What food to avoid?

This is a million dollar question and it often makes us confused. However knowing unhealthy food is part and parcel of your food care analysis.

It is to be remembered that the more a food is refined, the more you should stay away from it.

What are refined foods?

Refined foods are highly processed foods that have been stripped of their original nutrient content and fiber. Refined white flour, white pasta, and white sugar are just some examples.

Consider a loaf of sliced white bread. First, the wheat is stripped of bran and fibre, and then it's pulverized into the finest white flour. The baking process puffs it up into light, airy slices of bread. No wonder your stomach makes such quick work of it. A slice of white bread hits your bloodstream with the same jolt you'd get by eating a tablespoon of sugar right from the bowl!

Carrot can enhance the quality of breast milk. It can improve the appearance of the skin, hair and nails. When taken daily it can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Raw carrot contains beta-carotene, a strong antioxidant that can prevent cancer. Carrot juice when taken every day prevents bodily infections and is claimed to be valuable for the adrenal glands. Carrot can help improve eye health. Carrot can help increase menstrual flow. Carrot can regulate blood sugar. Carrot can promote colon health, because it is rich in fibre.

Genuine 100-per cent whole-wheat or whole-grain bread, on the other hand – the coarse, chewy kind with a thick crust and visible pieces of grain – puts your stomach to work. It too is made of wheat, but the grains haven't been processed to death. It contains starches, which are just chains of sugars, but they are bound up with the fibre, so digestion takes longer. As a result, the sugars are released gradually into the bloodstream. If there's no sudden surge in blood sugar, your pancreas won't produce as much insulin, and you won't get the exaggerated hunger and cravings for more sugary and starchy carbs.

Other major minerals present in carrot include chlorine, sulphur, phosphorous and magnesium. Chlorine present in carrot is vital for the proper functioning of liver thereby providing a cleansing and antiseptic effect on the digestive and circulatory systems. The three minerals calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are essential for ensuring the strength of bones. Phosphorus is essential for the health of skin, hair and nerves. The vital magnesium content present in fresh carrot enables mental development, digestion of fats and the metabolism of mineral salts such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium. Sulphur also forms a major ingredient of insulin, the hormonal function of which is to convert carbohydrates into energy.

The following should be avoided or consumed only occasionally:

• White bread
• Crackers
• Cookies (or any baked goods made with white flour or refined wheat flour)
• Instant oatmeal
• Rice cakes
• White pasta
• White rice

Stay away from unrefined food and say yes to heath and good life.