Simple Food Swaps for Boosting Your Health
By Melanie Kiss
We are constantly bombarded with information on what to eat and what not to eat. With a plethora of diets and food trends, a simple trip to the grocery store can feel daunting. Gluten-free products might be best for some folks, but not necessarily for others. Knowing what your body needs and making the right choices for its optimum health are key. When making food choices, quality, rather than quantity and counting calories, is always a priority. In fact, certain food substitutes can make a huge difference. Consider these simple food swaps on your next trip to the supermarket.
Simple Food Swaps
Sunflower Oil → Avocado Oil
Oils are always a hot topic. Did you know that certain oils are not meant to be used for cooking? There is such a thing as a smoke point. Each oil burns at different temperatures. The smoke point is the point where the oil breaks down and many of the health benefits of the oils are destroyed. Avocado oil has a high burning point, meaning you can cook with it at high temperatures. Sunflower oil has a very low burning point and destroys all the goodness that it contains with little heat. So while sunflower oil is super healthy, perhaps using it on salads and in raw food recipes might be your best way to reap the rewards.
Milk Chocolate Bar → Organic Dark Chocolate
Many of you already know that the darker the chocolate and more cacao mass it contains, the less sugar is added. Most of us don’t like dark chocolate, as many are used to the sugar and flavourings of milk chocolate. Read labels. See the difference between an artisan chocolate bar and a commercial product found in your convenience store. Choosing to go with a healthier option in terms of chocolate can really be important. Firstly, your taste buds will change as you get more used to natural, healthy ingredients and there will surely be less chemicals and additives. Raw cacao is the healthiest and you can buy some in your health food store. Raw cacao contains high levels of magnesium, which is a must-have in today’s stressful world.
French Fries → Home Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Substituting fast-food fries or even frozen fries for a quick homemade version is as easy as 1 2 3.
Recipe
Wash and cut a couple of sweet potatoes into strips.
Drizzle a small amount of avocado or coconut oil on them.
Add Himalayan salt, pepper, and paprika, if you want a spicy flavor.
Place the sweet potatoes on parchment paper and bake in an oven for 35 to 45 minutes at 395 to 425 degrees.
Voila! You’ll have healthy and delicious homemade fries that do not include all the chemicals, preservatives, and deep fried oils you get at fast-food restaurants.
White Sugar → Mother Nature’s nectars
Ditching that empty nutrient sweetener for one of Mother Nature’s nectars is the way to go. Choosing real maple syrup, raw unpasteurized honey, or dates can really make a difference. White sugar is also called white poison, as it contributes to many health problems over long-term use. But remember that, even with Mother Nature’s goodness, too much of a good thing isn’t good for you either!
Concentrated Juice/Pop → Freshly Squeezed Juice
Concentrated juice and pop is loaded with sugar, additives, and preservatives. Nix the fake stuff and go for the real deal. If you don’t have the time to make a fresh juice, eat fruits instead. They’re loaded with natural vitamins and antioxidants that defend your cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Roasted Nuts → Pre-Soaked Raw Nuts
Roasted nuts are tasty, but they are also hard to digest and you don’t get many nutritional benefits from them. Before eating raw nuts, pre-soak them. This could be overnight, as nuts have different soak times. This process helps to break down the enzyme inhibitors, which makes it easier for your body to digest and absorb the nutrients.
Buen Provecho!
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