7 Foods I’ll NEVER Eat! (Based on Science)

Summary

In this video, Jeff Cavaliere from athleanx.com addresses common misconceptions about certain foods and their health benefits. He discusses the myth of inorganic strawberries being high in pesticides, the impact of bananas on the nutritional value of blueberries, the deceptive labeling of whole grain bread, and the high sodium content in canned soups. Jeff also warns against artificial dyes linked to health issues and advocates for wild-caught salmon over farm-raised due to colorants and health concerns. He emphasizes the importance of fiber for supporting good bacteria in the gut, suggesting that prebiotics are more beneficial than probiotics found in processed yogurts. The video encourages viewers to reconsider their food choices based on scientific evidence for a healthier diet.

Takeaways

• 🍓 A study mentioned in the video suggests that inorganic strawberries can have high levels of pesticide residue, which can be re-sprayed on crops from their juice.
• 🍌 Rhonda Patrick's research indicates that bananas contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase that can degrade polyphenols found in other fruits like blueberries, potentially reducing their health benefits when combined in a smoothie.
• 🍞 The term 'whole grain' on bread labels can be misleading, as supermarket whole grain bread often has grains that have been pulverized, leading to a rapid release of glucose and a spike in insulin levels.
• 🥖 For a truly healthy bread choice, it's recommended to look for bread with intact grains that can feed beneficial bacteria in the intestine without causing insulin spikes.
• 🥣 Canned soups can contain high levels of sodium and preservatives, which are best avoided for a healthier diet. Homemade soups are a better alternative.
• 🎨 Artificial food dyes, often listed with a number (e.g., Red 40, Blue 1), have been linked to various health issues including hypersensitivity, hyperactivity in children, and potential carcinogenic effects. They should be avoided.
• 🍣 Farm-raised salmon may be given artificial coloring to mimic the appearance of wild salmon. However, wild-caught salmon is a healthier choice, as long as sourced from a reliable supplier to avoid heavy metals and high mercury levels.
• 🍶 The video clip questions the effectiveness of probiotics in yogurt, suggesting that a prebiotic, such as fiber, is more important for creating a healthy environment for good bacteria in the gut.
• 🥦 Consuming a diet rich in fiber from whole foods like vegetables and whole grains is essential for supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.
• 🍎 Jeff Cavaliere emphasizes the importance of reevaluating the foods we eat and being open to new scientific findings that can inform our dietary choices for better health.

Q & A

What was the surprising finding about inorganic strawberries in the study mentioned in the video?

The study found that the juice extracted from inorganic strawberries contained so much pesticide that it could be used to respray crops and still maintain the same level of pesticide protection as the juice from organic strawberries.

What is Jeff Cavaliere's approach to addressing concerns raised by the strawberry study?

Jeff suggests that the study may not have been reproduced to confirm its findings. He recommends using science to guide decision-making and making informed choices about the foods we eat.

Why might bananas not be the best addition to a berry smoothie according to Rhonda Patrick?

Bananas contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, which degrades polyphenols found in berries like blueberries. This enzyme reduces the beneficial metabolites of polyphenols in the smoothie.

What is the issue with whole grain bread sold in supermarkets according to the video?

The grains in supermarket whole grain bread have often been pulverized, which means they are not truly whole grains. This process leads to immediate digestion and a rapid release of glucose, causing an insulin spike and potentially contributing to chronic metabolic disease.

Why did Jeff change his view on consuming white bean soup?

Jeff had a traumatic experience with vomiting after consuming white bean soup, which led to a strong aversion to it. This personal story illustrates the psychological impact food can have on individuals.

What is the problem with the sodium content in canned soups?

Canned soups often contain high levels of sodium, which is typically listed per serving. However, most people consume the entire can, which means they are ingesting much more sodium than indicated on the label.

Why should consumers be cautious about artificial dyes in food products?

Artificial dyes have been linked to various health issues, including increased hypersensitivity and hyperactivity in children, immunosuppressive effects, and potential carcinogenic properties.

What is the concern with farm-raised salmon and how does it relate to artificial dyes?

Farm-raised salmon is often given feed containing artificial dyes to make its flesh appear more like wild salmon. This practice can introduce unnecessary additives into the human diet and highlights the importance of choosing wild-caught fish when possible.

What is the main point of the discussion about yogurt and probiotics in the video?

The video suggests that while yogurt contains active cultures, the real need is for a prebiotic, such as fiber, to support the growth of good bacteria in the intestine. Consuming enough fiber is crucial for creating a healthy environment for probiotics to thrive.

What is the recommendation for those who want to improve their dietary fiber intake?

The video recommends consuming whole, unprocessed foods like vegetables and whole grains to increase dietary fiber intake. It also advises against relying on processed foods that often have fiber removed.

