Junkfood.doc

ORGANIC STOVETOP POPCORN Use as a substitute for Microwave popcorn A few years back the public was shocked when workers at a popcorn factory fell ill to a condition known as popcorn lung The respiratory disorder was caused by inhaling diacetyl a chemical used to give bagged popcorn its buttery flavor The risk to consumers eating popcorn was thought to be low however in 2007 American popcorn addict and self proclaimed popcorn bag sniffer Wayne Watson sued manufacturers after he developed popcorn lung Manufacturers have since made changes but if you re still concerned why not pop your own organic corn DRIED FRUIT Use as a substitute for Candy As far as nutritional content is concerned candy is about as bad as it can get Loaded with unhealthy refined sugar candy offers nothing beneficial to the body no fiber no protein no vitamins or minerals only empty calories Despite the fact that refined sugar is firmly linked to obesity and diabetes the average American citizen still consumes 24 7 pounds of candy each year To counter candy cravings try switching to dried fruit alternatives While still on the sweet side these dried fruits are full of fiber and important minerals ORGANIC DARK CHOCOLATE Use as a substitute for Chocolate bars Let s face it some men and women absolutely adore chocolate The problem is that many popular chocolate bars are high in calories refined sugars and saturated fats all of which have been linked to adverse health events Even more worrisome is that many U S candy companies are silently substituting more cost friendly alternatives like vegetable oil for real cocoa To ensure that you are still getting heart healthy flavonoids from your chocolate buy organic or milk free dark chocolates that are high in cocoa content and free of additives instead of those brand name chocolate bars LOW FAT WHOLE WHEAT BANANA BREAD Use as a substitute for Cake It s no mistake that there is a cake named after the devil himself After all most cakes are brimming with refined sugar and can easily exceed 300 calories per serving with 10 or more grams of saturated fats and little to no protein or fiber Thankfully you can be your own cake manager by choosing a healthy alternative like banana bread Whip up a loaf using whole wheat flour wheat germ ground flax seed and some crushed nuts and you ll have a recipe for health success ROASTED SWEET POTATO WEDGES Use as a substitute for French fries It s no secret that French fries are the darling of the American fast food industry This deep fried finger food may taste great but fries are also dangerously high in sodium trans fat and calories A large box of popular French fries will cost you anywhere from 500 to 600 calories To satisfy those salty urges whip up some homemade oven roasted sweet potato wedges instead Sweet potatoes are an excellent antioxidant rich anti inflammatory alternative to white potatoes Just brush with olive oil add a pinch of sea salt and roast LOW CALORIE SPORTS DRINKS Use as a substitute for Calorie rich energy drinks Energy drinks are notorious for their sugar content Even one small drink may contain well over 100 calories Energy drinks are also loaded with caffeine which can cause irritability nervousness and sleeping problems WHOLE WHEAT PITA POCKETS Use as a substitute for Potato chips Potatoes are back on the most wanted list only this time in the form of potato chips Although the snack food industry is rapidly changing to meet the health demands of consumers many chip varieties are still on the salty side and loaded with saturated fats Potato chips along with fries have also been indicted for containing acrylamide a possible cancer causing chemical Help your health by skipping chips next time you re feeling snackish and instead fill your gut with whole wheat pita pockets that are packed full of fiber Pub 10 01 10 MINERAL WATER WITH LIME Use as a substitute for Soda Most sodas including diet sodas are 100 nutrition free That s right no benefit whatsoever In fact drinking only a few sodas a day may lead to tooth decay obesity diabetes and even heart disease And it s not just the calorie content that s worrisome it s also the sweetness Even low calorie diet drinks are risky because they can feed your sweet tooth leading to downstream sugary snacking Let your soda cravings fizzle by switching to a nice glass of mineral water with a touch of lime or lemon instead Limes are high in vitamin C and also contain flavonoids with anti cancer properties ORGANIC PROBIOTIC YOGURT Use as a substitute for Ice cream Ice cream may be decadent and delicious but it can be bad for your health A 2003 study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest CSPI found that a single scoop of premium ice cream contained about 250 to 350 calories and a half a day s worth of saturated fat To avoid this calorie heavy nightmare opt for organic probiotic yogurt Early evidence on the health benefits of probiotic bacteria looks promising with studies showing that probiotics can promote digestive health Lastly yogurt is also full of calcium STEEL CUT OATS Use as a substitute for Sugary cereals Lucky Charms may be magically delicious but it s also full of empty calories Even cereals touted as healthy have a great deal of added sugar and often little fiber If you need a he