Healthy Eating Myths by Doctor Alfredo Cajar DDC

Healthy Eating Myths by Doctor Alfredo Cajar DDC

Re-print courtesy of The Our Town News

When patients come in I have to dispel so many myths in teaching people healthy eating.  I’m going to use this article to dispel some of the really big ones.

1) Eggs are bad for you and increase cholesterol.  Wrong.

Eggs are one of the best sources of protein.  The yolk contains trace minerals and is a rich source of healthy fats.  Egg yolks also contain choline which helps prevent the accumulation fat in the liver. The liver makes cholesterol and very little cholesterol comes directly from your food.  It is important thing is to get good eggs.  Look for free range pasture raised eggs if possible.  The yolk should be very deep yellow almost orange.  Don’t throw the yolk away because most of the nutrients are there!

2)  Red meat is bad for you.  Yes and No.

Bad red meat is bad for you.  If you get free range grass fed beef it is a great source of protein, iron, B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids.  Conventional meat is a very different product that contains added antibiotics and hormones that are not a good contribution to your diet.

3) Organic food is the same as conventional grown, it’s just a label. 

If it’s not in the soil it’s not in the plant.  Organic farms have higher trace mineral content in the soil - there for the plants grown there are healthier.  There are also no pesticides or GMO’s there ( genetically modified organisms (GMOs), specifically, genetically modified crops).  You may pay more for this but the food you eat will often be much better in promoting good health. 

4) Agave sweetener is better for you than sugar.  Wrong.

Sugar is sugar is sugar!  That’s all I can say.  When the sugar is in fruit the fiber slows the digestion of it.  In syrup it is going to go into the bloodstream fast.   Also, avoid artificial sweeteners.  Most of them are bad.  Stevia is a great alternative.  The best thing to do is limit your sugar intake! 

For a basic analysis of your diet and what you are eating along with how you could change your diet to improve your health, likely longevity and overall sense of wellbeing, call us at (954) 796-2611.