Striving4Zen

Americans are spending more and more dollars each year on probiotic supplements, or so-called “friendly” bacteria. Studies have shown that probiotics—which you might purchase in the form of yogurt, capsules, miso, beverages, or powders—can treat a host of conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea caused by viral infection or antibiotics, vaginal yeast infections, hypertension, the common cold, and even acne. Over the past decade, consumer sales of probiotics in the U.S. have nearly quadrupled (growing from $115 million in 1998 to $425 million in 2008), according to Nutrition Business Journal.

But, according to a report released today, many of the most popular probiotic supplements don’t contain the amount of live bacteria listed on their labels. ConsumerLab, a private company that tests health and nutritional products at independent labs across the country, found that at the time a consumer buys a probiotic, it may contain as little as 10 to 58% of the amount of viable organisms listed on the label. “It’s shocking how many products really don’t have what they claim on their labels,” says Tod Cooperman, the president of ConsumerLab. “The buyer has to be careful.”

The highest quality probiotics that ConsumerLab tested included Advocare Probiotic Restore, GNC Nature Brand Best Super Acidophilus, and Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus. For the full report, click here.

Labels: bacteria, healthy diet, IBS, Probiotics, wellness, yogurt

Women in their late 30s can do much to improve their chances of getting pregnant. The fertility odds are workable: About two-thirds of women ages 35 to 39 can become pregnant within a year. Given these odds, women can take a number of steps to improve their fertility. Some are simple common sense: Stop smoking; reduce or eliminate use of alcohol and caffeine; maintain an appropriate weight; reduce stress. Even moderate alcohol use—as few as five drinks a week—can impair fertility. Likewise, consuming more than two cups of caffeinated coffee a day has been associated with lowered conception and increased miscarriage.

Naturopath Bonnie Nedrow, ND, LM, who teaches at Bastyr University near Seattle, encourages her midlife patients to focus on what they can control. "We are looking for optimal health, which is more than functional health," she says. "A woman's body will wait to make a baby until things are optimal." Nedrow gives each patient a hormone work-up, checking levels of progesterone, estrogen, thyroid hormones, and others. Then she advises them about cleansing the liver, which processes the majority of the body's hormones; balancing the diet; stabilizing menstrual cycles; and reducing both the woman's and her partner's stress levels.

A stable, predictable menstrual cycle is an important indicator of good reproductive health. "Many women have a long history of taking birth control pills," says Jana Nalbandian, ND, a Bastyr University colleague of Nedrow's. "When a woman decides she wants to get pregnant, her system is used to being regulated by hormones introduced into, rather than released by, the body. For certain women, it can take six months to a year for the body to regulate on its own."

A woman's weight also affects the regularity and effectiveness of her cycles. According to the Mayo Clinic, body fat levels that are 10 percent to 15 percent above or below normal can throw off a woman's reproductive cycles. Being overweight can mean estrogen overload. "We live in an estrogen-dominant world," says Nalbandian, pointing to the hormones used in meat- and dairy-products production, as well as the "estrogenic effect" of some pesticides. Because of these excess hormones, even women who aren't overweight may be at risk for estrogen overload and resulting fertility problems, Nedrow says.

Both doctors encourage their patients to avoid processed and sugar-rich foods and to replace them with organic, hormone-free, and pesticide-free foods. Nalbandian recommends eating beets, leafy greens, artichokes, and carrots to cleanse the liver and remove excess estrogen from the system. Nedrow suggests a daily serving of four ounces of fish, which is rich in essential fatty acids, to aid the digestive system. "Our grandmothers were right about cod liver oil," she says.

Women who are underweight also are at risk for menstrual irregularity and infertility. Women who adhere to intense exercise regimes share some of these risks. Strict vegetarians may experience fertility problems if they don't get enough vitamin B12, zinc, iron, and folic acid in their diets.

Luckily, most of these problems can be resolved through changes in nutrition. "If you are a fairly healthy 35-year-old woman with a healthy reproductive system," says Nalbandian, "you should be able to improve your chances of becoming pregnant simply through diet and lifestyle choices."

