Don’t Eat the Mints!

A lot of people don’t touch restaurant mints because of the germ factor–but here’s another reason why you should leave them alone: they’re not real food!

Behold an average ingredient list for mints:

Sugar, invert sugar, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, soybean oil, sorbital, salt, oil of peppermint, natural and artificial butter flavour, lecithin, Red 40, Blue

Unless you really have a craving for artificial butter flavour and Blue, my advice is to leave the mints alone!

The end of rehab

I think that Diet Rehab is officially drawing to a close!  I consider myself rehabbed!   No, I will not adopt a full vegan lifestyle, but I have made significant changes in my life.

I have added so many whole grains and  vegetable-based proteins to my diet. I drink more water than I ever have before, I drink less booze and I have limited my caffeine intake!  I have also cut down on take-out, restaurant dining and processed food.

I will still be posting things from time to time, but I will no longer be posting everyday–Thanks to all of you have been along for the ride–BIG BIG thanks to Meghan Telpner without whom Diet Rehab would not have been possible!

Friday Food Face-Off: Meat vs. Soy

I have not adopted a vegan or a vegetarian lifestyle. I still enjoy my fish, my eggs and milk in my caffeinated tea.  However, I enjoy these things less often.  After having lived like a vegan, I discovered some new foods and genuinely enjoy them.  While I ate tofu before, I always had it as a meat substitute.  When I was cleansing, I did not eat soy–I had to find other alternatives like beans and nuts.  And while some people go on and on about the health benefits of soy, I’m not convinced. Like everything else–meat, caffeine, dairy, alcohol–soy is okay in moderation.  

In fact, too much soy can be unhealthy. Not only do some experts think it can be linked to cancer and increased estrogen levels in women.  I cannot comment on these claims because I am not a nutritional expert or an expert on soy, but I would caution against always using soy as a meat substitute or as a protein.  

Unfortunately, though, after reading this release on soy from Health Canada I’m not sure I want to eat any soy anymore as Health Canada has approved genetically modified soy for sale.  

I’m not going off meat and soy will be a treat–not something I keep in the house. 

The final verdict?  One thumb down! Soy’s not soy good after all! (sorry–terrible pun?)