When you're trying to eat healthier or more naturally, it's not always easy. I've found that reading the ingredients helps. More importantly, look at the first 5 ingredients of what you are about to eat. (Of course anything with no food label is the best since it is completely natural.)
When you look at the ingredients of what you're eating, you want to make sure that hydrogenated oils/trans fats, MSG, and artificial sweeteners aren't the first five on the list.
Artificial sweeteners should not be used in the place of real sugar. Your body needs natural sugar and real sugar for that matter. Your body craves what it needs. If you are dehydrated, you will crave salt to help retain water. If your body craves sugar and you give it artificial sugar, the craving won't be met. It might feel like you've satisfied yourself for the time being but once your body realizes it's not real sugar, you will still feel as though you need more "sugar". Never mind the funky after taste of artificial sweeteners.
Trans fats are when fatty acids get hydrogenated. Trans fats allow the food to preserve itself and have a long shelf life. It's also what's in substances such as french fries to allow them to be fried while maintaining structure and taste. Trans fats can also be found in shortenings, margarines, cookies, crackers, and other snack and shelf foods. Fat is not always a bad word but in trans fat's case, it's the worst fat around. It only raises cholesterol levels and makes you more prone to heart attacks and diseases. There are such things as good fats. Something completely natural with amazing good fat is avocados. With amazing flavor, all the vitamins and minerals, avocados can be a great staple in your diet. You can use avocados in place of something such as cheese for a better fat alternative on a sandwich also giving a creamy, rich flavor.
Try eliminating artificial sweeteners and trans fats from your diet. Think about limiting MSG in your diet as well. Try and use avocados in your diet more too. Here's a Guacamole recipe to get you started.
Recipe:
2 avocados
1/2 red onion
1/2 tsp coarse salt (sea salt works well)
2 tbs cilantro
1 tbs lemon/lime juice
dash black pepper
hot sauce to taste ( you can always use peppers)
1/2 ripe tomato, chopped
Scoop avocados into bowl and mash with fork. Add onion, cilantro, lemon/lime juice, salt, pepper and mash. Add hot sauce or peppers. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Add tomatoes before serving.
Enjoy!