Additionally, Nalbandian advises using herbs to support the natural reproductive process, such as chaste tree berry (Vitex agnus castus) for regulating cycles, and herbal teas, such as raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus), to tone the uterus. To move bile through the liver, she recommends dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale), a gentle, nontoxic cleanser. But because many herbs can contribute to miscarriage, once a woman becomes pregnant, Nalbandian warns, she must stop taking all herbal preparations until she consults her doctor.

Acupuncture may also be effective. Earlier this year, German researchers at the Christian Lauritzen Institute announced that acupuncture-treated subjects increased their success rate for in vitro fertilization by nearly 50 percent (Fertility and Sterility, 2002, vol. 77, no. 4). By relaxing the uterus, they theorized, acupuncture helps the uterine lining become more receptive to an embryo.

Full article

Labels: exercise, fertility, healthy diet, leafy greens, liver, pregnancy

Wheat germ can be a healthy addition to a diet as it is packed with important B vitamins - such as folate, thiamin, and vitamin B6 - and the minerals zinc, magnesium, and manganese. It also has a high oil content and subsequently a high amount of vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect the oil in the wheat germ from quickly becoming rancid. Vitamin E functions in a similar manner as a fat-soluble antioxidant in the human body where it helps protect fat-containing substances including cell membranes, brain cells, and fatty molecules such as cholesterol from damage by free radicals.

While wheat germ provides the important nutrients described above, it's important to remember that wheat germ is not a food per se. It's a single part of the wheat grain that's been removed through factory processing and it does not digest or metabolize in the same way as the whole, natural grain. Many of the World's Healthiest Foods can be combined to provide the same nutritional benefits as are found in wheat germ, without losing the optimal value found in whole, natural foods.

In addition, research on wheat germ has shown that it contains a particular lectin, called wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), which may be especially tied to wheat allergy. A person with very mild wheat allergy - who might not have problematic symptoms from consumption of the whole grain - might have more problems with isolated wheat germ for this reason. Wheat germ is also considered a high-oxalate food, with more than 10 milligrams of oxalic acid per tablespoon.

Wheat germ purified from certified organic wheat would always be your best choice of products here should you choose to consume wheat germ. Refrigeration of this product is recommended since the nutrients in wheat germ are more exposed to possible damage than they would otherwise be when residing inside of the whole grain.

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Labels: b-vitamins, eating healthy, healthy diet, Vitamin E, wheat germ

• Avocados
• Chard, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach
• Bell peppers
• Brussels sprouts
• Mushrooms (crimini and shiitake)
• Baked potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Cantaloupe, papaya, raspberries, strawberries
• Low-fat yogurt
• Eggs
• Seeds (flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower)
• Dried beans (garbanzo, kidney, navy, pinto)
• Lentils, peas
• Almonds, cashews, peanuts
• Barley, oats, quinoa, brown rice
• Salmon, halibut, cod, scallops, shrimp, tuna
• Lean beef, lamb, venison
• Chicken, turkey

*Foods that have a lot of nutrients relative to the number of calories.

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Labels: almonds, avocado, cruciferous vegetables, eating healthy, eggs, fruits and veggies, healthy diet, Kale, lentils, potatoes, quinoa

Salmon (and other fish) develop a gray-brown layer of insulating fat between their skin and flesh. This is in addition to fat deposited within the flesh. Yes, it’s okay to eat it.

A large amount of the healthy omega-3 fats in salmon are found here. For cosmetic reasons, however, vendors who remove the skin also take off as much of the gray fat as they can. But you may still find some of it on your salmon fillets or smoked salmon.

In general, the fatty layer adds an intensity of flavor, but it has a consistency that some people may dislike. If you scrape it off, rest assured that you are still getting significant amounts of omega-3s from the flesh of the salmon.

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Labels: canned salmon, Fat, healthy cooking, healthy diet, Omega-3s, Omega-3s fish oil, salmon

Did you know that cabbage, like bok choy, is great for losing weight? One cup of raw bok choy contains only 22 calories while supplying you with a wealth of health-promoting nutrients.

Like its other cruciferous cousins, broccoli, kale and mustard greens, cabbage is not only an excellent source of vitamin C and dietary fiber, but also contains many unique sulfur-containing phytonutrients, such as indole-3-carbinole (I3C) and sulforaphane. I3C and sulforaphane help activate and stabilize the body's antioxidant and detoxification mechanisms. Other sulfur compounds, which are produced as a result of cutting, chewing or digesting cabbage, increase the liver's ability to produce enzymes that neutralize potentially toxic substances.

