Several weeks ago I was asked to create a list of food that people commonly mistake for being a health food, but really they are not. It was an interesting question, so I started polling my patients, friends, and other doctors to see what was on their lists as well.
I have decided to share items on the list for the next several weeks so you can see how we are marketed to about what is healthy when it really may not be.
Juice Drinks and sports drinks may not be a healthy alternative to soda. You must read the label. If it is not 100% juice then you should not be drinking it at all. Many fruit drinks or fruit beverages are not 100% juice. Many juice drinks that are not 100% juice contain high fructose corn syrup, synthetic flavors, colors additives and preservatives.
There are many problems associated with high fructose corn syrup because it does not get processed through our normal glucose pathway. Instead it gets converted into fat and increases triglycerides in the body and blood. High fructose corn syrup adversely impacts our ability to process normal sugar, or glucose, and over time this causes fatty deposits in the liver, which adversely affects live function. It also depletes the body of the nutrients iron, magnesium, calcium, and zinc.
Finally, it causes insulin resistance and leptin resistance increasing fat storage over time. Synthetic flavors, colors, additives and preservatives create a toxic burden to the liver and it’s processing.
100% juice is much better because it contains phytonutrients and trace mineral depending on the product. Juice, because it doesn’t have any fiber, is still high in sugar and can affect blood sugar levels. For this reason, I only recommend 4 oz of juice at one time. No more than 2 servings per day. Also, because there is no fiber, I do not consider juice to be a serving size of fruits or vegetables like I have seen mentioned on commercials.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.org
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.amazon.com or www.healthydaes.org
Dr. Dae's Bio:
Daemon "Dr. Dae" (pronounced Dr. Day) Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who completed her training at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is certified as a General Practitioner by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE). Dr. Dae provides tailored treatment to meet the unique needs of every individual she sees in her practice. She also provides specialized support for persons challenged by nutritional deficiencies, weight problems, hormonal and reproductive system disorders, attention deficit disorder and those experiencing chronic diseases. Dr. Dae is an adjunct faculty member for Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts. She is the author of Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living, The Healthydaes Newsletter, and is a regularly featured writer for the Elite GoogleNews Website empowher.com where she shares her personal and professional vision for living whole and living well. To learn more about Dr. Dae, her products and services, please visit her on the Web at www.Healthydaes.org