Today, I’m going to tell you about 7 foods to avoid, along with some healthy alternatives.

1. Liquid sugar

Soda, juice, and high-sugar beverages deplete your body's vitamin and mineral reserves and contribute to insulin resistance. If you like soda, try Zevia zero-sugar soda instead!

2. Processed cheese

Pasteurized cheese products can’t be called cheese if they contain less than 51% cheese. Processed cheeses typically contain skim milk, canola oil, milk protein concentrate, modified food starch, whey protein, maltodextrin, preservatives, and salt. Choose real cheese instead!

3. Protein bars

Many protein bars are worse than candy bars! They’re often made with soy protein isolates and casein, and can contain 30 to 47 grams of sugar per bar! This number doesn’t include the starches, which are also sugar.

Protein bars are usually sweetened with highly processed sweeteners such as rice syrup, corn syrup, and tapioca syrup. Some are sweetened with sucralose, an artificial sweetener made from a chlorine compound.

Try boiled eggs, cheese, and meat jerky for quick protein.

4. Seed oil mayonnaise

Almost every mayo available lists soy oil as its first ingredient. Soy oil is a seed oil that’s highly processed using solvents like hexane. It’s high in omega-6s, which can be highly inflammatory. Look for mayo that is made with avocado oil and zero seed oils. Chosen Foods mayo and Primal Kitchen mayo are much better options.

5. Sweetened, flavored yogurt

Seventy percent of the yogurt people buy is sweetened, flavored yogurt. This yogurt contains more sugar per ounce than ice cream! It also contains artificial colorings and flavorings.

Opt for plain whole-fat grass-fed yogurt from A2 protein cows. For an even better option, try whole-fat kefir from grass-fed cows, sheep, or goats.

6. Soy protein

Soy protein is a cheap, heavily processed protein found in many foods. It negatively affects your gut and liver. Opt for whole protein sources such as meat, eggs, fish, and seafood.

7. Modified starches

Starches are chains of sugars, often used as fillers. Starches cause a more significant spike in blood sugar than sugar! Consume natural starch from butternut squash, beets, plantains, and purple potatoes.