Cabbage is easily available, inexpensive, and easy to prepare.

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Labels: bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cruciferous vegetables, Green veggies, healthy diet, Kale, sulforaphane

Did you know that grapes contain a nutrient called resveratrol that acts as a powerful antioxidant and has been found to help protect against heart disease and cancer?

Recent studies show that the flavonoids, such as resveratrol, found in grapes, particularly purple and red grapes, have powerful health-promoting properties. Much of this research was motivated by what has come to be known as the French Paradox: the interesting phenomenon of the low incidence of heart disease among the French despite their eating a diet high in fats. Increasing evidence suggests that the flavonoids found in grapes, grape juice and red wine, particularly resveratrol, may be a key to understanding this paradox since these foods are an important part of the French diet. Like calorie restriction, resveratrol activates a number of sirtuins, genes in the SIR (silent information regulator) family, which trigger cell signaling that:

• mobilizes the release of stored fat and its conversion into glucose
• promotes insulin secretion, so glucose is promptly delivered to cells
• boosts the aerobic capacity of the mitochondria (the energy production factories in our cells), so the glucose is efficiently converted into energy
• inactivates p53, a gene that plays a pivotal role in cellular senescence

The net result is a much more youthful metabolism in which fats and carbohydrates are efficiently converted into energy, increasing endurance and resistance to stress, instead of stockpiling and fueling inflammation, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

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Labels: antioxidant, flavonoids, French Paradox, fruit, grapes, healthy diet, healthy food, resveratrol

This just in from the University of Murcia in Spain:

Men with healthier, more balanced diets have higher quality semen. Control for everything -- smoking, BMI, age, toxic chemical exposure -- and "men who ate more dairy products and more meat, and less lettuce, tomatoes, and fruit, were more likely to have poor semen quality."

Got that?

Macho meat eaters firing more blanks than wimpy metrosexuals who get their fair share of carbs, fiber, folate, Vitamin C, and lycopene, (think tomatoes). The irony.

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Labels: diet and health, healthy diet, lycopene, macho men, poor diet, semen

The term blood building food is commonly used in alternative medicine, particularly in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Blood building foods are foods that contain high quantities of specific nutrients thought to encourage the production of new blood cells in the body. The most important ingredient in a blood building food is iron, but vitamin B12 and folic acid are also key.

Although many choose simply to strengthen the blood by taking iron pills or liquid iron supplements, eating a diet high in blood building foods can be equally effective. Some blood building foods are less appetizing than others, and though they are foods, they are generally taken as a supplement rather then simply eaten as a meal. These include animal liver, brewer’s yeast, bone marrow soup, and black strap molasses. Colostrum, the milk produced in mammals during the late stages of pregnancy, is also considered a blood building food. Colostrum is high in antibodies and nutrients needed by newborn mammals to build blood after birth.

If these options seem unappetizing, there are a number of blood building foods which may have wider appeal to the palate. These include meats, particularly duck, goose, lamb, and oyster. Dark leafy greens, such as spinach and wheatgrass, are also particularly high in iron, and are considered a blood building food. Wheatgrass, and other food such as raisins, prunes, kidney beans, mushrooms, apricots, and soy food can be particularly effective in building blood, especially if one is following a vegetarian diet.

These iron-rich foods are particularly potent in blood building potential. Hypothetically speaking, however, any food that is high in nutrients is beneficial to the blood. Of course, if one wants to encourage the production of healthy new blood cells, it is also wise to stay away from foods that offer little nutritional value, or rob the body of nutrients. Food such as refined sugar, coffee, and alcohol are often thought to rob nutrients from the body, not to mention the taxing effect they can have on the liver.

Within the practice of TCM, herbs are also commonly recommended in a blood building regimen. Though they may not be food in and of themselves, herbs, spices and extracts taken to build blood are often derived from food, or other edible substances. These include ingredients such as licorice, ginger, red dates, citrus, cardamon, and alfalfa.

Blood building foods, due to their high concentration of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid, are an effective way to relieve anemia, fatigue, paleness, coldness of the body, and amenorrhea.

