8 Deadly Foods You Should Definitely Start Eating … TODAY

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“Don’t you know there are chemicals in that?”

 I glared at him,  disdain and pity spread across my face.

 I prepared my response …

 “Dude, there are chemicals in everything. Don’t you know that if we didn’t have chemicals, we wouldn’t be alive? Besides, even if you mean “artificial ingredients” rather than “chemicals” that doesn’t mean they have a negative impact… And anyway, haven’t you read the Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology’s latest report on how stuff like this is perfectly safe?”

 I opened my mouth, ready to launch into my tirade.

 But what came out was –

 “Really?

 Oh well, I’ll take my chances.

 I had an apple this morning, so maybe that’ll balance it out.”

 

 

I’d been halfway through my pot of sugar-free jelly when Steve had asked his chemicals question.

I knew why he did it. A few years ago I’d have been EXACTLY the same.

I was your archetypal clean eater – convinced that anything manufactured, processed or man-made was bad, and that we needed to avoid “chemicals” at all cost.

These days though, I’m wiser, and I know the benefits of research, evidence and context.

Is it bad to drink 100 cans of Diet Coke per day?

Of course! But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a few with no risk of any potential dangers.

The same goes for anything. And it works the other way too – we all know how important water is; yet too much of that is toxic.

Even fruits and veggies are potentially dangerous – take Brussels sprouts – they have arsenic in for crying out loud, yet you don’t see news stories saying about how the Food Babe has started a campaign to get them taken off school menus. (Though maybe she should actually – no one likes the stinky kid who’s full of gas every afternoon!)

 

The Devil is in the Dosage

 

The purpose of this blog is a little tongue in cheek.

Every food in here has, at some point in recent years, been demonized for its supposed ill effects on health.

Yet like so many foods out there, none of them have any inherent dangers when eaten in moderation, and in the context of a diet that’s balanced and nutrient-dense over all.

I could have picked ANY foods or drinks to go in here today, but instead I’ve opted for ones that either –

 

1)   Have been demonised more so than others

2)   Actually have some surprising health benefits

3)   Have hidden “dangers” you probably don’t know about.

 

 

1. Diet Drinks

 

Okay, not a food, but if there’s one consumable that’s received more stick from the media and general public over the last few decades, it’s been diet drinks.

In fact, while in Waitrose recently, I overheard one staff member telling a customer –

“You’d be better off with full-sugar Coke, it’s actually better for weight loss than the diet stuff, as that has artificial sweeteners.”

It’s that old thing of there being some sketchy studies that show a mild correlation between consuming artificial sweeteners and increasing hunger.

My response?

I’d rather have a can of Cherry Pepsi Max at 4 calories to cure my craving than abstain, then give in to a 600-calorie piece of chocolate cake 2 hours later.

How about the cancer link?

It’s crap.

Here you go :

Recommended Reading – http://examine.com/faq/is-diet-soda-bad-for-you/

 

Why You Should Eat This:

It’s a great way to cure your sweet tooth temporarily, and means if you’re on a night out you don’t have to be the weirdo ordering a mineral water.

 

 

2. Bread

 

Poor old bread.

What did it ever do to us apart from provide humanity with delicious sandwiches.

I blame the work of Dr. William Davis and “Wheat Belly.”

 

The anti-grain bandwagon is now so loaded with passengers that they’re falling off the sides. (Or maybe they just can’t sustain the energy required to hang on with such a low-carb diet.)

I guess you could also add pasta, rice, cereals – any type of grain into the mix here, but I’m plucking for bread as the headliner.

 

Why You Should Eat This:

If I ask the average dieter 2 questions –

1. If I told you that you had to cut 1 food from your diet to lose weight today what would it be?

And

2. What food do you miss most when dieting?

The answer to both is “bread” a good 70% of the time. People bloody love sandwiches.

 

 

3. Subway

 

I’m a Subway fiend.

And okay, it’s not a food per se, but all fast food gets lumped in as being unhealthy, and people simply can’t believe it when I say that when I’m on the road in the UK, I’ll often visit Subway daily if I’m living out of a hotel for a few days.

Also, I had to get this in here as my favourite absurdly ridiculous cartoon character … I mean health journalist … the Food Babe seems to have gotten it into her air-filled head that Subway is somehow secret plotting to wipe out the human race.

 

Why You Should Eat This:

Need a quick lunch that’s macro friendly? Subway’s your best bet.

Not counting macros or calories, as you prefer to eat clean – Subway still beats Maccy Ds and Burger King.

 

 

4. Microwave Popcorn

Apparently, microwave popcorn causes breathing issues known as “popcorn lung” due the potential of inhaling gases with a compound known as diacetyl in them.

That’s according to Dr. Oz anyway … J

I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to die from some sort of disease, “popcorn lung” doesn’t sound like a bad one to pick.

