I think it’s safe to say that most people appreciate the importance of eating healthy foods…regardless of whether they actually do it. 😊

But many people’s understandings of what foods are healthy are frequently influenced by clever food company advertisements and slanted studies. And unfortunately, many of the foods touted as “good for you” are anything but.

Here are eight of the most common:

1- Farmed fish

Fish provides omega-3 fatty acids which fight inflammation, help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and support sharp brain health, among other things.

But most of the fish available in grocery stores have been farmed (versus wild caught) and the environment in which they are raised is downright toxic.

Farm-raised fish are given antibiotics to stave off diseases that result from inhumanely crowded conditions and are also treated with pesticides to combat sea lice—and whatever is in the fish becomes a part of YOU. 

Plus, farmed fish has fewer usable omega-3 EFAs than wild-caught fish and a higher concentration of inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. Farmed fish have also been found to have a 20 percent lower protein content than wild-caught fish.

The Fix: When buying fish, always look for wild-caught varieties.

2- Fruit juice

Fruit is unquestionably a nutritious food, so many people see fruit juice as a healthy beverage choice.

Whoa, Nelly.

There is a vast difference between a piece of fruit as it appears in Nature (like an orange), and the juice you find in the grocery store cooler. 

While juice has appreciable nutrients like vitamin C, it also contains a boatload of sugar. That’s why it’s preferable to eat the whole fruit (like an orange or grapefruit) versus drinking juice. That way, you get the fiber and other components of the fruit, plus a lower dose of sugar.

The Fix: If you wish to drink juice, limit it to 1/2 cup per day, and choose fresh-squeezed over canned or bottled juices and frozen juice concentrate.

3- Non-organic berries

Berries are an excellent choice for dieters and people with blood sugar concerns because they are tasty, nutritious and relatively low in sugar.

However, the conventionally raised varieties (especially strawberries and blueberries) rank numbers 1 and 11, respectively, on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list of contaminated produce items.

When testing the Dirty Dozen items, the USDA and FDA found traces of 254 different pesticides and detected pesticides in 95 percent of the crop samples!

The Fix: When purchasing berries, opt for organic varieties.

4- Breakfast cereal

I think most of us realize that Lucky Charms, Trix and Count Chocula are about on par with having a cookie for breakfast in terms of sugar content and nutrition.

But even the “healthier” cereal varieties like Cheerios, Total and granola are very high in refined grains, they lack protein and healthy fats and are incredibly high in sugar. In addition, many are low in fiber and contain ultra-processed ingredients, which are a ticket to sickness and disease.

The Fix: If you want a “cereal” breakfast, organic home-cooked oatmeal is your best choice. You can top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of maple syrup if desired.

5- Low-fat and fat-free milk

Saturated fats (found in full-fat milk) have long been demonized as increasing your risk of heart disease and elevated cholesterol, but that’s simply not true. 

That conclusion was the result of slanted research back in 1963, when physiologist Ancel Keys and his "Seven Countries Study" claimed to have found a correlation between saturated fat, total cholesterol and heart disease.

But in reality, this was the result of cherry-picking data and omitting several countries’ results from his work.

When 15 countries that he “conveniently” omitted from his study were added back into his data, the results showed NO relationship between saturated fat, cholesterol and heart disease.

The Fix: Remember your body needs saturated fat! It’s especially important for your brain and nervous system and for your body to make hormones.

6- Margarine

Similar to low-fat milks, butter has been demonized in favor of the lab creation called margarine. 

Trust me, you’re better off spreading rat poison on your toast instead of margarine. 

Margarine starts with vegetable oils that are extracted at high temperatures which turns them rancid, and emulsifiers are added. Then they are steamed to remove their horrendous odor, bleached to remove gray coloring, molded into tubs or sticks, and sold as a “healthy” food.

In addition, margarine is derived from vegetable oils such as safflower, sunflower, soybean and cottonseed, many of which are genetically modified and contain the cancer-causing herbicide glyphosate (the active ingredient in RoundUp).

Plus, margarine contains omega-6 fats which stir up inflammation, thereby increasing your risk of heart disease!

The Fix: Real butter is your best bet.

7- Plant-based meats

Ah, yes. Plant-based meats are derived from plants and plants are good for you, so these products must be healthy, right?

Nope.

Plant-based meats are a fake food created from a plethora of ultra-processed ingredients, some of which are GMO. 

In many cases, nutrients are added to these Franken-foods to make them appear healthy but are still a far cry from what you’d get from anything in Nature.

And here’s the kicker—plant-based meats have nearly the same amount of total fat and calories as real beef, plus they have processed sodium and sweeteners added—which makes them FAR LESS healthy than something you’d get from a cow.

The Fix: Real foods are always best, and that includes meats. Opt for organic varieties to minimize antibiotics and hormones.

8- Sports drinks

Sports drinks were originally formulated for athletes, and were meant to help them replace lost bodily fluids and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) following intense physical activity and profuse sweating. 

But now they’re being guzzled by people whose “physical activity” consists of going to the restroom. Plus school kids are drinking them with lunch or as snacks where they used to opt for milk or water.

This is not good.

First of all, sports drinks contain about 250-300 mg of highly processed sodium. Your body loses about 500 mg of sodium per pound of sweat. I’d be willing to bet that most people drinking sports drinks have never come anywhere close to cranking out a pound (or even half a pound) of sweat.

Plus sports drinks are loaded with sugar (almost as much as a Hershey’s chocolate bar!) or artificial sweeteners (which are another health atrocity) and artificial colors and flavors.

Sounds a lot like soda to me!

The Fix: When it comes to a healthy beverage choice, filtered water is your best bet. Add a splash of fresh lemon or lime to jazz it up if desired.

Nature is always best!

If you want to make truly healthy dietary choices, staying close to Nature is always your best bet.

But don’t despair if you’ve made some misjudgments in the past! Your body is an incredible creation that can bounce back even after decades of poor food choices.

And if you want to help your body along and support optimal health and nutrient levels, consider supplementing with Super Shield Multi-Strain Probiotic Formula and Super Core Multi-Vitamin and Mineral Formula.

Super Shield can help your gut recover from an onslaught of sugar and highly processed foods and support a healthier microbiome environment.

And Super Core can pinch hit where your body may be lacking in essential nutrients, plus its antioxidants and anti-inflammatories can counteract the harmful effects of processed foods.

To your great health,

Sherry Brescia