Yay for all of you! Are you wondering what Health My Pantry is? Well, the new and upcoming Pantry Posts will be an ongoing series in answer to a Simply Healthful reader's query. That's right, we love hearing from you and love even more helping you get healthy.
For this first post we are going to touch upon making those changes that seem so overwhelming. Where do I start? What choices do I have? Why am I making these choices?
Let us start in your actual pantry. What other options can you use in lieu of your not so healthy pantry foods? Here is a short substitute list and reasons for making those changes. These are basics in most pantrys. I will continue this list in future posts.
All Purpose Flour- Usually people will sub this one with whole wheat. Is whole wheat healthy? Well, let's just categorize it as healthier. Whole wheat is a great substitute when in need of something with gluten and can be mixed with other flour options. All purpose flour and other bleached flours, although great for using in baking, is not the best for giving nutrients to the body.
Subs:
Flour subs- whole wheat, whole grain, almond, kamut, spelt, millet, soy, flax meal, and there are others you can find.
Best subs- all of the above but sprouted. Like I posted about sprouting before. It is one of our greatest food sources for nutrients we need on a daily basis. In an upcoming pantry post I will post a recipe for sprouted wheat bread.
Sugar- I'm pretty sure most of you have a good understanding why refined sugars are not good for our bodies. If not, let me name a few reasons we feel it's not something to consume on a regular basis. Refined sugars including high fructose corn syrup have been directly linked in studies to type 2 diabetes, memory decline and there are studies of them being as addictive as cocaine and heroin. I could go on for some time about reasons why sugar is bad for the body but I'll let you do the research. You may even be suffering from a related health problem from consuming too much. When we control the amount of sugar we intake we see few complications in our health.
Subs:
Better subs: honey, pure maple syrup, agave, stevia or other natural sweeteners (although I am not a big fan of xylitol, which they say is all natural. Mainly because it comes from xylose, a derivative from corn and bark, which is then hydrogenated into xylitol, a sugar alcohol. The ruling is still out for me).
Probably the best sub that I know of: green stevia, so basically the plant. This is because it actually has good nutrients in it for the body.
Table Salt- You will find that most everything that is processed and refined has a negative affect on the body when consumed. In the refining process of table salt, 82 out of the 84 minerals are extracted out. Did you know your body actually could use salt for health benefits? With unrefined Real Salt or Himalayan Salt you still have those minerals and they come from a pure source. These unrefined salts can actually help regulate your blood pressure and blood flow. Go ahead and do some research on it, you will be amazed. Also, take a bath with a few tablespoons. It has been known to help draw out toxins in the body.
Subs:
Real Salt or Himalayan Salt and Braggs Liquid Aminos
Peanut Butter- Did you know that peanuts are not even nuts? It is actually a part of the Fabaceae legume family. Most peanut butters are heated in processing and that can create toxins to be found in peanut butter. With the salmonella outbreak, it's best to just stay away for now.
Subs:
Raw almond butter. Why raw? Same reason for not wanting our peanuts heated, it can create trans fats and toxins in the food. You will find when you use raw almond butter that your dishes actually taste better. It has a sweeter and more mild nut taste. You can find the best prices for raw almond butter at Trader Joe's health food store.
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