Coach❤️Theah general rule – try buying products with 5 or less ingredients and know what all the ingredients on the label are.
INGREDIENTS – Where do they come from?
When you shop for food, or dine out, you deserve to know where that food comes from.
There are ways you can trace your food back to its source. Look at its PLU (price look-up) number. A 9 at the beginning of a five-digit sequence indicates the produce is organically grown. This produce is generally marked as “organic” in the store. A four-digit code beginning with a 3 or 4 means it was conventionally grown and may be GMO if it’s a GMO crop.
As for animal proteins, it’s best to avoid meat from animals raised on conventional factory farms (which are notorious for using hormones and other growth-promoting drugs, while feeding the animals antibiotics and GMO feed in cramped and unsanitary conditions). Look for meat that is certified organic and with any of these labels: Grass Fed and Finished, Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane, and Pasture-Raised Poultry.
❤️ORGANIC
Organic meat and dairy products provides the guarantee that animals were not fed using animal by-products or given antibiotics or hormones. If an organically raised animal does become sick and is given antibiotics it no longer qualifies for the organic label.
❤️GRASS FED vs. 100% GRASS FED or GRASS FED ONLY
Grass fed means that the animal ate grass for part of its life, but not its whole life. This means the animals could have been given GMO grains, animal by-products or animal protein. If a product lists grass fed only and not organic there are also no guarantees that antibiotics or growth hormones were not used.
100% Grass fed means the animals should have been fed only grass or other non-grain vegetation for their entire life without using grains or animal by-products.
Look for Organic Grass Fed Beef ~ Coach❤️Theah
❤️PASTURE RAISED
Pasture-raised animals have to spend a significant amount of their lives on pasture, but the regulations on providing food are more relaxed.
Even though pasture-raised animals receive various forms of feed beyond grass and forage, the benefits of raising animals in a more natural environment are significant.
Look for pasture raised, Organic eggs, poultry, pork products ~Coach❤️Theah
❤️CERTIFIED HUMANE RAISED
This label tells us that the producer has met the standards of Humane Farm Animal Care. HFAC has free range requirements for the products they verify.
FREE-RANGE
This label tells us that the animals have had access to the outdoors even though they may never actually go outdoors. This label does not indicate if antibiotics were used.
NO ANTIBIOTICS ADDED or RAISED WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS
This label tells us that the animals have not been fed antibiotics throughout their life. It has no indication on how humanely the animals were raised or what they were fed.
ALL-NATURAL
The USDA states a “natural” animal product as one that does not contain additives, preservatives or colors. This label does not tell us if there have been injections to the meat or if the animals where given antibiotics, hormones or what they were fed.
Meat/Poultry Aisle
THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK IN THE MEAT/POULTRY AISLE
❓Were the animals fed anything other than grass?
❓ Was the meat raised with antibiotics?
❓ Was the meat injected with hormones or steroids?
❓ Were the chickens caged?
❓Was the meat processed humanely?
❤️Best Choices:
Organic grass-fed grass finished. Animal Welfare Approved or Certified humane.
Organic free range and pasture raised poultry & Pasture raised pork
✅Next Best: Grass Fed and Finished. No added hormones or antibiotics.
Produce Aisle:
❤️Top Choice: Local and Organic, BPA Free can if using canned. If choosing fermented make sure there are not added sugars.
✅Next Best: Organic when possible.
❓ If possible, is the produce from a local source or sourced within the US?
❓ Is the produce organic? If not, is the fruit/vegetable part of the dirty dozen list?
❓ What is the PLU code? If it starts with a 4 it is conventional. If it starts with a 9 it is organic.
Clean 15 List: Avocado, Sweet Corn (high probability of containing GMO's), Pineapple Cabbage, Frozen Sweet Peas, Onion, Asparagus, Mango, Papaya (high probability of containing GMO's) Kiwi, Eggplant, Grapefruit, Cantaloupe, Cauliflower, Sweet Potato
Coach❤️Theah Tips: Always wash your produce before using. This can be done by rinsing with filtered water. Also when you can find local, organic produce remember to buy in bulk and freeze the leftovers for use later in the year when the produce may not be in season.
Dirty Dozen List (if not organic, leave it): Apples, Strawberries, Grapes, Celery, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Spinach, Sweet Bell Peppers, Imported Nectarines, Tomatoes, Potatoes. Hot Peppers
Eggs & Dairy Aisle
THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN SHOPPING FOR DAIRY & EGGS
❓Were the animals (Chickens & Cows) fed anything other than grass?
❓Were they given antibiotics or hormones?
❓ Were the chickens caged or confined?
❓ Was the meat processed humanely?
❤️Best Choices:
Organic grass-fed free of hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, Pesticides, Synthetic fertilizer
Organic free range and pasture raised poultry
✅Next Best: Organic (might not be 100% pasture raised, but at least Orga
Coach❤️Theah Tips:
❤️Shop the perimeter of the store, cook your meals and eat real food
❤️Learn to read labels and reduce these ingredients from your diet ~ see my blog post below
❤️You can reach me at coachtheah@gmail.com for any help or more information
❤️DISCLAIMER: Please always check with your primary health care provider before starting any supplement regime. More importantly, it is critical to monitor your numbers and levels of which you are on medication for insulin, thyroid medication, blood pressure, whatever it may be. With this way of eating and specific supplements, you begin to heal and you may over time be able to reduce or eliminate the need for certain medications. ❤️
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