Is Your Diet Toxic? [Infographic]

Is Your Diet Toxic? [Infographic]
from TimetoCleanse.com

The top functional medicine physicians and holistic health experts agree:  toxicity is a major contributing factor in weight gain, as well as the inability to lose weight.   The general advise is to detox on a regular basis by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and fiber - all of which are thought to block the absorption of and/or help remove various harmful environmental toxins from the body.

Unfortunately, many nutrition experts believe that conventionally grown produce is part of the problem, not the solution.

Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are generally grown in soil that is depleted in naturally occurring minerals and are laden with a toxic cocktail of chemicals - herbicides, insecticides, pesticides and industrial fertilizers.

Consequently, conventionally grown produce is not only significantly less nutritious but often contains relatively large amounts of chemicals and toxins, many of which have been shown to be allergenic, carcinogenic and otherwise harmful to human health.  Long term exposure (even in very low doses) to some of these toxins has been linked to nerve damage, cancer and birth defects.

Additionally, it is suspected that genetically modified crops (GMOs) are not safe for human consumption and yet it is estimated that up to 75% of foods sold in typical U.S. grocery markets contain GMO ingredients.

In view of these facts, it is easy to see how eating lots of conventionally grown produce can be harmful to one's health.

In a detox protocol calling for consumption of mostly fruits and vegetables, such as a juice cleanse, ingesting lots of conventionally grown produce can mean ingesting lots nutritionally bankrupt food and plenty of pesticides  - this, of course, defeats the entire purpose of a cleanse which is to rid the body of toxins, regain health and lose some weight and excess fat!

As this very excellent infographic entitled "Is Your Diet Toxic?" points out, there are a number of things you can do to obtain the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, to safeguard your detox or cleanse efforts and to otherwise protect yourself.

The first step is to become an informed consumer.   Be aware of how food is grown and processed both here at home and in other countries that import food to the U.S.

Understand the difference between conventionally grown and organically grown.  Choose locally grown, organic produce that is currently in season whenever possible - especially when it comes to the so-called "dirty dozen" (peaches, celery, strawberries, sweet bell pepper, spinach, nectarines, cherries, lettuce, apples, pears, imported grapes and potatoes).

Learn to read labels and avoid packaged (including packaged salad), processed, canned and frozen foods, many of which often contain hidden GMOs.  Be aware that the term "all natural" is virtually meaningless.

Look for the specific country of origin of the food (i.e., where it was grown or processed) and be weary of labels that say "packed by", "distributed by", "manufactured for" - labels like these give no indication of where the food really came from.

Related:
Know Your Food Labels - What Are You Eating?
Food Labeling and What You Should Know
How to Remove Toxic Apple Wax
Eating Organic vs. Conventional Eating
What Does Organic Really Mean?
Should Genetically Modified Foods Be Banned?
Clean Food Labels

Infographic Source and more information at Time to Cleanse - Is Your Diet Toxic?

Banana: Properties and Health Benefits [Infographic]

Bananas: Properties and Health Benefits Infographic
from MedicinalPlants-Pharmacognosy.com

Lately, the trend has been to seek out exotic super fruits and other foods that promise recently discovered and amazing health benefits.  A perfect example is maca, mangosteen, acai and goji berries.

Yet, one of the most common, widely available and cheapest of the superfruits is often overlooked:  the humble banana.

Organic bananas are easily digestible, calorie dense, nutritional powerhouses, providing important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and an array of health benefits, as this infographic illustrates.

Always choose organically grown over conventionally grown bananas and other fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds.

Mounting evidence suggests that organic produce is significantly richer in nutrients while being significantly lower in harmful, toxic pesticides.

Related and Further Reading:
Amazing Health Benefits of Bananas
Food Matters: 25 Powerful Reasons to Eat Bananas

Infographic Source and More Information:
MedicinalPlants-Pharmacognosy.com - Banana, Properties and Health Benefits

Can Pesticides be Rinsed Off?

Did you know that we use 800 million pounds of pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides in the United States every year?   How much of these dangerous industrial chemicals are we consuming and can we minimize our exposure by giving them a good rinse?

This 4-1/2 minute video from Dr. Michael Greger explains the impact of eating conventionally grown produce that is laden with pesticides on the health of children, pregnant women, farm workers and their families.

