Here is a copy of my current Tip of The Week...


It's really too bad that the low carbohydrate diet craze has given bread such a bad name. While there are certain bread products that SHOULD be avoided; white bread, danish, donuts and bagels among the worst, for every "bad" bread, there are at least one or two choices that are not only good for you, but qualify as an essential part of any healthy nutrition plan. The key is knowing what to look for.

MULTI-GRAIN vs WHOLE WHEAT: Whole wheat products (at least the ones marked "100%" whole wheat) are made from the entire grain of wheat - grains that have not been stripped of their "rough outer coating" or skin. This makes for a more nutritionally dense food - one that, because of the added fiber, "burns" or digests slower.

The words "multi-grain" simply mean that other grains were used in addition to wheat. Be forewarned that many companies try to fool you by labeling their products this way just to make them look healthier. Unless the multi grains used are whole, it might not be all that much better than white bread. Always look for the "100%" next to the words "whole wheat" or "whole grain" and you'll be sure to make the best choice when it comes to bread.

The caution when purchasing any bread product is to remember that all bread is made from wheat. So, look out for what I call the Big Bread Lie. That's when companies take a name that sounds like "whole" and put it next to the word "wheat" to make it appear more nutritious - like "honey wheat," which is just white bread dyed to look like whole wheat bread - ruthless fiends!

The bottom line - bread is NOT the enemy. Choose one to three slices of 100% whole wheat or whole grain bread products daily as part of a balanced meal (which should include a good-quality, clean protein such as chicken, tuna, eggs or cottage cheese) and your body will thank you!

Diane, thanks for that , I try to read all labels before I purchase any foods any never caught that one. Now I need to check the Joseph's pita bread I get from WalMart to see if they are slipping me the non nutritious goobler.
Wow, you really have to read what you eat!

Watch out for HFCS in most breads, too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silly Watch out for HFCS in most breads, too!

Yup - high fructose corn syrups are another easy thing to miss. I believe I read somewhere that a regular hamburger bun from McDonalds has more sugar than a plain donut...

Good one Silly!
Dianne

And let's not forget some of the "health bars" either. Which reminds me, one needs reading glasses to see the small print on the wrappers,lol.

You are so right on that Troy, just about all protein bars have HFCS, or Sulacrose in them and that's just as bad. That's why I prefer to make my own protein bars that way I know what's in them. Dianne you are so right on about the bread, that is why I always look at the ingredients before I buy bread or anything else for that matter.

I don't really agree that white bread is all that bad if eaten in moderation. For example sometimes you need quick carbs like white bread after a workout. So you would drink some whey protein and have a few slice of white bread and that would hit your system right away which is beneficial after working out. Sure you can drink right shakes and other alternatives after a workout, but I like to have a variety and not eat the same stuff all the time for meals or after workouts.

As far as HFCS that is not going away anytime soon and more and more products will contain it because it is cheaper than other alternatives and it helps food keep longer.

If someone has a rather clean nutritional regimen, then eating one "health" bar with HFCS isn't going to sabotage your transformation goals. Moderation is important.

We use Ezekiel bread products. I've included the link below. They are great tasting and good for you, too. :->

The link will explain about the glycemic index and why this bread is better for folks who are trying to lose weight.

Just another tool in your tool box. :->

Low Glycemic / Diabetic Friendly Foods

The only white bread I eat is sourdough or the occasional bun. I had developed a taste for whole grains. HFCS will go away if we stop purchasing these items. I understand that some foods actually put a small amount of HFCS in products because it helps shuttle nutrients into cells but since our body gets confused by this ingredient I think it is better to avoid it if at all possible.
Fruit such as a banana would be a far suprior carb source than white bread after a workout.

If you really look into the HFCS our liver cannot process that junk, so for me that is the reason why I abstain from it.

I love the taste of white bread but eat whole wheat because it is better for you. When I worked at the health food store we had a saying: The whiter the bread the quicker you're dead.

I have only read studies that HFCS can cause liver damage as a result of HFCS in combination with a high fat diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Like I said earlier moderation is the key. You can't eat as much whole wheat or whole grain bread as you want , because your going to gain weight. HFCS is not as evil as it is made out to be.

The link below pprovides interesting tidbits on HFCS.
HFCSfacts - Get the facts about High Fructose Corn Syrup - Is there a correlation between the introduction of HFCS & the rise of obesity in the last 30 years?


There was a time when everyone thought all fats were bad too.