Source

Labels: blood building foods, blood flow, eating healthy, healthy diet, Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Food with calcium.

Dairy products obviously contain calcium, but if you don’t eat dairy, try dark leafy greens, like kale or spinach. You can pretty much incorporate greens into every meal: spinach in a breakfast green monster, salad for lunch, and sauteed greens for dinner.

• Complex carbs.

Your brain is telling you to reach for that cookie, but your crampy belly will thank you if you have a piece of sprouted or whole grain bread with an indulgent topping, like honey and almond butter, or PB & dark chocolate chips, instead.

• Foods with magnesium.

Foods rich in magnesium, like beans, tofu, and nuts, are thought to reduce bloating in menstruating women. Shoot for at least 200mg per day.

• Foods rich in vitamin E.

A great source of vitamin E is avocado. You can whip up some guac or just slice one up and go to town!

• Foods full of vitamin B6.

This powerhouse of a vitamin aids in the metabolism of proteins and red blood cells, and has even been shown to relieve symptoms of depression. Potatoes and bananas are great sources of this vitamin. Snack on a banana and nuts to get your magnesium and B6 fix.

• Foods with iron.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency among women. Make sure you’re getting enough by consuming lots of dark greens, beans, and nuts. Red meat and eggs also contain iron, but it’s a myth that they’re the only good sources of it.

• Foods containing vitamin C and zinc.

Red berries, kiwi, and bell peppers have plenty of C, as do broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc. Add them to oatmeal, cereal, or salads. Top a sweet potato with pumpkin seeds, wilted spinach, a small handful of nuts, and a sprinkle of goat cheese for a delicious meal that incorporates many of the items on this list.

• Water, water, water.

Getting dehydrated is the easiest way to feel horrible when you’re on your period.

• Avoid salt.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but not only can salt interfere with the absoption of certain minerals, it also causes more bloating at a time when that’s the last thing you want.

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Labels: calcium, cramps, healthy diet, period

Nutritional yeast is not the yeast you bake with, says Melina Jampolis, M.D., a health expert for CNN.

"Nutritional yeast is a type of yeast that has been specially cultured for optimal nutrition value and good taste," she says. "It is a very good source of complete protein (important for vegans and vegetarians), fiber, and B vitamins. It is definitely a healthy and tasty addition to a balanced diet. Lots of vegans use it in cooking, and I'm addicted to these kale chips that are baked with it as they taste like Parmesan crusted chips but are super healthy."

Where can you buy it? Most health food stores sell nutritional yeast, and you might even get lucky at your local grocery store. Just ask next time you're out shopping.

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Labels: b-vitamins, healthy diet, Kale, nutritional yeast, supplements, vegan, vegetarian, yeast

That olive oil sitting on your shelf may lose up to 40% of its health benefits if it’s been there for six months, according to a study presented in the March Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists.

The study analyzed several varieties of extra-virgin olive oil produced from groves in the Italian countryside at production and during storage. After three months of storage, the antioxidant activity in the oils remained unchanged. However, antioxidants decreased by about 40% for almost all of the oils after six months.

“The protective role of virgin olive oil is the result of its specific composition including phenolic compounds known to act as antioxidants,” says lead researcher Antonella Baiano of the University of Foggia in Italy. The health benefits of extra-virgin olive oil may include preventing conditions related to coronary disease, stroke and certain types of cancers.

Researchers recommend consumers store extra virgin olive oil in small glass bottles (one liter maximum because the oxygen contained in the headspace determines its oxidation), in a dark location, at a temperature lower than 68-77°F (20-25°C).

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Labels: antioxidants, cooking oil, extra-virgin olive oil, healthy diet, Mediterranean Diet, study, virgin olive oil

Did you know that the wealth of vitamin K (122% daily value) found in green beans plays an important role in bone health?

Although calcium and vitamin D are often the nutrients highlighted in discussions on bone and prevention of bone-related disease, current research is increasingly revealing the importance of vitamin K. Although much of the research has focused on the K2 form of the vitamin, the K1 form found in greens beans has also been associated with better bone mineral density and decreased risk of bone-related diseases.

