20 Healthy Swaps!
By making small tweaks to your diet, you can realize some amazing health benefits over time. Here’s a list of 20 simple food swaps that will put you on a fast-track to eating nutritiously—and deliciously!
Instead of potato or corn chips…
Go for organic popcorn (not microwave) sprinkled with nutritional yeast or roasted, salted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
Why? You still get the salty crunch you’re after while getting lots more nutrients
Instead of white potatoes…
Go for sweet potatoes
Why? They’re packed with antioxidants and have a lower glycemic index than their white cousins
Instead of conventional apples and celery…
Go for organic apples and celery
Why? These crops are the most heavily sprayed with pesticides; avoid conventional at all costs
Instead of wheat bread…
Go for sprouted wheat bread/wraps or gluten-free options
Why? Unsprouted wheat and gluten are tough for the body to digest
Instead of white rice
Go for brown rice
Why? There’s more fiber, more flavor, and it’s less likely to cause a spike in blood sugar
Instead of brown rice
Go for quinoa or amaranth
Why? These have more protein than brown rice
Instead of canned beans…
Go for dried beans, soaked
Why? Most cans contain BPA; soaked beans are easier to digest and you control the salt content
Instead of scrambled eggs…
Go for scrambled non-GMO tofu
Why? Many people are unknowingly allergic to eggs; here’s a high-protein breakfast alternative
Instead of peanuts or peanut butter…
Go for almonds and almond butter
Why? Peanuts are heavily sprayed with pesticides and can harbor mold that give off toxins (aflatoxins); peanuts are also slightly acidic whereas almonds are slightly alkaline
Instead of conventional beef…
Go for grass-fed beef
Why? When the ratio of omega-6 fats to omega-3 fats is more than 4:1, people have more health problems. Grain-fed beef’s ratio is 20:1; grass-fed beef’s ratio is 3:1
Instead of farmed salmon…
Go for wild salmon
Why? Farmed salmon has less omega-3 per ounce, 16 times the toxins of wild, and a whack of weird additives
Instead of commercial salad dressing…
Go for extra-virgin olive oil + sea salt + fresh cracked black pepper
Why? Commercial dressing contains all kinds of additives not found in nature; best to stay away
Instead of soy sauce…
Go for wheat-free tamari
Why? It’s a kinder, gentler, slightly less salty soy sauce; no gluten means it’s easier to digest
Instead of table salt…
Go for Celtic or Himalayan sea salt or Herbamare
Why? It’s not stripped of natural trace minerals magnesium and calcium; Herbamare includes fresh herbs so a little packs a flavorful punch
Instead of sugar…
Go for brown rice syrup, raw honey, or natural stevia plant
Why? Evil on so many levels, refined sugar has been robbed of all beneficial nutrients the original sugar cane or beet contains. It also lacks chromium which is a chemical needed to maintain healthy blood sugar levels; all-natural options are always the better choice!
Instead of canola oil…
Go for coconut oil
Why? It remains stable during high-heat cooking making it ideal for baking and cooking
Instead of cow’s milk…
Go for unsweetened rice, almond, or hemp milk
Why? Many people are unknowingly allergic to cow’s milk; the alternatives are not phlegm-inducing
Instead of coffee…
Go for Teechino
Why? This caffeine-free alternative that’s a blend of herbs, grains, fruits, and nuts brews up like coffee and has a similar aroma and taste. You get a boost from the nutrients, not stimulants
Instead of soda…
Go for kombucha
Why? This fermented drink is slightly sweet but low in carbs and loaded with probiotics that help to enhance the good bacteria in your gut
Instead of tap water
Go for filtered or spring water
Why? Filtered water takes out a portion of the contaminants in tap water, but not all; your best bet is to try to drink natural spring water filtered from Mother Nature!
***BONUS SWAP***
This is a big one—instead of eating out, eat in! You’ll realize the best health benefits of all if you make that one change.
Author’s content used under license, © 2012 Sprouted Content, LLC
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