CONSCIOUS CUISINE
The first thing to do, to become conscious of your
cuisine, is to check ingredient lists.
Conscious cuisine is free
of:
- synthetic ingredients, including colors and
preservatives
- synthetic sweeteners
- corn syrup / high-fructose corn syrup
[YES, IT REALLY IS THAT BAD
FOR YOU]
- bleached
over-processed sugars, including "brown sugar"
- trans fats [i.e., look for hydrogenated & partially hydrogenated
oils]
-
refined, enriched and bleached flours
- hormones
- anti-biotics
- MSG
It is simple to find "Conscious" Oreo-style
cookies. The thing to keep in mind, is the ingredients may not be absolutely
perfect. That is, the "natural cookie" may actually be loaded in unbleached
sugars and refined oils exposed to high temperatures that have destroyed its therapeutic
properties. The natural cookie might even be low in
plant fibers even though the flour is unbleached pesticide-free.
Nevertheless, the
conscious cookie will be dramatically more nutrient-dense than its mainstream
version. While the conscious version may not be therapeutic it will have
a greater spectrum of available vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients. Plus, you will feel better after having ingested them, in
the appropriate dose.
WATCH THE CARBS!
The word "conscious" in the context of
cuisine, indicates ingredients are not, in of themselves, toxic. However, in
large doses, even conscious cuisine can become toxic. As previously mentioned,
conscious cuisine, at times may contain high amounts of glycemic natural sugars
[e.g., dehydrated cane juice, honey, maple syrup, fruit syrups, dates, raisins].
These nutrient-dense sweetening agents rapidly raise blood sugars just as fast
as their refined counterparts. That's naughty news for diabetics, heart
patients, cancer patients or those suffering from inflammatory conditions aggravated
by lifestyle.
*REMEMBER: excessive sugars are (1) stored as blood fats
and (2) aggravate inflammation
Over-consumption of sugars and starches
can have a toxic effect. Excess carbohydrates are stored as triglycerides
(blood fats), so overdosing on them aggravates heart disease. This is why
diabetics often have cardiovascular issues. Over-dosing on sugars
and starches also triggers generalized inflammation. Hemoglobin A1C is a test
that diabetics and pre-diabetics take to measure inflammation in the system. The
goal is to keep your results below 7%. So, watch the dose when it comes to
carbs ...even if the cuisine is made with conscious ingredients.
THAT SUGAR BUZZ
Munching wildly on sugars and starches in response
to stress or boredom also numbs the senses. To remain alert and "conscious"
throughout the day, watch the dose of carbohydrates. Carbs trigger the release
of serotonin into the mix for a mind-numbing experience. REMEMBER: More sugar
and starch means more serotonin released. However, conscious sugars and starches
have been spared the bleaching process, so you may feel as if you have
contributed a few vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants to your body's bank
account, instead of robbing it!
THE BALANCING ACT
As a dietitian, I must remind you to
balance carbohydrates with enough protein to control the speed at which sugars
and starches enter the bloodstream. Balancing the right dose of protein with
carbohydrate-rich cuisine will manage blood sugars for roughly 3-5 hours. For
instance, soy milk or organic cow's milk both provide enough protein to balance
a carbohydrate-loaded bowl of fiber-rich, nutrient-dense breakfast cereal,
granola mix or breakfast bar.
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THERAPEUTIC (Rx) CUISINE:
Now, let's define the concept of:
cream of the crop therapeutic cuisine
Copyright © 2010 Helene Berk, M.Ed., R.D. / healthypeople.com
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