I can show studies that says differently. High fructose consumption has been fingered as a causative factor in heart disease. It raises blood levels of cholesterol and another type of fat, triglyceride. It makes blood cells more prone to clotting,
"People should avoid it," urged John Yudkin, M.D., Ph.D., professor emeritus at Queen Elizabeth College, London, and an expert in the health effects of sugar

As for me I was told by my nutritionist to try and stay away from it. But thanks for sharing the tidbits.
God bless~
Jerome

I have to add that the closer we eat to natural the healthier we will be. I avoid added sugars and artificial sweeteners. Mostly because of how they make me feel. My body does communicate with my brain and if I don't listen I pay the price whether its bread, sugar, corn,etc...

Hi all! I have read a few replies to these threads about people being confused as to the nutrition aspect of this transformation...I know Bill has posted his recipe book, "Eating For Life", for you to see, but I own it and it is a great tool to assist you in beginning your nutrition transformation. It gives you great recipes, insight and ideas on portion control and what to put together...I have crafted some of my own recipes based on Bill's and they are just as nutritious. But, even for the beginner, I have Never eaten a meal in this book that I didn't absolutely LOVE! Here's an idea for a new recipe based on Bill's Caribbean Pork Tenderloin recipe: You can make Carnitas....get a pork loin, lean, put it in the crock pot for a few hours with water, sea salt, fresh garlic and pepper....cook it until it just pulls apart. Then., make the mango salso as Bill instructs in the book, use the meat, mango salsa, fresh spinach and whole wheat tortillas and viola..fresh pork carnitas with mango salsa....YUM! Any ideas you all have for recipes, I'd LOVE to hear! Thanks and go get 'em, transformers!!!!!!!!!

While standing in the check out line at Wal-mart, I noticed these little bottles of something. Turns out it was "liquid candy". I didn't have a chance to read the ingredients label, but if I were a betting person, I would put my money on it being High Fructose Corn Syrup and artificial flavoring. Oh, what a wonderful treat for our children. Killing them softly with stupidity.

Bill's book EFL does has many recipes which contain HFCS. Try the Sloppy Joes for example, it has ketchup and barbeque sauce in them which contain HFCS. My only point is eaten in moderation it is not harmful to you. Does anyone plan on having a hamburger on their free day or over the labor day weekend. I am sure your going to put ketchup on it if you do, and you'll probably come out of it ok too.

I have not seen any studies that have said someone died with an overdose of HFCS. People who drink a six pack of coke and eat donuts all day will be killing themselves softly with stupidity, not the people who consume HFCS in moderation.

It is the gluten in the breads that harm my body, albeit over a period of time. However, the best bread I ever ate was french bread baked by french bakers in France. I think they use a different type of yeast because it digested very well. Sour dough is not bad either, but I can't ingest a lot of gluten.

Spelt bread is a bit better. Any true sprouted grains bread is okay too.



I

Quote:

Originally Posted by DianneOrwig Here is a copy of my current Tip of The Week... It's really too bad that the low carbohydrate diet craze has given bread such a bad name. While there are certain bread products that SHOULD be avoided; white bread, danish, donuts and bagels among the worst, for every "bad" bread, there are at least one or two choices that are not only good for you, but qualify as an essential part of any healthy nutrition plan. The key is knowing what to look for. MULTI-GRAIN vs WHOLE WHEAT: Whole wheat products (at least the ones marked "100%" whole wheat) are made from the entire grain of wheat - grains that have not been stripped of their "rough outer coating" or skin. This makes for a more nutritionally dense food - one that, because of the added fiber, "burns" or digests slower. The words "multi-grain" simply mean that other grains were used in addition to wheat. Be forewarned that many companies try to fool you by labeling their products this way just to make them look healthier. Unless the multi grains used are whole, it might not be all that much better than white bread. Always look for the "100%" next to the words "whole wheat" or "whole grain" and you'll be sure to make the best choice when it comes to bread. The caution when purchasing any bread product is to remember that all bread is made from wheat. So, look out for what I call the Big Bread Lie. That's when companies take a name that sounds like "whole" and put it next to the word "wheat" to make it appear more nutritious - like "honey wheat," which is just white bread dyed to look like whole wheat bread - ruthless fiends! The bottom line - bread is NOT the enemy. Choose one to three slices of 100% whole wheat or whole grain bread products daily as part of a balanced meal (which should include a good-quality, clean protein such as chicken, tuna, eggs or cottage cheese) and your body will thank you!

Thanks Dianne for the tips- this helps a lot!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantman0819 You are so right on that Troy, just about all protein bars have HFCS, or Sulacrose in them and that's just as bad. That's why I prefer to make my own protein bars that way I know what's in them. Dianne you are so right on about the bread, that is why I always look at the ingredients before I buy bread or anything else for that matter.

How do you make your own protein bars? I like this idea.