So Called Healthy Eating- Are We Slowly Killing Ourselves??

Hi all!

I've been seeing a lot of this and haven't yet found a forum for it, so here it goes:

What I'm talking about is "healthy" low cal/ low fat/ no sugar foods. Sure, they taste good and have no sugar, but nothing comes at no cost.

First on the docket: Artificial sweeteners.. All these no sugar added foods usually have extremely unhealthy add ins- aspartame, sucralose etc. These artificial sweeteners have been linked to cancer, alzheimers and more, plus artificial sweeteners, just like real sugar, set your body up for cravings. We all need our sugar fix, however, so maybe try sugar? Being less refined it sets up less of a craving later. As for gum, although costing a dollar more at the grocery store, try xylitol gum- its sweetened with plant derivatives, and is far less processed that 'normal' gum, and being so does not set up cravings like sugarfree gum does.

My second thought: Microwaves!Although little research has been done into the topic, the evidence that microwaving foods kills nutrients is valid. Take the extra time to use the oven or stove to cook your veggies/ fruit and defrost frozen items by taking them out earlier or popping them in the oven. One can eat as much 'healthy' nutritious food as one wants, but once microwaved its like eating a flavoured, pretty piece of cardboard. Plus, scientists are in the works of linking microwave cooking to cancer. On a microwave's label there is a WARNING label stating: Do not stand within 3 feet of the microwave when turned on due to prospective radiation. Why then are we eating foods cooked in such a dangerous environment??

 Two researchers, Blanc and Hertel, confirmed that microwave cooking significantlychanges food nutrients. Hertel was fired from his job as a 'food scientist' for stating that the process of microwaving food denatures it. Hertel got together with Blanc of the Swiss Federal Institute of Biochemistry and the University Institute for Biochemistry.They studied the effect that microwaved food had on eight individuals, by taking blood samples immediately before and after each one ate microwaved food. They found that after eating microwaved food, haemoglobin levels decreased. "These results show anaemic tendencies. The situation became even more pronounced during the second month of the study".

I found this pretty disturbing too- that even babies are being exposed: A little evidence of the harm caused by microwaving cooking was given by the University of Minnesota in a radio announcement:

"Microwaves ... are not recommended for heating a baby's bottle. The bottle may seem cool to the touch, but the liquid inside may become extremely hot and could burn the baby's mouth and throat... Heating the bottle in a microwave can cause slight changes in the milk. In infant formulas, there may be a loss of some vitamins. In expressed breast milk, some protective properties may be destroyed.... Warming a bottle by holding it under tap water or by setting it in a bowl of warm water, then testing it on your wrist before feeding, may take a few minutes longer, but it is much safer".

So maybe we should just take an extra couple minutes to heat up the oven or take out the saucepan.

Third item: Eating only processed, 'healthy' treats. I've noticed that in eating 'healthy' many people on this site have simply been substituting lower calorie processed foods for their original meals. In such a way, sure you're taking in less calories, but at what cost? There is more to losing weight than cutting back on calories- substitute real healthy foods instead of prepackaged, refined stuff! Trust me, I've done this whole 'diet' thing both ways, and the only way to do it without being constantly hungry is to reach for the apples instead of the nonfat no sugar added jello! Sprinkle cinnamon and 1 tsp sugar on a cut up apple, heat in a saucepan for 5 minutes while constantly mixing and you have a nutritious delicious 100 calorie snack with far more sustaining fibre in it than that jello cup, or the 100 calorie pack of oreos. There are tons of healthy alternatives if you're willing to take 10 minutes out of the day to prepare them.

 

ANY IDEAS/ THOUGHTS/ OPINIONS ON ANY OF THIS? SUGGESTIONS FOR QUICK, HEALTHY MEALS?? Thanks guys

i'm with you. but i think processed rice cakes, diet hot chocolate and microwaved vege burgers are like 100 times better than processed sugar wafers, sugary hot chocolate and microwave meat loaf. it's like the better of two evils. a lot of people think that fresh fruit and natural foods are the healthiest way to go.

i'm with you. but i think processed rice cakes, diet hot chocolate and microwaved vege burgers are like 100 times better than processed sugar wafers, sugary hot chocolate and microwave meat loaf. it's like the better of two evils. a lot of people think that fresh fruit and natural foods are the healthiest way to go.

