Ingredients You Should Stop Cooking With
By Sara Butler
Committing yourself to home cooking is a big deal. It's a great way to save money and ensure that you have full control over how healthy the food is that you eat. Plus, there are a ton of shortcuts you can use at home to make meals even healthier, such as using frozen vegetables to bulk up casseroles and soups. But there are some ingredients that have no place in a healthy kitchen. In fact, there are several ingredients you should consider saying goodbye to right now.
Vegetables Oils
A staple in almost every pantry, vegetable oil is used in a variety of ways in the kitchen. The problem is that oils such as corn, cottonseed, and soybean are very processed and full of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats. These fats are no big deal if you eat them in moderation, but too much can be a danger to your heart health.
If you want to use oil in your cooking, then try extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. They're much better for your heart.
Creamy Canned Soups
Everyone's grandmother has a casserole recipe that calls for cream of something soup, but if you're worried about your health, then you need to cross it off your ingredients list. Creamy soups from a can have a ton of sodium, over one-third of what you are supposed to have in one day. They're also full of vegetable oil, which you already know isn't good for your heart.
Margarine
Margarine was touted as a healthy alternative to butter many years ago, but it's been well established now that it's not good for you or your heart. Studies have shown that margarine users are more prone to inflammation that can lead to chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
You're much better off using butter. If you can go with grass-fed butter, then that makes it even better for you. Just remember -- a little goes a long way!
All-Purpose Flour
Who doesn't have bleached all-purpose flour in their pantry? This flour is used in a ton of homemade recipes but be careful with it. The chemicals added to bleach the flour may be hazardous to your health. You're much better off going with unbleached flour or whole grain flour that hasn't been highly processed.
Avoid these ingredients in order to ensure that you keep your cooking healthy.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dallas, Tex.