7 Things You Might NOT Want In Your Shopping Cart

Going shopping can sometimes be overwelming... So many choices, often too little time to spend figuring out what to even put in the cart!  I'll be writing many more blogs on food shopping and meal planning, but I thought I would start with some of the things you might NOT want to put in your cart (or in your stomach)!

 

1. Canned Tomatoes

Tin cans are often lined with a resin containing BPA (a synthetic oestrogen bisphenol-A) linked to heart disease and infertility. This is especially a problem with canned tomatoes, as the acid in tomatoes breaks this down in dangerous amounts. My suggestion - opt for tomato sauces in glass bottles.

 

2. Conventional Beef and Beef That is Not Hormone Free

Cow that are fed grain, corn and soy are fatter cows. Those feeds are also not organic and usually genetically modified (GMO). In addition, they are also usually pumped full of antibiotics and hormones.  Do you really want to put that into your healthy body??  If you eat beef, look for hormone free, grass fed, organic beef.  Cows were meant to eat grass! 

3. Microwave Popcorn

I mentioned this in a past blog, but it is worth mentioning again.  Microwave popcorn bags are lined with PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) which UCLA studies have linked to infertility. The heat from the microwave leaches this straight into your popcorn. My suggestion - buy organic popcorn and pop it the old fashioned way in a pot with a lid and a little coconut oil or olive oil.                                                                                                              

4. Conventional Potatoes

More than any other vegetable, non-organic potatoes are heavily sprayed with herbicides, pesticides and fungicides throughout every stage of their growth, harvesting and storage.   My suggestion - organic potatoes only.                                                                                                                                                                    

5. Farmed Salmon

There are many reasons to opt for wild caught salmon and many reasons to avoid farm raised. One of the first things to consider about farmed raised is where are they being raised and what are they being fed?? Often the fish are crammed in pens and fed anything from soy to hydrolized chicken feathers to pellets. A scientific study on farm raised fish contamination showed high levels of DDT's and PCB's (carcinogens).  In addition, Omega 3's and vitamin D are devoid in these farm raised fish. My suggestion - buy only wild caught.                                                                                                               

6. Conventional Milk

Dairy cows are fed growth hormones to maximize growth production and antibiotics to keep them free from disease. You definitely do NOT want these hormones or antibiotics in your system. Today, there are many healthy and delicious milk alternatives. Almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk to name a few.  My suggestion - if you love milk and don't want any substitutions, read the label! Go for organic and hormone free.                                                                                                                                                                                              

7. Conventional Apples

Of all the common fruits, apples are the most heavily and frequently doused with pesticides. Pesticide residue is linked to Parkinson's disease. My suggestion - buy only organic!

 

The good news is that most grocery stores now have an organic section!  Ralphs seems to have one of the best I have seen.  Trader Joe's is doing a great job with more organic choices and of course, if it's in your budget, there's always Whole Foods.  Most importantly, with anything you put in your cart, always READ THE LABEL! 

Until next time,

Live Now - Live Well!

Tracy

Comments

Really helpful article! Thanks for the common sense (and easy to implement) tips.

Very helpful tips! I love the way you can make the overwhelming simple and prioritize the most important things. Thanks!

Add new comment

Contact Tracy