So, green beans can now join in with a variety of vegetables (including kale, spinach, collard greens and mustard greens) which are excellent sources of vitamin K1 and provide welcomed support for our bones. But the benefits of green beans do not stop here. They're also a rich source of other vitamins and minerals, many of which can act as powerful antioxidants that help combat the free radical activity associated with increased risk of both cancer and heart disease.

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Labels: bones, eating healthy, green beans, green leafy vegetables, Green veggies, healthy diet, Kale, spinach, strong bones, Vitamin K

Not only is buckwheat not a type of wheat, it is not even technically a "grain" although in many places (including The World's Healthiest Foods book) it is referred to as a grain since it is enjoyed in a similar fashion to true grains. Buckwheat is actually a fruit seed that comes from a plant that is also called beech wheat, as well as "silverhull" and "tartary," and whose genus/species name in Latin is Fagopyrum esculentum. Buckwheat belongs to the Polygonaceae family of plants. Two other well-known members of this family are rhubarb and sorrel. Buckwheat does not contain gluten like wheat does and therefore you can truly count on it to be "wheat-free" in every respect!

Buckwheat makes a great side dish as well as the base for a cold grain salad. Combined with fresh and/dried fruit, nuts, and soymilk, it can also make an energizing breakfast.

Read more about Buckwheat

Labels: buckwheat, gluten-free, grains, healthy diet, healthy food

Omega-3s fall into the category of healthy fats because they have so many benefits. These essential fatty acids reduce inflammation, stabilize your mood, lower your cholesterol, and have been found to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease. The RDI of omega-3s is 1.1 grams per day. It's easy to get your fill since omega-3s come from a variety of sources including fish, flaxseeds, walnuts, soybeans, and omega-enhanced foods.

Are you getting enough?

Food	Omega-3s (g)
3 oz. salmon	1.1
3 oz. halibut	.6
3 oz. swordfish	.97
3 oz. canned tuna	.17
1 tbsp. flaxseeds	1.8
1/8 cup walnuts	1.1
1 cup strawberries	.1
1 cup raspberries	.1
1/2 cup tofu	.23
1/2 edamame (soybeans)	2.8
1/2 cup steamed broccoli	.1
1 omega-3 enriched egg	.23

Thanks Fit!

Labels: eating for good skin, eating healthy, healthy diet, Omega-3s, Omega-3s fish oil

Olives cannot be eaten right off of the tree; they require special processing to reduce their intrinsic bitterness. These processing methods vary with the olive variety, region where they are cultivated and the desired taste, texture and color.
Some olives are picked green and unripe, while others are allowed to fully ripen on the tree to a black color. Yet, not all of the black olives available begin with a black color. Some processing methods expose unripe greens olives to the air, and the subsequent oxidation turns them a dark color. In addition to the original color of the olive, the color is affected by fermentation and/or curing in oil, water, brine or salt.

Olives are very nutrient-rich, containing heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, vitamin E, and antioxidant phytonutrients, including polyphenols. With all of that goodness, it's no wonder that olives play a central role in the Mediterranean Diet, which has been found to promote vitality and offer protection against a host of different diseases.

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Labels: healthy diet, healthy snacks, Mediterranean Diet, monounsaturated fat, olives

Excellent food sources of iron include chard, spinach, thyme, and turmeric.

Very good sources of iron include romaine lettuce, blackstrap molasses, tofu, mustard greens, turnip greens, string beans, and shiitake mushrooms.

Good sources of iron include beef tenderloin, lentils, Brussel sprouts, asparagus, venison, garbanzo beans, broccoli, leeks, and kelp.

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Labels: eating healthy, energy, foods, healthy diet, iron

Dr. Alejandro Junger: There is another “inconvenient truth” still hidden from popular awareness. Global warming is just a symptom. At the root of it is global toxicity, the build-up of chemicals that is threatening all life on earth.

The air we breathe, the water we drink and shower with, the buildings we live and work in, and most of all, the foods we eat, are loaded with chemicals that alone or in combination cause irritation, inflammation, sickness and, ultimately, death.

Preservatives, conservatives, additives for color, smell, taste and texture, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, hormones, antibiotics, wax, chlorine, mercury, lead, arsenic, fluoride, polyhydrocarbons, DDT, PCB’s, phthalates, PBA, saturated fats, trans fats, MSG, detergent and thousands of new chemicals are released every year, with thousands more awaiting FDA approval.