It certainly beats Quack-Doctor-itis.

 

Why You Should Eat This:

You can fill a big bowl with popcorn and it still only comes in at 100-120 calories. Making it a pretty good snack, regardless of your macros.

 

 

5. White Potatoes

 

Ah, the humble spud.

We used to live off these, back in the days before Paleo.

… I mean, back in the days before Paleo protein powders, protein bars, and all those prehistoric recipes for muffins and brownies that we’ve only just discovered our cavemen ancestors used to make.

Along with the anti-grain police, the potato squad have been out in full force attempting to warn us of the “dangers” of the evil, insulin spiking white potato.

But aside from being damn tasty, white potatoes are highly nutrient-dense, and a great source of carbs.

 

Why You Should Eat This:

 

White potatoes are higher in vitamin C and protein, and lower in carbs and sugar than sweet potatoes, plus, despite their high glycemic index, they’re extremely satiating – http://advances.nutrition.org/content/4/3/356S.full

That study from the “Advances in Nutrition” journal concluded that –

“It is concluded that application of the glycemic index in isolation to judge the role of white vegetables in the diet and, specifically in the case of potato as consumed in ad libitum meals, has led to premature and possibly counterproductive dietary guidance.”

 

6. Bacon

 

“Sausages, ham, bacon and other processed meats appear to increase the risk of dying young, a study of half a million people across Europe suggests.”

Says the BBC website.

I’m not going to come out and say that processed meat is (quote-un-quote) healthy, but honestly, in moderation, it’ll do you no harm.

I included it here for the pure fact that people are often surprised at just how macro-friendly a lean bacon is.

Why You Should Eat This:

Because … it’s bacon. What’s not to like.

 

7. Legumes

 

Here we have another anti-Paleo entry.

According to those crazy folk, we all need to avoid legumes and beans at all costs as we’re not designed to eat them.

Beans contain lectins – and these can cause stomach aches and vomiting if the beans haven’t been soaked and cooked. They also have phytic acid, which binds to nutrients in your gut and prevents your body from absorbing them. Not only that, but they can be a real issue for anyone with IBS or GI problems.

However, all of this doesn’t outweigh the fact that beans are awesome.

First up, in modern day society, we do have the facilities needed to dry and cook beans, thus removing the lectin “risk.” (Sorry Paleo guys – cavemen may not have had the knowhow to do this, rendering them anti-Paleo, but then I don’t think there were cars or modern medicine around at that time either, and you’re quite happy to use those nowadays.)

When it comes to the studies too, beans have been shown, time and time again, to be at worst “neutral” in a diet, and more often than not, to have a positive impact on health, body composition and life expectancy.

Add to that beans being a staple in the diets of a number of the “Blue Zone” countries (those with highest life expectancies and lowest rates of disease) and you’re on to a winner.

See – http://www.nsca.com/uploadedfiles/nsca/inactive_content/program_books/ptc_2013_program_book/aragon.pdf

 

Why You Should Eat This:

 

A great source of fibre, micronutrients, and a good protein for vegetarians.

 

8. Beetroot …

 

… and pears, apples, bananas and mushrooms.

Why?

They all contain naturally-occurring formaldehyde.

 

They didn’t tell you THAT last time you went to the Doctors did they.

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and can be deadly to humans.

Thing is … it’s only deadly in huge doses.

Saying that the amount that’s present in the above foods means you shouldn’t eat them is as absurd as banning popcorn because of “popcorn lung” or completely avoiding artificial sweeteners.

 

Why You Should Eat This:

Vegetables should NEVER be excluded from your diet.

 

The Bottom Line

 

Whenever someone tells you that you should “never” eat a certain food, ask them why.

It’s likely that they either don’t have a reason, have heard some scaremongering news story, or are simply making up facts because they like sounding smart.

Okay, you probably shouldn’t eat fish from the Ciatrum river, or order the “Chernobyl Special” next time you visit the Ukraine, but aside from that, most foods are perfectly safe to eat.

Toxicity is dose dependant, and it all comes down to context.

I like the 80:20 rule.

If 80% of your diet is nutrient-dense, healthy foods, and you’re hitting your calories and/or macros, you needn’t worry about the minutia.

Now, go forth and make yourself that beetroot, bacon and bean sandwich, with a side of popcorn, a nice baked potato and a Coke Zero on the side… I think you’ll be safe.

 

What to Do Next …

Want a diet that doesn’t ban any food?

I mean ANY FOOD?

Flexible dieting is proven to be the only guaranteed way to lose fat, fast, without cutting out any food that you love.

We’re talking pizza, ice cream, chocolate, and even wine or beer.

Everything is tailored exactly to your goals, your physique, your schedule and your dieting history and preferences.

If Carlsberg did diets …

Check it out here.

 

 

 

Tags: fat loss, flexible dieting, health food, IIFYM, junk food, obesity