I agree with you I have heard that the microwave does kill the nutrition in the food that is put in it. I only use mine if I forget to put something out in the morning to cook for dinner other wise it is used to pop popcorn. I don't like using the microwave for much of anything. Has anyone else noticed that the food cooked in a microwave has a funny taste and texture or is that just me? 

on the artificial sweeteners I don't touch them. I have tried them and can't stand the taste. And the more I read about them the less likely I am to buy stuff with them in it.

I would much rather make something from scratch for my family to eat as a snack than all the "healthy sweets" that usually taste like cardboard. LOL

I will have to try the recipe for the apples that sounds good.

 

Totally agree on the subject of having low calorie processed foods (cereal bars, granola bars, sugary yogurts, 100 calorie packs, etc) instead of fruits or veggies is a bit ridiculous. One or two of these a day won't kill you, but I've seen many people who snack on nothing BUT these bars and low calorie pre-packaged crap.

I do disagree, however, on the microwave. When I heat any kind of veggie in the microwave, I usually put it in a bowl and cover with another bowl, so it's rather "steamed". Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a person can become anemic right after consuming a microwaved food. Anemia is a deficiency of iron that occurs after a long period of time.

Good to hear from you all

muttlover- Anemia definitely doesn't occur right after eating microwaved foods, but I think this is meant for people who only cook veggies etc in the microwave over a long period of time. What do you think about the radiation from microwaves though? I'd love to hear some opinions on this :)

I think they also mean that they cook the veggies in the microwave openly. Meaning, if you just stuck a hunk of broccoli on a plate and zapped it. Then yes, you would lose nutrients because veggies are mostly made up of water, which would evaporate during heating. But if you steam it, the nutrients are kept better.

As for radiation from microwaves, naahhh. I don't have any proof, but I heard that the very old versions of microwaves that did give off radiation was a very small amount -- you'd have to press your face against it while it was cooking and do it many times a day for long periods of time. Remember, this was referring to an OLD version of a microwave.

Also, if you are worried about the radiation in microwaves, aren't you concerned about the claims of brain cancer caused by cell phones? :P

You may be right, but I still think the idea of eating something thats been microwaved far more frightening than the cell phone radiation. With microwaving you're ingesting the radiation while with cell phones you're just being exposed to them for short periods of time- like an xray- which doesn't make it healthy. Microwaved food stays in your system though.

I can assure you that you absorb considerably more radiation from the sun every day than you get from the microwave.  Nutrient loss is probably possible, but that happens with most forms of cooking ... heat breaks down some nutrients easier than others.

I don't have a good solution for the fast food problem.  Prepping a meal from whole, fresh foods just takes time, and honestly I think that's why so many people are so dependent on processed, prepackaged meals.  Some ways I've found to make it easier:

1.  Make large meals so that you have plenty of leftovers.  I zap the leftovers in the microwave, but the oven works just fine ... it just takes a little longer.

2.  Prep a lot of veggies beforehand.  I'm a big fan of one-gallon storage bags.  When I have some free time I'll go into the kitchen and wash and chop vegetables and store them in bags.  It makes cooking go a lot quicker to have the ingredients ready to go in the pan.

3.  Dried beans are cheap and very healthy, but they take ages to soak and cook.  I will cook a huge batch at once, drain them and rinse them, and freeze them.  They'll hold up well for about a month -- probably longer, but they never last that long in my house.

4.  Choose healthier snacks.  Nuts and fresh or dried fruit are some of my favorites and they're very fast.  Make your own trail mix by adding rolled oats to your favorite fruits and nuts.  Finding healthy foods that are ready to eat makes it easier to cut out chips, crackers and cookies that seem too effortless to pass up.

Good luck with avoiding the processed junk.  It isn't easy and it does take some effort, but once you get in the habit it's not as difficult as it seems. 

