Chapter 9 - Eliminate SAD Foods Flashcards
(100 cards)
Three most offensive and over-emphasized elements of the Standard American Diet (SAD)
- Grains
- Sugars
- Refined high-polyunsaturated vegetable oils (including chemically altered partially hydrogenated trans fats and bottled vegetable/seed oils)
*when it comes to these foods, total elimination is advised
Partially hydrogenated trans fats are directly associated with
- diabetes
- obesity
- heart disease
- cancer
Rip-off-the-bandaid method
Ruthlessly discard any and all foods that don’t align with your new Primal way of eating
Stepwise approach
Get rid of the biggest food offenders first, then continue to cull your pantry and cupboards, gradually replacing SAD foods with Primal-friendly items instead
Refined high-polyunsaturated vegetable oils
Are arguably the most dangerous item you can eat
They are missing their hydrogen atoms and are, therefore, unstable and prone to oxidation
Oxidizing forms free-radical chain reactions that have been shown to damage cell membranes and other tissues…
Refined vegetable oils have been shown to damage
- cell membranes
- cardiovascular system
- immune system
- brain
Refined vegetable/seed oils are so unstable
That they can start to oxidize when exposed to:
- air
- light
- moisture
*accordingly, ingesting these agents promotes oxidative (free radical) damage to cells and tissues inside the body
Over time, free radical damage causes:
- premature aging
- skin disease
- heart disease
- liver damage
- immune dysfunction
- cancer
Chemically altered partially hydrogenated trans fats are created by:
Heating vegetable and seed oils at high temperatures and mixing them with toxic solvents to render them solid.
This is done solely to increase shelf life and not, contrary to popular belief, to enhance flavor.
All partially hydrogenated oils are considered
Trans fats
BUT there are certain trans fats, like conjugated linoleic acid, that are found in meat and dairy products
- there is no reason to avoid those naturally occurring fats, which offer assorted health benefits
Excess intake of high-polyunsaturated vegetable/seed oils (comprised mostly of omega-6 fatty acids)
Contribute to systemic inflammation by inhibiting the conversion of short-chain omega-3 into long chain omega-3s, forming inflammatory eicosanoids in tissues, and displacing anti-inflammatory omega-3s
*additionally, PUFA oils worsen insulin sensitivity
conjugated linoleic acid
A certain kind of trans fat, found in meat and dairy products — there is no reason to avoid these naturally occurring fats, which offer assorted health benefits
Examples of temperature-stable saturated fats that will not oxidize
- coconut oil
- butter/ghee
- animal fats (bacon grease, lard, etc.)
Also,
- olive oil
- avacado oil
are great options for cooking
Items to eliminate from the kitchen first:
- bottled vegetable/seed oils (canola, cottonseed, corn, safflower, grape seed, peanut oils, etc.)
- all foods containing refined high-polyunsaturated oils, especially partially hydrogenated trans fats
- buttery spreads and sprays (smart balance, promise, country crock, I can’t believe it’s not butter)
- margarine
- vegetable shortening/crisco
The average American consumes an estimated
115 pounds of sugar-laden processed foods each year
High sugar intake promotes
A state of oxidation and inflammation that sets the tone for:
- heart disease
- cancer
- accelerated aging
Sweets
- have been so heavily refined and processed that they are literally devoid of any nutritional value
- they immediately spike blood glucose levels and prompt a significant insulin response
As sugar levels drop:
- the body’s stress response is activated in an attempt to restore blood sugar levels to normal
- this constant blood sugar fluctuation inflicts undue stress on the pancreas
Excess consumption results in:
- hyperinsulinemia
- hyperglycemia
- eventually, type 2 diabetes
- and other assorted health problems
Primal-friendly sweets, when used in moderation:
- stevia
- honey
- blackstrap molasses
- erythritol
Common sweets to avoid
Sweeteners
- agave nectar
- sugar
- evaporated cane juice
- high-fructose corn syrup
- brown sugar
- powdered sugar
- raw sugar
- brownies
- cake
- cookies
- cupcakes
- pies
- other baked treats
- candy
- candy bars
- all other confections
- milk chocolate: switch to dark chocolate with a 75% cacao content or higher
Frozen desserts
- popsicles
- push-pops
- ice cream
- frozen yogurt
All humans have…
Some degree of grain intolerance
For many, intolerance is severe enough to manifest in serious health problems throughout the body, including:
- gastrointestinal disorders
- nutrient malabsorption
- autoimmune disease
For others, the symptoms are subclinical, resulting in a state of mild systemic inflammation that affects digestion and immune function
Acellular Carbohydrates
Particularly objectionable, because they provide an intensive carbohydrate load that overwhelms and disrupts the composition of our healthy digestive flora.
- found in grain flour products
Contrary to conventional wisdom, we do not need
Grains for fiber and other nutrients
*we get all the fiber we need from fruits and vegetables
Lectin
Mild, natural toxin
- found in high levels in common grains
Inhibits the natural repair system of the digestive tract, leaving the body vulnerable not only to digestive ailments but also to eventual autoimmune disorders.
Bind to insulin receptors, thereby exacerbating:
- insulin resistance
- leptin resistance
*note: certain kinds of lectins have immune and health-boosting properties, so we prefer the term “toxic lectins” when describing those forms that are offensive to health
Leptin
The “lookout hormone”
- monitoring how much energy an organism takes in and how this energy is metabolized
*when leptin signaling is compromised by lectin-induced damage, the brain believes the body is starving despite ample energy stores, so both appetite and fat storage increase