Why You Should Eat Like a Greek

In a world of good foods, bad foods, altered foods, fad foods, fad diets and everything in between, how do you choose what to feed yourself and your children? We might research and inquire and test and taste, but in the end, I follow one simple rule: Eat foods that are as close to or are made of ingredients as close to God's original design of the food, bet it plant, herb, vegetable, fruit etc., as possible. Food dyes are an example of a much overlooked yet frequently ingested aspect of children's diet. They're in almost everything! But did you know that they have been linked to allergic reactions, hyperactivity in children, and even cancer? CSPI says that all of the most food colourings are contaminated with cancer-causing agents. The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, itself has recognized Red #3 as being a carcinogenic dye. It has banned artificial colors in in 1950 & in 1976. Why doesn't the FDA make this known? Well, they don't allow companies to claim that any dyes are “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), hence they know they're unsafe. Colours sell products, they grab the consumers attention and that definitely includes your children, so always be aware of the financial motivation.

While food manufacturers in some countries stick to plant-based colourings for certain foods, U.S. manufacturers often choose not to. You can compare same products worldwide with US. I know many including Kraft Dinner products and McDonald's menu items.

My point? Dyes are synthetic chemicals. Chemicals bad.

If it's not natural to our foods, it's not meant for the human body. This should be your general healthy diet rule. This should apply to what goes on your body too, not just in it.

People often cut healthy fats in the process of trying to cut Trans fats i.e. partially hydrogenated oil. Most nutrition experts recommend limiting saturated fat to under 10% of calories a day. Yet, healthy eating is not limited to a singular focus like limiting trans-fats, and is especially not to be done with a tunnel focus on staying slim. There is much more to a healthy body than body size or weight. Polyunsaturated fat is also good. Simple carbs, not so much. The idea is to have a balanced diet and recognize that many factors, especially including stress, can spike cholesterol, etc. The Seven Countries Study during the 1960s revealed that people in Greece and other parts of the Mediterranean region enjoyed a low rate of heart disease despite a high-fat diet. The main fat in their diet, though, was not the saturated animal fat common in countries with higher rates of heart disease. It was olive oil, which contains mainly monounsaturated fat. Do as my forefathers. They prayed before each meal, always appreciated their food, and lived by Matthew 4:4: “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Have a fat filled day (it's not all bad).