In honor of April Fools Day my goal was, as usual, to “unfool” you by debunking common nutrition myths. I decided to compile the info right here for your reference.

Here’s the recap of my 2014 “Don’t be FOOLED” series:

Don’t be FOOLED: Most coffee creamers are loaded with sugar, artificial sweeteners and TRANS FATS. Yuck! Keep it simple and use real cream, coconut cream or butter (all of which are healthy fats!).

Don’t be FOOLED: Those marketed detox cleanses and programs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. When did we decide that we should deprive our bodies of quality foods and nutrients in an attempt to making them work BETTER? The best detox is one that HEALS your body and provides you with lasting changes. Eat REAL food free of harsh chemicals, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives to help you feel refreshed and energized and if you want to reset, do it with healthy strategies like the ones outlined in my metabolism boosters guide (you can download by clicking the pink button!)

Get your Metabolism Boosters Guide!

Don’t be FOOLED: Just because a food is labeled as “natural” does NOT mean it’s healthy for you! “Natural” is not a regulated term and means basically nothing.

Don’t be FOOLED: Despite the health claims, Activia yogurt is NOT good for your gut, and thanks to the 18 grams of sugar in one small container, it will actually wreak more havoc on your gut than it will help. Have plain yogurt (and sweeten with Dynamic Fruits & Greens), include fermented foods like kombucha, kefir and sauerkraut and take a high quality probiotic.

Don’t be FOOLED: I don’t consider granola to be a healthy food! One cup of granola can have 30g or more of sugar! Talk about a blood sugar spike! Still want something to top your Greek yogurt? Try a mix of walnuts, almonds, dried fruit, flaxseed, or chia seeds!

Don’t be FOOLED: It’s not all about calories! Calorie counting is a flawed theory in the first place. Health and metabolism are so much more than a caloric math problem.

Don’t be FOOLED! Almond milk can be a good alternative to cow’s milk, but it’s not all created equal. Check out the difference in sugar content and purchase it unsweetened!

Don’t be FOOLED: Stevia is a good, pure plant-based sweetener (the only sweetener I’m okay with), but TRUVIA is NOT the same thing as STEVIA!

Don’t be FOOLED: Trans-fat free foods may not be trans-fat free. FDA guidelines allow companies to claim 0g trans-fat as long as a serving contains no more than 0.5g. Watch for hydrogenated oils on the ingredient list — “partially hydrogenated” or “hydrogenated” mean trans fats (even if the label claims 0g!).

Don’t be FOOLED: Just because a food is labeled “gluten-free” does NOT mean it’s healthy. Lots of these foods are still packed with sugar and yucky ingredients!

Don’t be FOOLED: Eating healthy on a budget IS possible! Although some health products can cost a pretty penny, some are more affordable than we may think! Buy fruits and veggies in-season to get the biggest bang for your buck. If you can’t find your favorites in-season, check the freezer section for budget-friendly produce. Here are my Top 5 Foods on a Budget.

Don’t be FOOLED: See photo: “No aspartame” stamp on the front, but artificial sweeteners, acelsulfame k and sucralose on the back! Yuck!

Don’t be FOOLED: You CAN overcome food addictions and cravings and you CAN build a healthy relationship with food, no matter WHAT your history with food has been! 🙂 (Check out my struggle with sugar addiction here.)

Don’t be FOOLED: 3:23pm! It’s the time of day when people are most likely to give into FOOD temptation. It’s so important to have a PFC balanced snack handy so you don’t answer the vending machine’s call and hop back on the blood sugar rollercoaster. Snack ideas in this post (scroll all the way to near the bottom) and here.

Don’t be FOOLED: Not all supplements are created equal. Many contain additives, artificial sweeteners, contaminants and/or junk fillers. Just like taking in high quality food, taking in high quality supplements is critical to helping us achieve our dietary needs and goals.  All of the supplements we offer in our store are pharmaceutical grade, meaning they are well absorbed, effective, and free of all the junk. Buy from a trusted source!

Don’t be FOOLED: Marathon running may NOT be healthy for us after all. (For why I’m done with marathon running check out this post.)

Don’t be FOOLED: Getting hangry IS preventable! Know that feeling of being SO hungry that you’re angry at the world for not giving you food? Follow the 3 steps outlined in this post to stop hanger before it starts!

Don’t be FOOLED: Beans aren’t a bad thing, but they are much more of a carbohydrate source than protein source, as they contain 3x the amount of carbs as they do protein. Count ‘em for what they are and if you tolerate ‘em, enjoy!

Don’t be FOOLED: Kids eat real food too! Check out these 2 posts for inspiration: Real Food for Real Kids (Beyond Fruit Snacks and Chicken Nuggets) and Real Food for Real Kids (Snack Ideas).

Don’t be FOOLED: Not only is a snack before bed NOT a bad thing, but it may actually be JUST what you need to improve your sleep and jump start your metabolism!

Don’t be FOOLED: One bad food choice does NOT have to ruin your whole day! You don’t have to be 100%perfect right away or all the time. Do the best you can in every situation and you’ll stay on track for a healthy lifestyle.

Don’t be FOOLED: Weight loss shakes don’t result in long term weight loss. Lifestyle changes do. Learn how the non-deprivative PFC approach can help you reach YOUR health goals.

Don’t be FOOLED: Just because it says “Heart Healthy” does NOT mean it is! 20 grams of sugar in a can of this soup is NOT good for anyone’s heart! Always check the ingredient list, and don’t forget to check the serving size too.

I hope you’ve been “unfooled” with this series! If you’re new and this all seems overwhelming, know that getting healthy is a journey, not a destination. I believe that many of us need to do some “unbrainwashing.”

Start with the 5.5 tips I give you in my metabolism boosters guide!

Get your Metabolism Boosters Guide!