We all know the phrase, “you are what you eat,” and we all get it. Don’t eat junk food, limit fats, avoid the sweets when possible. But it’s not just junk food that we need to avoid. Some of what we think of as “healthy” is not always as it seems.

 

Food is a physical necessity, it’s fuel for life. And -yes we know- sometimes a vice. What most people tend to ignore however in our highly indulgent society is the real truth about what we are putting into our bodies, including that which we once thought benign.

 

Here at Chattanooga Integrated Medicine Center we want to provide you with helpful information about potentially harmful foods and specific ingredients you should consider leaving out of your pantry and out of your life. This week we will look at several.

 

PEANUTS – What? Peanuts? Like soybeans (from last week’s blog) peanuts contain Omega 6 fatty acids which can raise blood pressure, lead to blood clots that can cause heart attack and stroke, and even cause your body to retain water¹ among other things. Peanuts, especially with their shells, contain high concentrations of mold which creates allergic reactions in some. Peanut butter is in fact, acidifying, and can induce acid reflux, sometimes in severe ways.

 

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS – Reaching for the diet Coke, or the “diet” anything is a real no, no. Though you save all those extra calories, your future may not be so salvageable.  Artificial sweeteners have long been thought to be a cancer risk. But more recent studies indicate more definitively that diet drinks (one of the largest artificial sugar products) has been associated with a 36% greater risk for metabolic syndrome and a 67% increased risk for type 2 diabetes.² Furthermore, artificial sweeteners are linked to common syndromes: fibromyalgia, headaches, rheumatologic and arthritic disorders and even neurological disorders. Avoid them at all costs.

 

SHELLFISH & CATFISH – Most of us don’t consider these as a problem because seafood has the right fatty acids and health qualities we think of for good nutrition. But what we don’t realize is shellfish and catfish are bottom feeders in lakes and oceans, taking in a large amount of waste product as they filter the sea/lake floor. Scaleless and finless, these creatures retain toxins from their environments- which you then consume. Additionally, shellfish contain larger amounts of mercury than other fish.

 

Perplexing? Don’t be concerned. We have a list of alternatives we will be sharing with you in a coming article. In the meantime, if you have questions about nutrition, knee pain, back pain, or our integrated medicine approach, feel free to call us: 423-499-0003.

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1 Casey, John. The Truth About Fats. WebMD, Feature Story, February 3, 2003.

2 Strawbridge, Holly. Artificial sweeteners: sugar-free, but at what cost? Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard University, January 29, 2020.