1. FATS. When I went to school and learnt about the 5 food groups, Fats and Oils was considered one of those essential groups. These days, fats and oils are no longer considered to be a food group, and they have been banished to the bottom corner of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating model, with the message Use small amounts. The photo depicting suitable fats and oils includes canola spray and margarine, which I believe are 2 of the most harmful fats possible. There is so much evidence of the health benefits of butter, cream and coconut oil in particular. It is just sad that the science takes so long to filter through to mainstream. 2. CARBOHYDRATES. The proportion of carbohydrates currently recommended by the NHMRC is extremely high, and the types of grains and cereal foods recommended include white pasta, white rice and even crumpets. Carbohydrates are simply long chains of sugars, and the evidence is clear that too many carbohydrates (and sugars) in the diet leads to obesity, inflammation and chronic disease. Even high-fibre carbohydrate foods like wholemeal breads are not the health food we once thought. 3. WHOLE FOODS. Making food from scratch seems to have becoming a dying art. For many years being a working mother with young children, I certainly resorted to buying some processed foods which I considered to be relatively healthy, such as bottled pasta sauces, packet soups and sauces, muesli bars, icecreams and yoghurts to feed my family, but these days I consider all those foods to be nutrient-poor and potentially unsafe to eat, so I avoid them at all costs. Since purchasing a Thermomix 3 years ago, my life has changed for the better since I successfully make almost everything from scratch these days, and it is so quick and easy. I also know through research that pasture-fed animals produce healthier meat, milk and eggs than grain-fed and likewise its important to choose organic pesticide-free produce whenever possible as well. 4. BONES. Gone are the days when our mothers and grandmothers would boil up the chicken or beef bones for hours on end to makes broths and stews. This is a lamentable outcome of our modern meat processing techniques, and our fast-paced lifestyles. Meat stocks are highly nutritious, containing minerals of bone, cartilage, marrow and vegetables as electrolytes, a form that is easy to assimilate. There is also plenty of good evidence showing the health benefits of gelatin in the diet. 5. FERMENTED FOODS. The power of fermented foods cannot be under-estimated. Unfortunately the knowledge and skills of making probiotic-rich foods like kimchi and sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha has largely been lost over the centuries, but these ancient techniques of food preservation and fermentation are essential to help keep our gut microbiota healthy. The research is clearly showing that gut health is critical for a strong immune system, but the mainstream has not yet embraced fermented foods as a powerful tool for healing the gut. I have had great success with patients suffering with gut issues and food intolerances, using fermented foods.
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 09:31:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015