I met a pretty amazing food activist at my husband's highschool reunion at Woodberry Forrest, Vani Hari. She is better known as the Food Babe. She is a sharp girl; she is as passionate as I am about eating healthy foods and understanding the amazing impact it has on your body, so naturally, I started following her. I am amazed that this is her full time job. She found a growing need in the market and works hard to satisfy it buy conducting investigations of food products sold in the United States.
I get the feeling that a food revolution in the United States is brewing. As people become more educated about the toxic chemicals put in much of our food supply, alternatives will be sought after. My habits have slowly changed over the years: I now do most of my grocery shopping at independant, local health food stores, I cook much more often, I use mostly produce and whole foods, I rarely purchase items that have been processed and I have started an organic garden in my backyard. As a result I feel younger, healthier and more vibrant.
Truly, I thought I was a know it all regarding all things about food as it relates to health. But it turns out, I still have plenty to learn.
Here are the top five tips I have picked up from the Food Babe:
1. I already knew milk was bad for you (casein), and soy milk (rough on the gut), so my dairy substitute of choice is almond milk. But some almond milk contains a toxic ingredient, carrageenan. This is a seaweed, mostly extracted from the Pacific but due to Fukushima Daiichi nuclear testing that impacted ocean life in that area, it is deemed a cancer-causing carcinogen. Many of the companies are phasing out carragean of their products if they haven't already, but be sure to read the label to make sure.
The best solution is to make your own almond milk. Soak almonds for 2 nights in water, rinse, put in blender with fresh water, blend, then use cheese cloth to strain out almond pieces. Voila.
2. Alternate your greens. I didn't realize the importance of this. I thought if you eat your kale, then you are fine and I was about on a kale overload, which can lead to an alkloid buildup leading to symptoms like nausea, tingling in finger tips and fatigue. This is easily avoided by rotating your greens (there are so many awesome ones to choose from): spinach, dandeline greens, collards, romaine, arugula, swiss chard, cabbage, beet greens, cilantro or carrot tops.
3. It's important to understand the appropriate use of oils for salad dressings and for cooking. Olive oil can become toxic when used at high temperatures but is great for salad dressings, grapeseed oil is a better alternative for high temperatures. Always look for the organic brands.
One of the awesome oils that has come to light for it's medicinal and health benefits is coconut oil. I even put it in my morning daily smoothie and find uses for it in salad dressings and sauces. It's important that you unrefined, organic coconut oil unless you will use it for cooking at high temperatures, then use the refined coconut oil.
4. Start your day with a detoxifying, ph leveling beverage of water, fresh squeezed lemon and a dash of cayenne pepper. It's a great feeling knowing you have started your day with a cleanser; the cayenne pepper gets you going in a natural, healthy way and is a wonderful, healthier alternative to coffee.
5. Another awesome healthy daily routine: a half hour before dinner, put two tablespoons of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar in eight ounces of chilled sparkling water (it's important to always dilute the almighty and powerful ACV, avoid taking it as a shot) and drink it slowly. It is cleansing for your body's organs, healthy for your skin, helps to maintain a healthy body weight and helps to break down digestive enzymes to rid your body of what it doesn't need. Please be sure to use a straw to protect your teeth, then follow it up with water.
More thoughts on the Food Babe:
She is busting companies left and right for the toxic ingredients they put in our food. For example, Subway used an ingredient found in their bread that is the same ingredient found in yoga mats. Yoga mat for lunch anyone? Gross! Have the companies that produce some of these toxic products taken notice? You bet. Food Babe has become a hot controversy. Some of these companies would rather hire teams to tear her apart, rather than produce healthier products. Yes, Vani is not a scientist or even a nutritionist but her intentions are well founded. Technical mistakes on her part are bound to happen but her general ideas are correct from my viewpoint. Because for me, the proof is in how I feel. I don't need a study to tell me processed, chemical laden food is bad for my health. I feel differently depending on my food intake and that just can't be debated.
She has also discovered that many ingredients found in common cereals and other products are not allowed in Europe and companies like General Mills often have two versions, one for the US that has all the bad stuff and another version for Europe minus the toxic ingredients because they don't allow it. Feeling outraged? I hope so. Get educated and start voting with your dollars.
The pressure and the threats from big companies hasn't stopped the Food Babe. It's important we rally behind her so the quest for truth may continue. She has faced many criticisms and has plenty of haters. But if I have to pick sides, I pick hers. There are scientists out there claiming she is an alarmist and doesn't know what she is talking about. But like I said, the proof is in how I feel: my energy levels have improved, my skin looks better and I feel younger.
You can always buy The Food Babe Way, Vani's New York Times bestselling book, if interested in learning Vani's viewpoints.
