Top 10 Food Allergens part 2

Ok, so there are more than 10 on this list so I will post shorter blogs and give you great info so you can LEARN and see if you have any problems with nay of these foods.

Also, everything on the list is not really a food, but, the point is this: there are foods that trigger serious health issues in many people and these may be 'hidden' sources of stress or weight gain.

If you have been working out and 'eating right' (whatever that means) and your still not getting results, simply use a food journal and see what's going on after you eat and this will clue you in to possible problematic or allergenic foods.

What's next on the list?

Caffeine - similar to alcohol, there are a lot of false teachings in the media about this stimulant. Caffeine is a stimulant that disrupts your metabolism and triggers your 'fight or flight' (which is an emergency response system, not a daily lifestyle system) into FULL EFFECT.

Personally, I have never seen anyone in NYC who drinks coffee that isn't experiencing some type of negative consequence of drinking coffee.

Typically, people argue that there is some health benefit or they read some article that touted the benefits of coffee. What they fail to realize is that, like alcohol, even if there were some benefits, the negatives FAR OUTWEIGH any of these mythical benefits.

Caffeine is a stimulant that triggers the release of cortisol (stress hormone) that is associated with practically every disease known to mankind.

The primary reason people drink it in NYC is beaucase they are sleep deficient and exhausted. Sleep deficiency, although popular, is not cool, nor healthy and makes you age prematurely. Whenever you drink coffee to 'get you going' - you continue a cycle of exhaustion that gets harder and harder to break as you age.

And for my friends who are drinking coffee to help with 'number 2' (going pottie)....the caffeine is one of the main reasons why you cant go in the first place, fyi.

The other reason is because it dehydrates the human body, despite what the NY Times coffee addicted 'health reporter' says.

Coffee beans are also the most heavily sprayed crop on the planet and the acids in the beans are damaging to your digestive tract.

Enough said?

If you really want to drink coffee, at least find some good organic stuff and dont drink it on an empty stomach.

Seriously though, caffeine addiction is a widespread problem and a MASSIVE factor in hormonal imbalance (depression), burnout and weight gain.

Want to improve your health, look good and not age prematurely???? Ditch the drug addiction.

Oh, and for the hundreds of people that may say something like 'I got headaches last time I tried to quit' --> Getting headaches is not a reason for continuing your caffeine addiction. Headaches are a symptom of drug withdrawal and there are many things you can do to alleviate this. But any addiction comes with a price and if getting headaches is a minor consequence, than thats something you will have to deal with.

Peanuts - I am aware that most Men's Health and Shape magazines tell you that peanut butter is a good source of protein and when I was a teenager I thought the same thing. I have since discovered that not only is it a common food allergen, but its also a very low quality food source and loaded with mold. That's right. Even the healthy versions are full of nasty little critters that can make you sick.

Peanuts are also difficult to digest for many people. Want a better alternative? Try almond butter. You can also find cashew nut butter or macadamia nut butter and they are absolutely fantastic! Unless of course you can tolerate tree nuts...

Tree Nuts - as long as you dont have a nut allergy, most other nut butters are better than peanuts. However, another common food allergens are tree nuts.

Here is a list of common tree nuts and foods or products that may contain them:

Cashews
Pecans
Macadamia nuts
Almonds
Pistachios
Brazil nuts
Pine nuts
Hazelnuts
Walnuts
hickory nuts
Beech nut*
Butternut*
Chestnut*
Coconut*
Ginko nut*
Lichee nut*
Pili nut*
Sheanut*


natural nut extract
artificial nuts
nut meal
caponatanut meat
nut oil
nut paste (such as almond paste)
gianduja (a nut mixture in some chocolate)
nut pieces
pesto
mandelonas
marzipan/almond paste
nan-gai nuts
nougat
pralines
nut butters

Other names for tree nuts
Anacardium nuts
Mandelonas (e.g. peanuts that have been altered to look and taste like tree nuts)
Marzipan (almond paste)
Nu-Nuts ™ (e.g. peanuts that have been altered to look and taste like tree nuts)
Nut meats
Pinon

Common Sources/Foods Containing Tree Nuts
Artificial nuts (peanuts altered to look and taste like almonds, pecans and walnuts)
Baked goods (cakes, cereal bars, cookies, doughnuts, energy/granola bars, muffins, pastries)
Baking mixes, cereals, crackers, muesli
Coffee grinders
Dressings/gravies
Chinese food
Gianduja (chocolate and chopped nuts mixture found in premium or imported chocolate and ice cream)
Ice cream/frozen desserts/frozen yogurts/sundae toppings
Natural flavorings and extracts
Nut butter
Nut-flavored coffee/liqueurs
Sauces (barbecue, pesto, Worcestershire)
Salads (Waldorf salad, curried chicken)
Spreads (almond paste, cheese, chocolate nut, nougat, Nutella)
Trail mixes

Non-food sources of tree nuts
Hacky sacks
Bird seed
Cosmetics, hair care products, lotions
Pet food


As always, use extra precaution when eating out at restaurants or eating foods prepared by others.

*As of 10/2006, the FDA has added these as tree nuts for the purposes of FALCPA (Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act).


Here is a great resource, provided you DONT HAVE ANY NUT ALLERGIES and CAN DIGEST THEM WITHOUT A PROBLEM.

http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/
www.sweetwatermarket.net
www.bluemountainorganics.com

These are great websites with awesome products - check them out.

Untill next time
Have a great weekend!