Nutrition DO's & DON'Ts - Part 2

 

Now for my list of Nutrition DON’Ts to achieve Lifetime Wellness:

DON’T: Drink sweetened “energy drinks” (like Red Bull) and “sweetened teas” (like Snapple and Arizona), soft drinks, tap water, and performance drinks used outside of workouts (like Gatorade).

DON’T: Use coffee and caffeine as an energy crutch in place of inadequate sleep and healthy lifestyle habits.

DON’T: Consume GMO (Genetically Modified) or conventional dairy products due to hormone, pesticide, antibiotic, allergenic and immune-suppressing agents.

DON’T: Consume eggs from chickens commercially raised in cages, and fed with grains, hormone, pesticides and antibiotics. Go organic!

DON’T: Consume trans fats and partially hydrogenated, canola, cottonseed, corn, soybean, all other polyunsaturated (safflower, sunflower, etc.) oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, and deep-fried foods.

DON’T: Consume fast foods that are chemically treated, deep-fried, insulin stimulating that are devoid of nutritional value including French fries, onion rings, burgers, hot dogs, etc…

DON’T: Consume fruits that are GMO, remotely grown, or conventionally grown with soft edible skins. Try and find local, organic alternatives.

DON’T: Consume fruit and vegetable juices with added sugar or that are heat processed, or pesticide laden. Limit your total juice consumption even if it’s organic.

LIMIT or AVOID: Your consumption of wheat, rice, corn, oats, cereals, breads, pasta, muffins, rolls, waffles, pancakes, croissants, baguettes, crackers, donuts, danishes, tortillas, pizza, other grains including: barley, millet, rye, quinoa, and amaranth and other baked and processed high-carb foods. Even limit whole grains due to higher levels of objectionable phytates, lectins and gluten.

DON’T: Consume high carbohydrate, sugar or flour based, heavily processed treats including: cookies, cake, brownies, pies, candy, candy bars, ice cream, donuts and popsicles.

DON’T: Consume peanuts and soybeans due to high insulin response and lectin content.

DON’T: Consume commercially grown, grain-fed, ranch animals with concentrated hormones, pesticides and antibiotics. Avoid smoked, cured, or nitrate-treated meats like hot dogs, salami, etc…

DON’T: Consume processed foods. If it comes in a wrapper think twice!

DON’T: Consume cheap, bulk-produced vitamins and supplements with additives, fillers, binders, lubricants, extruding agents, and other synthetic chemicals.

DON’T: Consume vegetables that are GMO, remotely grown, or conventionally grown with large surface areas or edible skins like leafy greens and peppers. Try and find local, organic alternatives.

Please remember that these are general recommendations and may not be suitable for everyone. Please consult with a Holistic Nutritionist if you are unsure.

Thanks again to Mark Sisson for the backbone of this list. I highly recommend his book The Primal Blueprint.

Dr. Michael Gibson is a chiropractor in Kanata, ON and the clinic director of The Wellness Group, a multidisciplinary health facility. He currently practices chiropractic in kanata full time with a focus on educating and empowering his practice members to achieve abundant health and maximum quality of life.