What is the purpose of the video and what action does Jeff encourage viewers to take?

The purpose of the video is to raise awareness about certain foods and their potential health implications. Jeff encourages viewers to reevaluate their dietary choices, seek out more information, and make informed decisions about what they consume.

Outlines

00:00

🍓 The Shocking Truth About Pesticides in Inorganic Strawberries

Jeff Cavaliere discusses a study on inorganic strawberries, highlighting the high levels of pesticides found in the juice extracted from supermarket strawberries. He questions the validity of the study but uses it to emphasize the importance of being cautious about food choices. He introduces nutrition expert Rhonda Patrick, who advises against adding bananas to smoothies with polyphenol-rich berries like blueberries, as bananas contain an enzyme that degrades polyphenols.

05:04

🍌 Rethinking Bananas in Your Smoothie

Jeff explains that while bananas are not inherently bad, their enzyme polyphenol oxidase can degrade the polyphenols in berries when mixed in smoothies. He shares his personal experience of choosing healthy options at smoothie stands, often containing bananas, which might reduce the nutritional benefits of other ingredients like blueberries. He advises reconsidering the timing and combination of bananas in diets to maximize nutritional intake.

10:09

🍞 The Misleading Label of Whole Grain Bread

Jeff covers the misconception about whole grain bread, as explained by Doctor Lustig. Many supermarket whole grain breads are not truly whole grain since they are pulverized, losing their nutritional benefits and causing insulin spikes. Jeff shares his journey of finding genuine whole grain bread and emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity of the grain to avoid empty carbs and potential health issues.

🍲 The Dangers of Canned Soup

Jeff narrates a personal story about his aversion to white bean soup after a severe illness and highlights the high sodium content in canned soups. He warns against misleading labels and stresses the importance of making homemade soups to avoid preservatives that extend shelf life but may negatively impact health.

🌈 The Hidden Risks of Artificial Dyes

Jeff discusses the harmful effects of artificial dyes found in many foods and supplements, particularly the impact on children's hyperactivity and potential long-term health risks like cancer. He advocates for avoiding these dyes and shares his efforts to exclude them from his own pre-workout supplements, emphasizing that these additives offer no nutritional benefits.

🐟 The Truth About Farm-Raised Salmon

Jeff explains that farm-raised salmon often contains artificial coloring to appear more appetizing. He advises choosing wild-caught salmon for better nutritional value and to avoid consuming unnecessary additives. He also notes the importance of sourcing fish from reliable providers to minimize exposure to heavy metals and mercury.

🥛 The Probiotic Myth in Yogurt

Jeff reflects on Doctor Lustig's insight about probiotics in yogurt, explaining that live cultures often die before benefiting the intestine. He emphasizes the need for prebiotics like fiber to create a hospitable environment for good bacteria. Jeff continues to eat yogurt but ensures he consumes sufficient fiber to support digestive health.

Keywords

💡Inorganic strawberries

Inorganic strawberries refer to strawberries that are grown using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In the video, it is mentioned that a study found such strawberries contained high levels of pesticides that could be reconstituted into a spray for crops. This concept is central to the theme of the video, which is about reevaluating the foods we consume and their potential health implications.

💡Pesticide

Pesticide is a type of chemical used in agriculture to protect crops from damage by pests. The script discusses a study where the juice from inorganic strawberries contained enough pesticide to respray a crop, highlighting concerns about the residue of these chemicals in food and their potential impact on health.

💡Polyphenol oxidase

Polyphenol oxidase is an enzyme found in bananas that is capable of degrading polyphenols. The video explains that this enzyme can reduce the beneficial effects of polyphenols found in other fruits like blueberries when bananas are added to smoothies. This concept is used to illustrate how certain foods can interact and potentially diminish each other's nutritional value.

💡Whole grain bread

Whole grain bread is bread made from flour that includes the entire grain kernel — the bran, endosperm, and germ. The video discusses the difference between true whole grain bread and the processed versions found in supermarkets, which have been ground into fine particles, losing their nutritional benefits and causing a rapid increase in blood sugar levels.

💡Pre-workout supplement

A pre-workout supplement is a type of nutritional product designed to enhance athletic performance before exercise. The script mentions that some of these supplements contain artificial dyes, which the speaker advises against due to potential health risks, advocating for natural alternatives instead.

💡Artificial dyes

Artificial dyes are synthetically produced colorings added to food to enhance their appearance. The video warns against the consumption of these dyes due to links to hypersensitivity, hyperactivity in children, and potential carcinogenic effects. The speaker encourages viewers to avoid these additives for better long-term health.

💡Farm-raised salmon

Farm-raised salmon refers to salmon that is produced in aquaculture, as opposed to being caught in the wild. The video points out that farm-raised salmon is often given food coloring to mimic the pink hue of wild salmon. The speaker recommends choosing wild-caught salmon to avoid these additives and to ensure a healthier, more natural food choice.