I have two thoughts on the microwave ideas....firstly, as someone who has breastfed successfully two children for a combined total of almost 3 years I have to say that heating breastmilk in the microwave is a horrible idea. If anyone has tried it (and I have, once) the milk turns to a gloppy gooey yellowish substance I wouldn't feed my dog, let alone my baby. Think of scalded curdled milk and you'll know what i am talking about...YUCK!

Secondly, for zapping veggies in the microwave, try the ziploc steam bags. They are awesome, they steam the food in its own juices, cooks in 3 minutes or less sometimes and you can even take a chicken breast (frozen even) and throw in some veggies and take it to work with you to cook in the microwave for a really healthy lunch. Way cheaper than eating out and probably 100 times better than grabbing drive thru anything! They cost about 25 cents a bag but I think they are worth it.

Just an anecdotal note on the cell phone causing brain cancer issue:

In college, my boyfriend (now husband) used his cell phone so much that his frat brothers nicknamed him "Tumor".  A few years later (at age 24), he was diagnosed with a brain tumor! 

There's no way of knowing what caused the tumor, but his frat brothers felt pretty bad when they found out....

I'm not expert of anything I'm about to say.

So it's just my opinion, and guess what that means!!  (everyone has one)

Microwaves-  I didn't even own one until about 4 years ago.  I DO NOT COOK IN IT.  I could but at what cost.

I read an article about food being nuked in plastic containers and how this could cause cancer.  Hey Makes since to me.  Plastic when heated sends off toxins.  And guess what frozen dinners are packaged in.  Guess what most of us heat our left overs in.  PLASTIC.  Maybe it's an urban myth but I'm not taking the Chance.  Kind of like the Government and the Egg thing.  "There good for you....ooooppss.... there bad for you......oh my mistake there good for you about but not the yoke."

If I've gone 32 years with out a microwave I can continue to go without.

I find that when I re-heat stuff in a pan, pot etc.. my left overs stay hotter longer.  Boiled water from my kettle for tea stays hotter than nuked.  So call me old fashion.

I don't like doing artificial anything.  Sugar, butter etc...

I know butter is really bad for you but I just look at some of the alternatives and I just am not sure of it.  But I have to do something.  Maybe at some point I can give it all up.  That would be the best!!  No Processed Sugars or Pure butter and find an alternative like olive oil or extra virgin olive oil.  Some day that is.  In the mean time I don't touch artificial sugar.  It's worse than the real thing.  I forget the book something about "how to be a skinny bitch".  Its a really good book.

 That's my rant for today.

Muttlover,

Iron deficiency anemia is caused by lack of iron, but there are many different kinds of anemias. Pernicious anemia is caused by lack of B12 (or its absorption). There is also an anemia caused by folate deficiency. There are several caused by intrinsic disorders and some by drugs, infections, radiation... The effects on red cells fall into different categories {in iron deficency the cells are microcytic (too little) and hypochromic (lacking color,sort of)}, but they are all considered anemia.

I'm not defending the "microwaves cause anemia" claim, just pointing out that anemia is a blanket term.

Edit:typo 

I think microwaves got a bad 'rap' because they cook using 'radiation' which is the same term used to describe nuclear fallout.  Radiant heat is any type of heat which travels in waves... from the dictionary:

" 1.Physics. a.the process in which energy is emitted as particles or waves. b.the complete process in which energy is emitted by one body, transmitted through an intervening medium or space, and absorbed by another body. c.the energy transferred by these processes. "

So, sunlight warms us via radiation.  An electric stove emits heat radiation, etc.  There is no requirement that radiation is bad for you, although some types of radiation are certainly potentially lethal.  Radiation simply has a very negative connotation which results in people assuming that radiation from a microwave must be evil. 

Personally, I only use it to re-heat things like a luke warm cup of coffee or a slice of leftover pizza.  I read it somewhere once that boiling vegetables destroys more nutrients than microwaves. 

I strongly beleive that it is always healthier to eat whole natural foods whenever possible.  Processed foods have all kinds of additives that our bodies are not designed to handle.  Many processed foods are also deficient in fibre and protein and high in fats. 

