Junk Food Warning: Eating Processed Food Does ‘Crazy’ Things to Your Cancer Risk

The AHA! Team — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 06:08:06 +0000

Sharon Thomas via NaturalHealth365 – NEW research: Every 10% increase in calories from junk food triggers a ‘CRAZY’ effect on cancer risk Most people “get it” that eating candy and highly processed food is bad for us. But while most people try to avoid junk food because it will make them fat, many still fail to realize the most serious problem with eating these “treats.” In a nutshell (no pun intended), the alarming results of a recent study clearly link junk food eating habits with a substantial increase in cancer risk. NEW research: Every 10% increase in calories from junk food triggers a ‘CRAZY’ effect on cancer risk And, just to be clear, it’s ‘crazy’ because once you realize that a bad habit (substantially) increases the risk of cancer and you continue to do it … that’s crazy. According to most holistic physicians, 95% of all cancer diagnoses are related to environment and lifestyle. Even the American Institute for Cancer Research’s more conservative estimate of one-third is still startling. What’s the major takeaway from this statement? A cancer diagnosis is avoidable with proper lifestyle changes. And of all the lifestyle changes you could make, avoiding processed food is one of the most important. Consider data from a French prospective cohort study called NutriNet-Santé, which spanned eight years and involved 104,980 subjects. By analyzing daily meal logs, researchers were able to determine an important correlation: If just 10% of a person’s total daily calories came from “ultra-processed” foods, then they had a 12% INCREASED risk for overall cancer. Subsequent 10% increments in junk food calories increased their cancer risk by the same degree! The researchers suggest several possible reasons why. First, junk food has more refined sugar, less fiber, and fewer vitamins and minerals than whole and minimally processed foods, which can disrupt the healthy gut microbiota and promote inflammation. Second, chemicals, preservatives, fillers, and other ingredients (as well as their processing, e.g., the application of pesticides) are carcinogenic in their own right. The research is clear: repeatedly eating these foods can lead to serious health complications over time – not the least of which is packing on the pounds. Best junk food advice: Avoid the heavily processed foods that can make you sick It’s not just candy and cakes which increase your cancer risk. Here’s an extensive list of the foods which the researchers considered “ultra-processed:” “[M]ass produced packaged breads and buns; sweet or savory packaged snacks; industrialized confectionery and desserts; sodas and sweetened drinks; meat balls, poultry and fish nuggets, and other reconstituted meat products transformed with addition of preservatives other than salt (for example, nitrites); instant noodles and soups; frozen or shelf stable ready meals; and other food products made mostly or entirely from sugar, oils and fats, and other substances not commonly used in culinary preparations such as hydrogenated oils, modified starches, and protein isolates. Industrial processes notably include hydrogenation, hydrolysis, extruding, moulding, reshaping, and pre-processing by frying. Flavoring agents, colors, emulsifiers, humectants, non-sugar sweeteners, and other cosmetic additives are often added to these products to imitate sensorial properties of unprocessed or minimally processed foods and their culinary preparations or to disguise undesirable qualities of the final product.” Want a few simple hacks to help you make smarter choices at the grocery store? Keep these tips in mind: Opt for organic, whole, real food in its natural state whenever possible. These are usually found along the perimeters of the grocery store. If it has a super long shelf life and/or is found in the middle aisles of the grocery store, be suspicious. If it contains ingredients you can’t read, be suspicious. As the journalist Michael Pollan suggests, avoid “food-like substances.” Lastly, realize that food that has been heavily manufactured, tinkered with, and ultra-processed is virtually addictive by design. Keep this in mind: the largest food producers in the world want you to crave sugary foods because they’re cheap, accessible, and something you’ll want to buy again and again! Fortunately, you and your family can train yourself to break the cycle: skip the processed garbage, learn how to cook simple (healthy) meals, and eat as close to nature (organic) as possible. Even if you change just one meal at a time, start somewhere. Editor’s note: I know most of our NaturalHealth365 readers already appreciate much of what this article says. Yet, the main point is to provide a ‘tool’ for you to share with someone else who needs to read this message. Keep in mind: it’s NOT about ‘convincing’ anyone to do anything. But, I do believe it’s our responsibility to share valuable information with others and let them decide. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NaturalMedicineJournal.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe

AHA Publisher — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 08:00:13 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DMN, CNS – One of the biggest misconceptions of a clean eating meal plan is that you can’t eat treats. That’s silly! In fact, one of the my favorite parts about eating well is that I can actually enjoy my favorite foods because they’re made with healthier, wholesome ingredients. There’s no need to worry about questionable additives or sugar spikes. And one of the most popular treats, of course, is chocolate cake. Whether it’s for a birthday party, an after-dinner dessert or just a way to satisfy a sweet tooth, you really can’t go wrong with this amazing Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake rather than one with shortening or white flour or — even worse — from a boxed mix. Using gluten-free flour makes this two-layer cake a great choice for people who are cutting back or have an aversion to gluten without sacrificing taste. Combined with an easy, homemade chocolate frosting, you’ll never go back to your old chocolate cake recipe. Make my Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake today! How to Make Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Let’s get things started by preheating the oven to 350 F. Then grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans — this will prevent the cakes from sticking and make it easier to remove when they’re baked.Then, mix the gluten-free flour, coconut sugar, cacao, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a big bowl. Next, add in the coconut milk, coconut oil, eggs and vanilla, and mix it all up. This step really sets apart this gluten-free chocolate cake from other recipes. Coconut milk is known to keep your heart healthy and help build muscles, while coconut oil, one of the healthiest foods on the planet, reduces inflammation and boosts the immune system. How good does this batter look?! Carefully pour it into the two cake pans and slide them into the oven. Let them bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.If you haven’t prepared the frosting yet, this is a good opportunity to do so. Once the cakes are baked through, remove from the oven and let them totally cool before removing them from their pans. Now we’re ready for the best part: frosting time! Spread the cold frosting over one cake, and then stack the other cake atop it. Spread frosting over the second, top cake and marvel at this delicious, Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake. This yummy cake is well worth the time — it’s so simple to make and as good for you as a cake can be. You could mix up the frosting, make just one layer or experiment with making these as cupcakes. I know this will be your go-to gluten-free chocolate cake recipe. Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe DESCRIPTION Using gluten-free flour makes this two-layer cake a great choice for people who are cutting back or have an aversion to gluten without sacrificing taste. Combined with an easy, homemade chocolate frosting, you’ll never go back to your old chocolate cake recipe. INGREDIENTS 2 cups gluten-free flour 2 cups coconut sugar 3/4 cup cacao powder 2 teaspoons baking powder 1–1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 cup coconut milk 1/2 cup melted coconut oil 2 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2 spiced chocolate frosting recipes INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans. Mix flour, sugar, cacao, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Add coconut milk, oil, eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Distribute batter evenly between cake pans and bake for 30–35 minutes or until cooked through. Allow to cook through. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before removing from cake pans. Spread cold frosting evenly over one cake and then stack other. Cover with frosting again and serve. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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Junk Food Warning: Eating Processed Food Does ‘Crazy’ Things to Your Cancer Risk

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe