Nowadays, people have really become aware of how important it is to care for your health, and that eating healthy is the number one remedy and the best way to prevent illness. However, sometimes you just don’t know where to start, and our education doesn’t always help us or inspire us as to what we are supposed to do… what is good for us!
Many people are under the impression that “eating healthy” means depriving oneself of pleasure on a daily basis. Of course, this is not the case. On the contrary, it is very possible to eat a lot, while combining health and pleasure.
Here is a summary of products to avoid for optimal health, and a list of alternatives to replace them.
Let’s start with sugar!
Yes, we must and can eat sugar: it’s how we give our body energy. However, beware: refined sugar is a true poison whose only effect will be to block your arteries with time.
The sugar that it’s important to consume comes from fruit (the best) or coconut sugar, which is very beneficial to your health. Stevia, maple syrup, agave syrup, honey (for non-vegans), yacon syrup or date, raisin or other dried fruit purées also all taste like sugar.
Cow’s milk
Drinking cow’s milk is also dangerous for your health, and if you don’t know why, a quick Google search can help fill you in.
There are many alternatives to cow’s milk, such as rice, nut, hemp seed, millet, coconut, cashew, or even banana milk! Of course, the best option is to make your own, which is less expensive and much healthier, I promise!
Wheat flour
Now let’s move on to wheat flower, which is also a devil from the food industry, but don’t worry: you’ll still be able to eat pasta, bread, pizza… thanks to other healthier types of flour like almond, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, rice, chickpea, and tapioca flour, or the remnants of your nut milks. There is a wide array of flours out there to try and delight your tastebuds.
You can easily replace regular pasta by making your own with the previously mentioned kinds of flour. There are also many types of gluten-free pasta on the market! For example, there are kelp noodles, wild rice pasta, or pasta made with quinoa, seaweed, etc. There are so many out there… or why not try to whip up your own recipes? You could also go another route, which might lead you to the world of raw eating, and you might enjoy pasta made from zucchini, beets, squash, or sweet potato. Of course, you’ll need a Spiralizer, but it’s relatively inexpensive and well worth the investment.
But what about cheese?
There are also ways to avoid eating cheese by opting for vegan cheeses made from fermented nuts like cashews, almonds, and hazelnuts. If you live in Quebec, I highly recommend Byrdsheese: https://www.facebook.com/byrdfauxmages?fref=ts. These vegan cheeses can be made at home and are very easy to whip up. You can also use nutritional yeast, which helps give a cheesy taste. Absolutely delicious! You’ll also find several vegan cheeses in grocery stores, but maybe a little less natural. But once in a while, why not?
Now, let’s move on to butter!
Ah yes, of course, our bodies need fat. But it’s easy to replace with oils like olive or coconut oil, which are magical. There are also oils that are more fragrant, like sesame, avocado, or nut oils. There is even nut butters such as coconut or cocoa butter which are simply to die for, really! And what if I told you avocado can often replace butter in recipes? I’m crazy for it!
And now, what about animal products?
They contain protein, which we need for our muscles, but animals have a heart, emotions and a soul…
So as far as proteins go, did you know that plant-based proteins are often complete (including all the necessary amino acids) and easier to digest than animal protein? You can eat kale, sprouts, soaked nuts and seeds, which are great for you, filled with life, enzymes, minerals and vitamins. Quinoa, sunflower seed sprouts are great for you, for example, because they are complete sources of protein that will satisfy you.
Mushrooms are also a great source of protein, as well as legumes and nut loaves. And for those who wish to vary their diet even more, it’s easy to find tempeh, tofu, seitan, and imitation meats in stores. I’m personally not a big fan of imitation meats, which often contain many additives and preservatives, but once again, anything is possible. And once in a while, why not?
Eggs
As far as eggs are concerned, it seems impossible for many of us to imagine ditching them from our diets, but bananas are a great substitute, as well as ground flaxseed with water, or chia seeds. There is nothing you can’t make with these wonders of nature.
Of course, some people are intolerant or allergic to nuts, and that can make things a little more complicated. But there are also alternatives like millet, quinoa, oats, flaxseed, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, amaranth, and delicious buckwheat.
Soft drinks
In another category which is just as important, there are canned soft drinks of all kinds, which have literally taken over the world, and are bottled weapons of destruction, filled with everything that is bad for your health: sugar, additives, preservatives, chemicals, artificial colours… No further comment.
If you love the gas contained in these drinks, there are some made with mushrooms, which are fermented and will help your digestive system, like kombucha, for example, or kefir. These drinks can also be made at home; it may seem complicated at first, but after a while it’s only a question of organization. There is also fresh fruit juice or mixes of fresh juice and carbonated water, for example.
Alcohol
And of course, there is alcohol, which might be a little harder to replace. Of course, some people can easily give it up, others not at all, and other will say “yes” to a glass once in a while. It’s up to you to decide: you are free to do as you wish, but moderation is a good thing, of course! I went to a conference given by David Wolf, where he said that two glasses a day of a true pinot noir could even be good for you…
That pretty much wraps things up, but if you have any other suggestions, don’t hesitate to share them!
If I had one more comment to make, it would be to ask you to listen to yourself and trust your common sense, your inner voice that knows what is good for you in the end. Your body is your best friend and it doesn’t react in certain ways to hinder you, but rather to teach you something and show you the right path.
Don’t forget that everything is connected and if you wish to lead a life filled with magic, love, humanity, consciousness, awakenings, and sharing, if you want to reach your dreams, and be happy until your last day and even beyond, you have no other choice but to follow the universe’s prescription, and eat magic food that will help you make your dreams a reality…
LOVE