I am particularly leary of 'diet' processed foods that contain things like modified starches to create a fatty texture and sugar replacement chemicals.  They trick the body and instead of learning how to eat healthy, these products teach us to indulge in the very causes of our poor nutrition.  While I avoid artificial sweeteners etc., I do think they can be very beneficial to people who are habitualized to a very high sugar diet.  For example, if a person is used to sprinkling sugar all over their cereal, it will be difficult for them to stop.  Using something like splenda is a step away from this unhealthy practise.  However, it should be used as a temporary measure just as nicotine patches or gum are only intended to be used short term to help a person quit smoking.  Nobody is supposed to chew nicotine gum or wear nicotine patches their whole lives.  It is a habit breaking aid.  I think artificial sweeteners should be used the same way to help people break the habit of adding sugar to coffee, tea, cereal, fruit, etc. 

 Okay, now I'm off on a rant.  Sorry.  I think I'll stop here.  :)

Happy healthy eating!

that's kind of scary about the microwaves.  i use them every day to heat my oatmeal, steam my veggies, make hot tea/ hot chocolate.  :(

 at work...we ony have a microwave to heat things, no stove. 

 and yea, i stand right in front of it when it is cooking, lol. 

Just out of curiosity, could you tell me your source that you got your information from? I'm especially curious about the microwave thing, since I'm in college and microwaves are my main method of preparing food. A reply would be much appreciated.

I disagree on the microwave issue. I dTon't think microwaves are good, but I also think you are incorrect on some of the statements you made about them.

I've studied physics and microbiology, so I will draw upon what I have learned to make my point. "Radiation" is a blanket term for a wave that moves at the speed of light. Visible light is a form of radiation. Infrared is heat radiation. Shorter wavelengths mean more energy, and more energy means more damaging. Both visible light and infrared have a shorter wavelength than microwaves, which means they are more damaging. The reason you can see into the microwave oven without having the radiation escape? The wavelength of a microwave is so large that it can't escape through the holes in the screen. However, since visible light has a shorter wavelength, it can easily get through those little holes in the glass, allowing you to see your food as it cooks. Microwaves are floating around us constantly. Physiologically, they're harmless. I agree that putting certain objects (Styrofoam, plastics) is a bad idea. They are treated with chemicals that could get released by microwaving them. But, the microwave itself is harmless.

In fact, microwaves aren't strong enough to kill bacteria. Remember, microwaves are in the atmosphere constantly and they are harmless. So how does the machine kill bacteria? Well, truth be told, it really doesn't. If the food you put in the apparatus gets hot enough, the mold and bacteria will die. But it takes time for microbes to die. So when you nuke something for 3 minutes, it probably isn't enough to kill the little buggers. Cooking in the oven, however, will kill microbes because it exposes them to moist heat for prolonged periods of time. That may be why people who use microwaves for cooking experience those negative effects and develop cancer more frequently.  

Urban Myth  Link

Microwaving plastics.

I tried to find the actually report but had no luck.

I still say no plastic/ styrofoam in the Nuker for me.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-micr owave-dioxin.htm

 here is another nice wire up I found.

Truth or Fiction

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/d/dioxin s.htm

 

thats actually pretty interesting about microwaves and radiation. Stuff I didn't know before- ie stoves using radiation etc.. however i still wouldnt use plastics or styrofoams in the microwave, and i wouldn't use the microwave unless i had no other means of cooking.

artificial sweetners i think are great for replacing sugar; i like to limit my intake of sugar to prevent sugar rushes and insulin spikes and nutritionally wasted calories. i don't believe they are the cause of cancer, these are not proven correlations.

i also don't get why people say they produce cravings..? they don't for me. perhaps if you don't enjoy the sweetened product and wish you could have 'the real thing' they might but if you genuinly enjoy what you're eating then...:/

 

as for microwaves; they're great for reheating food or making something like oatmeal but as for actual cooking? they make food gross lol.

but i don't go for any of the 'microwaves cause cancer!' garbage. as someone said; you probably get more radiation exposure form the sun.