Have Occasionally

 

Whole Grains:

Eating whole grains instead of refined grains is beneficial to your diet. However, whole grains should only be eaten occasionally and not every day because grains are inflammatory in the body.

1. Grains have high glycemic indices, which means that they increase blood sugar and insulin levels. Whole grains are a bit better because they have fiber but they also contain gluten, lectins, phytates, a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, and promote an acidic pH, all of which are pro-inflammatory.
2. The Whole Grains Council claims that eating whole grain has the following health benefits; A reduced risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes risk, and heart disease.
3. Whole grains can help with weight management.
4. Whole grain products are high in fiber which helps to regulate your digestive system.
5. Whole grain fiber content varies between the varying types. Among the best whole grains are amaranth, barley Kamut® grain, bulgur wheat which have the highest fiber content.
6. According to the Whole Grain Council foods labeled "High in Fiber" must contain at least five grams of fiber per serving.
7. Look for products that say 100% whole grain to ensure you aren't in fact eating refined in disguise. 
8. Deflame.com explains that whole grains are actually a poor source of fiber when compared to fruits and vegetables on a calorie basis.

Dried Fruit:

While it is preferable to eat fresh fruit over dried, due to the fact fresh fruit has a higher nutrient content, eating dried forms of your favorite fruits is a great alternative. Getting adequate intake of fruit can be difficult and so eating fruit in its dried form can make the task a little easier.

1. Data presented by the Experimental Biology conference in New Orleans suggests raisin and dried fruit consumption is associated with a decreased likelihood of abdominal obesity.
2. Dried fruit contains vital vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin A, B6, potassium and magnesium. 
3. Dry fruit contains more fiber than fresh fruit. Fiber helps regulate your digestive tract and lowers your risk of developing heart disease. Dried fruit is also high in carbohydrates and low in fat.
4. Dried fruit makes an excellent snack option that's convenient to carry with you on the go. 
5. Beware though that dried fruit contains more calories than fresh fruit, so it's important to consider portion control.
6. Dried fruit also has less vitamin C than fresh fruit

Try these dried fruits:

1. Apricots
2. Prunes
3. Cherries
4. Figs
5. Cranberries

 

Organic Red Wine:

 

People have drank wine for centuries and the health benefits are widely documented. How much or how often a person should drink wine seems up for debate, but studies show red wine may be particularly beneficial.

1. In order for a wine to be certified “organic” the USDA requires that the wine be made from organically grown grapes without any added sulfites.
2. The Organic Wine Company claims that drinking alcohol moderately can help lower cholesterol, decrease the risk of coronary heart disease and help us live longer. 
3. Many people believe that drinking wine can actually counteract a fatty diet. For example, France consumes the most amount of wine but has the second lowest rate of heart disease.
4. Science Daily reports that natural antioxidants found in red wine can help destroy pancreatic cancer cells.
5. Two antioxidants called flavonoids and nonflavonoids in red wine may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of "good" cholesterol and protecting artery damage. 
6. Science Daily also reports that drinking up to half a glass of wine per day can actually add to your life expectancy. Drinking wine was associated with a reduced risk of dying from coronary heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. 
7. Red wine contains more polyphenols than white wine, which are the main component of antioxidants and also give red wine its rich color.

 

Starchy Vegetables:

A potato is indeed a vegetable but it is NOT the type of vegetable you should be eating every day. The potato is a starchy vegetable that in comparison to non-starchy vegetables, contains significantly more carbohydrate. These kinds of vegetables should only be eaten occasionally and in small portions.

1. Starchy vegetables are great sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber.
2. Starchy foods contain less than half the calories of fat. And they are an essential part of a healthy balanced diet. 
3. Starchy vegetables contain more calories and carbohydrates than other vegetables. 
4. Eating too many can lead us to weight gain and ill health.

Here are some of the best starchy vegetables:
Parsnip
Plantain
Potato
Pumpkin
Acorn squash
Butternut squash 
Green Peas
Corn

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Organic Raw, Milk and Cheese:

Dairy is a valuable source of calcium in the diet. Making the switch from regular commercially produced dairy to organic, raw milk and cheese, will benefit your body long term.

1. Organic, raw milk and cheese does not contain any added hormones or chemicals used in commercially produced dairy.
2. Raw milk is much easier for the body to digest compared to pasteurized milk. Due to the presence of lactase, the enzyme that many humans are unable to produce.
3. The Raw Milk Cheese Association advocates cheese that's produced from raw, unpasteurized milk. 
4. Natural, organic, raw milk contains vitally important living things, including beneficial bacteria, enzymes, lactase forming bacteria, and many enzyme based pathogen killing systems. Pasteurization inactivates or dramatically reduces the effects of these important active elements.
5. Raw, milk cheese has a lot more flavor than pasteurized cheese and has two to three times the amount of vitamins and minerals than pasteurized cheese. 
6. Dr. Mercola of mercola.com encourages people to eat organic grass fed-cheese instead of grain-fed cheese because grain-fed cheese is essentially bad for the cows and equally bad for us.
7. Grass-fed cheese contains the perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats, beneficial for optimal health. Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory, meaning they help prevent inflammatory diseases such as stroke or heart disease.
8. Women who eat products from grass-fed cows, particularly cheese, may have up to a 60% reduction in their risk of breast cancer.

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High-Glycemic Load Fruits:

As we know, eating a diet rich in fruits is essential to a healthy lifestyle, but eating an abundance of high-glycemic fruit is bad, especially for people trying to lose weight or whom live a mostly sedentary lifestyle.

1. High-glycemic index foods are linked to some significant health problems. People who eat a lot of high glycemic index foods tend to have greater levels of body fat, which is linked to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
2. High-glycemic fruits elevate insulin and blood glucose.
3. When you eat foods that cause a rapid glycemic response, initially, your blood sugar rises giving you more energy but this is followed by a cycle of increased fat storage, lethargy, and hunger.
4. High-glycemic fruits exacerbate hyperactivity and reduce sports performance. 
5. Watermelon, kiwi, raisins and tangerines are all examples of  high-glycemic fruits. While they do offer plenty of nutritional benefit they are better eaten occasionally instead of daily.

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Mineral Rich Sea Salt:

Absorbing the right amount of salt is essential to maintaining the correct isotonic balance in the blood, and to protect us from infectious disorders. Sea salt is a far better alternative to regular table salt.

1. Sea salt is a naturally occurring complex of sodium chloride, which includes major minerals such as calcium and magnesium and essential trace minerals.
2. Salt has many functions in the body. It's effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats, in absorbing food particles, for clearing mucus from the lungs, for nerve cell communication, preventing muscle cramps and for balancing sugar levels in the blood, just to name a few!
3. The benefit from sea salt comes from the minerals it supplies, especially trace minerals.
4. Salt helps us retain fluid in the blood vessels and helps maintain a healthy blood pressure. Although, people with high blood pressure should limit their intake as salt can contribute to further elevations.
5. It is important to moderate the amount of sodium in the diet. Too much salt can lead to swelling, heart disease and stroke.