The video also answers the question of whether or not these dangerous chemicals can be rinsed off.

Dr. Greger uses an apple where pesticide levels start out at 100%.  Rinsing washes off a negligible amount - only about 15%.  Peeling the apple eliminates about 85% of the pesticides.  But, in peeling the apple, we also eliminate many of the important nutrients that are found in the skin of fruits and vegetables.  Not to mention that many fruits and vegetables cannot be peeled.

Dr. Greger strongly recommends buying organically grown foods whenever possible.

Related:
Why Eat the Ugly Apple?
How to Remove Toxic Apple Wax
What Does Organic Really Mean?
Know Your Food Labels - What are You Really Eating?
Clean Food Labels




Top Image Source:  Unknown - please contact us for credit.  Thank you!

Infographic: Why Eat the Ugly Apple?

The large, well-shapen, shiny and cheaper apple at the grocery store may be beautiful, and it may look to be nutritious - especially when compared to the smaller, often misshapen apples in the organic produce aisle or at the local Farmer's Market.

But, as this infographic entitled "Why Eat the Ugly Apple?" points out, beautiful in appearance is generally not better for your health.  Not when it comes to apples or other fruits and vegetables.

Conventionally grown produce (and other foods including meat and dairy) often travels hundreds (even thousands) of miles from other states and countries. It can be weeks or even months old by the time it reaches the grocery shelf. It is often laden with preservatives.  In the case of apples, most are waxed and not all wax is safe.

What you can do:

✔ Buy organically and locally grown produce and other food whenever possible
✔ Eat seasonally - i.e., select produce that is currently in season
✔ Learn to read food labels

Related:
How to Remove Toxic Apple Wax
Know Your Food Labels - What are you Eating?

Infographic Source:  GrowNYC

Infographic: Summer Fruits and Veggies

Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables all year round is vital to good health, weight loss and healthy weight maintenance.

For optimum nutrition, we should eat seasonally.  That is, eating locally and organically grown food when it is at its peak during a particular season.  Local, organic food eaten at its peak is fresher, tastier, more nutritious and safer.

This infographic illustrates 10 fruits and vegetables that are low in calories, high in dietary fiber and that are in season in the summer months in North America:

Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Carrots
Corn
Nectarines
Peaches
Raspberries
Snap Green Beans
Snap Peas (Sugar and Snow)

Other fruits and vegetables that are in season in the Summer include:

Apricots
Arugula
Beets
Beet Greens
Bell Peppers
Cherries
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Figs
Garlic
Kohlrabi
Lemons
Limes
Melon
Mulberries
Passion Fruit
Plums
Radish
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Zucchini

Related:
Know Your Food Labels - What are you Eating?
What Does Organic Really Mean?
Fiber for Weight Loss

Infographic Source:  Blogilates

Infographic: How to Remove Toxic Apple Wax

Conventionally grown apples are often waxed.  The wax prevents the apple from drying out and acts as a preservative, allowing it to be transported long distances and stored for a long period of time.

Related: Health Benefits of Apples

According to this infographic entitled "How to Remove Toxic Apple Wax" and other sources, some apples found at your local market can be up to one year old!   Wax can also trap residue pesticides and other harmful industrial chemicals commonly used in non-organically grown produce.

While ingestion of small amounts of certain types of "edible" waxes are considered safe for human consumption, some producers use petroleum-based waxed, which is thought be harmful to human health. 

Peeling the Skin 

Since one can never be sure which type of wax was used, eating potentially harmful wax can be avoided by simply peeling the apple.  The downside to peeling the skin is that you will be missing out on the many important nutrients that skins of most fruits and vegetables often contain.  

Safely Removing Wax

It is also possible to remove the wax by first soaking the apples in lemon juice and baking soda and then gently brushing the outside of the apples, as this infographic explains.

Buying Unwaxed, Organic and Local

Whenever possible, buy unwaxed, locally and organically grown produce at local farmer's markets.  Organic fruits and vegetables are not only grown without harmful industrial chemicals but are also more nutritious.  Locally grown ensures freshness.

Further Reading:

Be Careful - Apples Coated with Harmful Wax

Buy Unwaxed Fruit

Infographic Source:  Step Into My Green World