The Diet and Health food Aisle
Many “health” foods are loaded with starch and sugars, the worst offenders being “diet” shakes and rice cakes. Most diet shakes are made up of little more than sugar, a few vitamins, and a tiny amount of protein, and will not give you the nourishment you need to control your appetite. Rice cakes are highly counterproductive to your diet, as they raise insulin levels more than almost any other kind of food. While not an ideal food, protein bars make good snacks for people who have very busy schedules or who travel a lot. Stick to the protein bars that have 30 grams of protein, less than 5 grams of sugar, and less than 300 total calories per bar. Other type of food to look for in this section are sources of friendly bacteria and enzymes that help your gut digest and absorb food. Many people overeat simply because their body doesn’t properly absorb the necessary vitamins and minerals in their food and hunger returns quickly. Good sources in this section include tempeh (a fermented soy product), kefir, and natural sauerkraut.
The Bakery Section
Most baked goods should be eaten only during the magic window because they are usually loaded with unhealthy sugars, starches, and trans- fatty acids. Exceptions are the baked goods that are truly whole grain, containing ingredients such as whole wheat, rye, or pumpernickel, with visible whole grains. Many allegedly “whole-grain” products are about as sugar and carbohydrate laden as white bread. Make sure that white flour is not an ingredient on the label and that the only source of flour comes from whole grains. Rye products are a good choice for people with allergies to wheat, and there are even rye crakers available that relatively low in starch and high in fiber.
