Pick
your produce wisely and read the labels closely, doctor suggests.
Published June 12, 2004 in
the North Island Weekender
More
and more fliers from grocery stores are using the word “natural” or “fresh” and
in the consumer’s eyes this means “good for you” or “organic”. Fruit juice for
example is really misleading. If it is juice not made from concentrate and with
no additives then there is no sugar added but the average number of apples or
oranges to make a glass of juice is close to five and that is way more than we
could sit down and eat at one time! The rule of thumb for fruit is that it is
better to eat it than to drink it to get the benefit of the fiber too. But
another issue, aside from the sugar load, that is not considered with juices are
the loads of pesticides you are getting as well. When the label states no
additives it means they did not add the pesticides, they are inherently in the
fruit while growing. Organic fruit juices are recommended for this reason. Dr.
Agatston in his book The
South Beach Diet recommends vegetable juices and suggests avoiding fruit
juices altogether.
Another
example is “fresh strawberries”. Immediately the consumer might think “farm
fresh” and then “organic” but again strawberries are one of the crops most
heavily sprayed with pesticides, so wait until the organic ones arrive, and if
you can’t afford them, organic apples and oranges are reasonably priced, so
stick with them. Organic berry farms in this area will be supplying us soon and
I suggest you freeze a year’s supply. Berries are one of the best fruits, low
in sugar and high in anti-oxidants and are delicious frozen as a snack.
Another
issue is the confusion around “bio-identical hormones” versus “natural
hormones”. Yes hormones are found naturally in the body, but when they are used
as a medicine they are always made chemically in the lab. Hormones are not in
plants or herbs. Bio-identical progesterone is made synthetically in the lab
from wild yam, but using wild yam herb or cream will not give you bio-identical
progesterone. Bio-identical means the
compound is identical to what is found in the human body and therefore the body
recognizes it and has fewer side effects. Provera is a progestin, a synthetic
progesterone-like compound, that is not bio-identical and therefore the body
does not recognize it and all kinds of side effects are attributed to it. There
is some confusion that because a hormone is bio-identical it makes it totally
safe. This is not true. They are still hormones that are strong compounds that
can change the chemistry of the body and their use should be monitored by a
naturopathic or medical doctor, like any medication. For example DHEA (a
hormone that is depleted with age but reduces the effects of aging) if taken
for long periods of time when not needed may increase the risk of some
cancers. Measuring salivary or serum
hormone levels regularly while taking these hormones is imperative. This is
another example where natural or bio-identical can have not so good effects for
you if doses are too high or taken for too long.
Every
day people ask me why I don’t consider whole wheat bread good for them. It is
“natural” they say. Whole grains to me are out of the ground into the pot, so a
bowl of brown rice is a whole grain. Bread is ground up, then baked and then
toasted. There is nothing whole about it unless you are grinding it fresh
yourself and using it right away. Aside from that the gluten in bread gives
people a lot of health problems including digestive and fatigue issues. If you want
a bread try organic spelt which is the old original wheat grown fifty years ago
or, better yet, stick to 100% rye. The better grains to stick to are beans,
legumes and wild brown rice.
Every
year the consumer needs to become more vigilant in every aspect of their lives
from choosing their mechanic to choosing their food. Look for organic and
non-genetically modified (non GMO), avoid those with ingredients of sugar, MSG,
and coloring. If a food says “low fat” it is usually because it is “high sugar”
and if it says “sugar free” it is full of artificial sweetener, which I think
should be banned. It is a neurotoxin and this month being ALS awareness month
it behooves all of us to know what neurotoxins are in our foods and artificial
sweeteners are number one. Use stevia instead. It is an herb and has no
calories or fat it in and has been used in Japan since the 1970’s as a food
additive for chewing gum, desserts, soft drinks etc. It not only provides a
natural sweetener but has health benefits too: balances the pancreas, regulates
blood sugar, regulates the digestive tract and increases energy.
So
next time you see the word “natural” look for organic or non-GMO instead and if
there are no added sugars, colorings, MSG etc then you can know it just might
be “good for you”.
Dr.
Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1985 and is currently
practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at (250) 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com