The human body comes equipped with a highly effective detox system, a team of organs working together to eliminate the toxic waste of normal metabolism, such as uric acid, lactic acid, carbon dioxide, ammonia and homocysteine. Somehow it can even detoxify most of the modern chemicals. The problem is that when the detox organs get overwhelmed, toxins continue circulating and cause inflammation. As a defense, the body generates mucus to coat toxins and trap them in the tissues where they remain when digestion is kept working day in, day out. If they persist over time, toxin and mucus accumulation can cause increased acidity, malfunction and eventually the collapse of all systems, one by one.

Global toxicity is enough to overflow the body’s detox capacity. Modern habits worsen the problem by keeping the detox process slow. All the different organs of the body need energy to function. Energy distribution has to be prioritized when many systems are being used at the same time or there won’t be enough. The body still gives priority to digestion over detox. For centuries, food was hard to come by. Only recently in evolution do we have food available and eat it 24/7, but our genes still act as if each feeding is the last meal and slow down everything else to concentrate on food. With digestion a full-time job, detox has to wait its turn while toxins keep coming in.

Modern medicine is detox-blind. Even though this information could save your life, there are no medical specialists dedicated to detect and treat the effects of global toxicity.

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Labels: detox, detoxification, digestion, healthy diet, toxic metals, toxins

World's Healthiest Foods tackled the issue of soy lecithin:

Lecithin is a complicated mixture of molecules that are especially concentrated in egg yolks, soybeans, and wheat germ. Three components are especially plentiful in lecithin. These components are phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, and phosphatidylinositols. Lecithin is found in the cell membranes of all cells, including human cells.

Soybeans are sometimes referred to as "goitrogenic" because they contain substances that can interfere with production of thyroid hormones under certain circumstances. These substances are called isoflavones and are naturally occurring substances found in numerous foods that are known to have a variety of health-supportive properties. Especially in the case of women's health surrounding the stage of menopause, isoflavones have been shown to provide risk-lowering benefits in the areas of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.

With respect to potential interference with thyroid function, I want to emphasize the words "under certain circumstances" when it comes to soy foods. Several research studies have repeatedly shown that it only during times of measurable iodine deficiency that soy isoflavones have an unwanted impact on thyroid function. In other words, for individuals who have normal amounts of iodine in their body, the risk posed by soybean consumption appears to be extremely low.

When it comes to soy lecithin, the risk posed is even lower, since lecithin does not contain isoflavones. Those substances are left behind in the unused part of the soybeans when lecithin is extracted from them. For all of the reasons I've described above, I do not have concerns about the use of soy lecithin in processed foods from the standpoint of thyroid function. However, I always prefer whole, natural, organically grown foods (like the soybeans themselves) as a source of nourishment in comparison to processed components like soy lecithin.

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Labels: goitrogenic, healthy diet, Holistic Health, iodine, lecithin, soy isoflavones, soy lecithin, thyroid

World's Healthiest Foods, a site dedicated to eating whole foods to achieve good health, provides some insight on many of today's meat substitutes - i.e., TVP, soy protein isolate, et al.

An ever-increasing number of processed foods contain soy components that have been extracted from whole soybeans and altered for manufacturing purposes. Anyone regularly eating a variety of processed foods is very like to be consuming these soybean "piece parts" that bear little resemblance to naturally occurring, whole soybeans.

Included in this list of "piece parts" are isolated soy protein, soy protein concentrate, textured soy protein (sometimes called textured vegetable protein or TVP), soy flakes, soy milk powders, and other extracts from the soybean that have little to do with its whole food benefits.

In addition to these unnaturally fabricated soy components, there's been an increasing tendency in the marketplace to devalue soy for any of its unique health benefits, and to treat it instead like nothing more than a meat substitute. This approach leads to the manufacturing of soy products that are less and less comparable to traditionally fermented, whole soy foods in terms of nutrition and health benefits. Parts of the soybean are now found in literally thousands of packaged foods, along with marketing statements about the value of soy. But these isolated parts of the bean do not count as the food itself.

Labels: fermented, frankenfoods, healthy diet, meat substitute, soy protein, soybeans, TVP, vegetarian