipulation – The traditional market-driven investment vehicles are more and more obviously controlled by traders and banking institutions. The debacle of the private Federal Reserve Bank is just the icing on the cake to a previous decade full of Ponzi-type schemes. Now, the institutionalized looting of retirement money is being planned.
2. Hedging against inflation – Have you noticed the price of goods lately? Even Wal-Mart is silently raising its prices. People might have a choice whether or not to buy stocks or gold, but people have to eat — the current increases in basic goods portend hyperinflation, and will not ease anytime soon. Food shortages could make the problem exponentially worse.
3. 3. Increasing health and wellness – It has now been revealed that some “organic” items have been falsely labeled. In addition, a host of “GMO-free” brands have been exposed as deceptive. GMO food lacks the nutritional value of what can be grown in the average backyard. GMO mega-corporation, Monsanto, has a sordid history and has continuously trampled on our trust. It is time that we do the work ourselves.
4. Building community strength – We constantly hear people say, “I don’t even see my neighbors, let alone know anything about them.” Of course not: 80-hour workweeks and grabbing meals-to-go doesn’t exactly promote community interaction. With such little time to interact with our immediate community, it is no wonder why many people report feeling disconnected. In these trying times, it is a local community that can offer the best support.
5. Working for yourself – Working hours are increasing, pay is often decreasing, and corporate executives are taking bigger bonuses than ever. This is leading to a prevailing disgust, as people are being forced to admit that they are living lives of near-indentured servitude. Even for those not working in corporations, working for someone else is rarely as satisfying as creating and working for something where every minute you spend is yours alone.
6. Having more free time – We have been taught to believe that life on a farm is arduous sun-up to sun-down drudgery where you collapse at the end of the day. This is not so much the case anymore. Sure, the setup of any farm or self-sufficient endeavor is often time-consuming and laborious, but new technologies and new skills of manufacturing food via permaculture and aquaponics are offering low-cost start up and minimal maintenance, as these techniques serve to create symbiotic systems that are remarkably self-governing.
7. Generating food and energy security – The planet is running out of food and traditional energy. Climate volatility, market forces, GM foods, and rising costs of harvesting and transporting food are all conspiring to create food shortages even in the First World. This trend will not reverse. And our oil-soaked way of life is being threatened by mounting evidence that the oil lifeline could be disconnecting rather soon. We should be looking to the air, sun, geothermal, and wave power to wean us from the energy grid.
8. Acquiring an appreciation for life – As one gets closer to life-giving forces, there is a natural appreciation for how things come into being. When you have created your garden, toiled there, selected the best for harvest, and have prepared that food for your family and community, the significance of what you have taken part in can be transformative.
9. Restoring balance – Nearly everything in our society is at a peak, or is drastically out of balance. The systems and governments to which we have looked for balance restoration are missing in action. We must take it upon ourselves to restore our own financial and environmental balance sheet. The best way to do that is to reduce our overconsumption.
10. Becoming a producer, not a consumer – This is the best way to reduce your cost of living and increase your self-sufficiency. In the U.S. over 70% of the economy is based on people buying things. This is a clear sign of imbalance and, by extension, it is not sustainable. Furthermore, we also have seen corporations race to the bottom to find low-cost production on the backs of desperate people. The exploitation of the Third World to clothe, feed, and entertain the First World is something that most people do not want to think about, but it is abominable. Again, new technologies are making it easier than ever to produce your own food, and even your own clothes.

As the cliche goes: Freedom is never free. But it sure beats the alternative.

10 Ways to Get to Self-Sufficiency

The global economic collapse has become an eye-opening experience for many people. The ongoing crisis continues to create more joblessness at a time when the cost of essential items like food and energy continue to rise.

Inflation is only expected to continue due to excessive printing of money to compensate for the bursting economic bubbles, which were arguably created by printing too much money with artificially low interest rates in the first place.

The 2008 price shocks in oil followed by the financial collapse have led many people to begin taking measures to become more self-sufficient. And recently the ominous signs of food shortages, the weakening dollar, and the rising price of oil all point to a similar atmosphere as 2008. Some have taken steps to conserve electricity, reduce spending and consumption, while others are planting kitchen gardens and installing solar panels on their homes. Even living off the grid is becoming a mainstream concept for those seeking independence.

Indeed, becoming more self-sufficient is proving to make common sense whether one anticipates more hardship to come or not. Sure, many of us would love to live completely off the grid without giving up everyday comforts, but this is not practical for most of us. However, there are many steps that can be taken to move towards self-sufficiency which can be relatively painless and quite rewarding.

The following are 10 suggestions that can lead to independent living:

1. Reduce your debt: Especially get your credit card debt under control, since it is entirely corrupt. Call your credit card companies and ask for a work out plan similar to what they received from the taxpayer bailout. If they don’t cooperate to your satisfaction, there are some reasons not to pay at all.
2. Reduce your consumption: Evaluate your current budget and determine absolute necessity. Push your comfort level to find areas where you can scale back, and then identify comforts that you’re willing to sacrifice.
3. Reduce energy use: Change light bulbs, have entertainment systems plugged into a splitter that can be shut off completely to reduce phantom charges, etc. Carefully plan shopping trips and other transportation needs.
4. Store energy: Always have back-up propane storage and a large wood pile for a rainy day. Investing in a generator of some kind (even a solar generator) will be money well spent.
5. Invest in food storage: With a falling dollar and rising food prices, why not create a food savings account? Get some good books, dehydrators and vacuum sealers for storage methods. Best storable food items are grains (rice, beans, flour), canned goods, seeds, and some prepackaged items.
6. Produce your own food: Replace your lawn with a garden, fruit trees, and keep chickens. Go on hunting and gathering adventures for nuts, fish, and wild game. Store extra garden seeds!
7. Learn new skills: Surf the Internet, read books, and take courses in practical skills like gardening, cooking with whole foods, composting, carpentry, alternative energy, natural health and wellness etc.
8. Start a side business: Turn your passion or hobby into a small side business to make some supplemental income. Who knows, it may become your path to full financial independence.
9. Install alternative energy: Start with small installations like a solar hot water system, a solar freezer, a solar attic fan, or a wood stove etc. If you have limited funds, tip-toe your way to independence.
10. Suggest solutions for your community: Start or join a local cooperative for food, products, and services. Engage your local community in discussions to take steps for self-sufficiency. Share your story and build support.

These steps will save money as we move closer to the ultimate prize of independence. Each action we take to live more simply frees us from the control systems put in place to make our lives more complicated, more toxic, and less independent.

http://wakeup-world.com/2012/02/07/