Weeks back in the Facebook group we talked with a Naturopath Dr. Peter Raisenan about healthy foods to start losing weight.
The best foods for weight loss and overall health promotion include:
1) Leafy Greens like spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce.
2) Cruciferous Veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and leeks.
3) Starchy Vegetables like yams and sweet potatoes.
4) Cooked Mushrooms
5) Legumes, lentils, and peas
6) Nuts and Seeds sprinkled on salads
He also suggested following a paleo or keto diet that incorporates a lean protein source 1-2 times per week. This could include
7) Lean game meat
8) Wild-caught fish
9) Organically fed poultry
Oftentimes, switching to a more plant-based diet leaves one with vitamin deficiencies over time. This can look like fatigue, cracks in the corners of the mouth, and weak hair and nails.
That is why we have incorporated a whole-food-based bioavailable supplement into our daily supplement routine to make sure we are getting the vitamins, minerals, and prebiotics we need.
Here's what a few friends are saying about the supplement we take:
“This was amazing for me postpartum with bubba no. 2. I couldn’t believe the immediate deep nutritional support I felt and the energy!! I felt so nourished.”
“These little handy, dandy packets are packed with so many vital vitamins and minerals (including Zinc)! It is easy, handy and you don't have to think about it! It is a must for Immune system support right now!!”
“Zinc has been found to be really important to support immunity.. I got a box for free with my points and after 3 days I felt so much more energy, that I knew this would be a monthly thing.”
Dr. Peter also walked us through a list of the 8 foods to avoid for overall health and weight loss.
Avoid these foods for weight loss and overall health:
1) BBQ Grilled Meats
2) Fried Foods
3) Baked Grainy Foods
4) Olive Oil heated to High Heat
5) Dairy Products including milk, yogurt, and cheese
6) Refined Grain Products
7) Diet Sodas
8) Refined oils like canola or vegetable oil
High Heat Produces Free Radicals
Many of these suggestions have to do with the temperature at which the food is cooked and the oil it is cooked in.
For example, grilling a chicken breast brushed with olive oil until its blackened produces carcinogenic toxins as a result of the chemical reaction that takes place on the meat. The high heat of the grill oxidizes the olive oil, which in turn produces free radicals that are then consumed by eating the chicken.
Free radicals in the body contribute to cellular breakdown and over time lead to defenseless cells that are "more susceptible to attack by pathogens and toxins--which is why rates of everything from obesity to cancer and heart disease go up dramatically in populations that consume refined crop seed oils. " (The Energy Reset: Remove the Toxins, Reset Your Hormones by Michelle Brown pg. 97).
This is also why it's important to focus on foods that are chock full of antioxidants. Antioxidants help flush out free radicals in the body and repair cell membranes.
Same goes for frying food in vegetable oils. These oils are delicate and should only be served cold in dressings for salads or in cold soups like gazpacho.
Dairy, Dioxins, and Hormones
Dairy was another hot topic during our discussion. Dr. Peter said that the concentration of toxins called dioxins in dairy products like milk, butter and cheese were remarkable. The concentration of exposure to dioxins through intake of these foods were much higher than what one human would encounter in a lifetime of environmental exposure.
Dixons have been known to lower reproductive capacity, contribute to epigenetic manipulation and changes to methylation patterns in imprinted genes. See article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31212893/?from_term=effects+of+dioxins&from_pos=1.
Dr. Peter also mentioned the hormonal effects that dairy products can have on humans by the introduction of their hormones from cow's milk into our systems through consumption.
He said, “We make enough hormones, we don't need extra outside hormones to run interference.”
Ditch the Soda and Donuts
It may come as no surprise that the absolute worst foods for weight loss according to
Dr. Peter is diet sodas and processed grainy foods.
Do You Wonder How Often to Eat for Weight Loss?
To optimize food absorption, capitalize on digestion and induce weight loss, Dr. Peter suggested Time Restricted Feeding.
This is a process where you only eat during a window of 8 hours per day. This is a great diet for a weight loss fast method. Most people find success when they skip breakfast and focus on lunch and dinner. He also warned against eating any closer than 3 hours before bed.
In the Slique in 60 Challenge we are focusing on this time-restricted feeding method for weight loss.
Some of the Challengers have already seen results after 30 Days!!
In this challenge, I plan all the healthy meals for you for 60 Days.
I also provide you with recipes and weekly shopping lists for these meals.
Plus, I spotlight a home product every week and teach you how to read labels to protect your family from harmful ingredients.
We also share a weekly mindset affirmation and a diffuser recipe.
It’s basically a peek into my daily and weekly routine. Some of these practices have taken me 20 years to master!
If you would like more information about joining the Slique Challenge click here.Slique Challenge
- Tortilla chips--we no longer purchase tortilla chips that have been processed with canola oil. Canola oil has been proven harmful to endocrine glands like the thyroid. Since I'm currently dealing with thyroid issues, I am no longer buying products with canola oil. We also look for organic corn and non-GMO corn for the same reasons.
- Peanut butter--I look for peanut butter that is 100% peanuts on the label. There is no reason to add sugar or palm oil to peanut butter. It tastes more like peanuts and less like the inside of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup this way. If I want Reese's I just buy them.
- Produce--we also shy away from the Dirty Dozen and buy these fruits and veggies USDA Organic. If it's not on the Dirty Dozen list I buy non-organic. An example would be raspberries. They aren't on the Dirty Dozen list, so I buy them non-organic in both fresh and frozen variety. Here's a link to the Dirty Dozen list: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
- Body Care--we no longer purchase items that contain Fragrance on the label. This goes for laundry soap, hand soap, lotion, hair care, makeup, bar soap, body wash and deodorant. Anything with fragrance or parfum on the label gets the boot. Here is why: https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2007/12/ask-ewg-what-fragrance. If companies can't come clean about every single ingredient in their product, I don't vote for them with my hard-earned dollars.
- Did you know that buying 2-12 count egg cartons is less money per egg than buying 1-18 count egg carton? Yep it is. Do the math next time.
- When was the last time you paid attention to the $/oz on tortilla chip bags? If you eat as many organic, non GMO corn chips as we do, you may start paying attention to that.
- How about peanut butter, jelly, applesauce, sparkling water, milk, yogurt? All of these liquids utilize the slash too.
- What scent of body lotion is my family going to like best? Since Filter 1 has already been applied for the products at my preferred online store, I apply Filter 2 and go with the cheapest price per oz before I place it in my online cart. Lavendar Body Lotion for the WIN! Everybody loves it.
Peace