💡Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are believed to provide health benefits when consumed, particularly by improving the balance of bacteria in the gut. The video suggests that while probiotics are beneficial, they may not be as effective as prebiotics in establishing a healthy gut environment, as they may not survive the journey through the digestive system.

💡Prebiotics

Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the colon. In the context of the video, prebiotics, such as fiber, are highlighted as essential for creating a favorable environment for the growth of good bacteria, which is more important than simply consuming probiotics.

💡Canned soup

Canned soup refers to soup that is commercially prepared, sealed in a can, and preserved for long-term storage. The video warns against the high sodium content in canned soups, which is often hidden by labeling per serving size, and encourages making soup from fresh ingredients at home to control the nutritional content.

💡Nutritional value

Nutritional value refers to the nutrients and health benefits that food provides. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the nutritional value of different foods, such as the difference between whole grain and processed bread, and making informed choices to optimize health and well-being.

Highlights

A study found inorganic strawberries contained enough pesticide in their juice to respray crops.

Jeff Cavaliere addresses the validity of the strawberry pesticide study and suggests skepticism.

Rhonda Patrick's research on bananas and their enzyme polyphenol oxidase, which degrades polyphenols in smoothies.

Bananas are high in calories but not inherently unhealthy; their impact depends on their use in smoothies.

Whole grain bread in supermarkets may not be whole grain due to the pulverization process.

Pulverized grains cause a rapid insulin spike and contribute to chronic metabolic disease.

Whole grain bread should maintain the integrity of the grain to feed beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

Jeff's personal experience with canned soups and their high sodium content leading to a preference for homemade soup.

Canned soups often contain high levels of sodium and preservatives, which are unhealthy.

Artificial dyes in food have been linked to hypersensitivity, hyperactivity, and potential carcinogenic effects.

Jeff's avoidance of artificial dyes, especially in pre-workout supplements.

Farm-raised salmon is often colored with the same artificial dyes used in other foods.

Wild-caught fish is recommended over farm-raised due to concerns about coloring and heavy metal content.

Yogurt's active cultures may not survive in the intestine, emphasizing the need for a prebiotic like fiber.

Jeff continues to eat yogurt, ensuring sufficient fiber intake for a healthy digestive environment.

Athleanx.com offers a complete meal plan and nutrition program.

Transcripts

[Video clip] There was a recent study published  about inorganic strawberries, where they actually  

took inorganic strawberries from the supermarket,  brought them home, put them in a commercial press,  

pressed the juice out of them, and there  was so much pesticide in the juice,  

they were able to take that juice and respray the  crop. Whoa! That's nasty. And still have the same  

level of pesticide protection from the juice that  was squeezed from an organic fruit. [End clip]  

What's up guys? Jeff Cavaliere, athleanx.com.  Admit it, you've been on Instagram just like me,  

scrolling through the stories and something  like that pops up and all of a sudden,  

you'll never eat strawberries ever again. Well,  I can kind of put your mind at ease a little bit,  

maybe. And that is I'm not sure that that study  was ever reproduced to show what was being said  

there. However, are there other instances where  you might want to actually reconsider some of  

the foods you're eating? I believe there are. And  as always, I'm going to use science to guide my  

decision making and help you into making some  of the same decisions, perhaps if you agree.  

That being said, I'm going to start off with  Rhonda Patrick, one of my favorite nutrition  

experts of all time, making me rethink one  of my other favorite fruits, bananas.  

[Video clip] Another thing that I've changed my  mind on, and this is actually very, very recent,  

is adding bananas to my smoothie. Most of  my smoothies I get greens and then a lot  

of berries like blueberries. And blueberries  have polyphenols in them, they have flavonoids,  

they have anthocyanins. Well, it turns  out bananas have an enzyme in it, um,  

called polyphenol oxidase, it actually degrades  polyphenols. This was a human study that came out  

recently. Adding bananas to the berry smoothies,  blueberries and stuff. Metabolites of polyphenols  

were significantly lower in plasma from people  that had the smoothie with the banana added,  

versus not with the banana. [End clip] So, to start, it's very important to understand  

that there's nothing inherently wrong with  a banana by itself. As a matter of fact,  

people like to bash bananas saying they're high  calorie. Let's be honest, they're higher calories  

than some other fruits, but no one ever really got  fat eating a banana. However, if you're trying to  

get the benefits of, let's say, blueberries that  we've all talked about, even here on this channel,  

you could be undercutting your sole purpose by  including a banana in that smoothie of yours. Now,  

I got to admit, any time I'm in an airport and  I'm trying to do the right thing and eat something  

healthy, I'll inevitably guide myself towards one  of the smoothie stands. And what's in every single  

smoothie they make? Bananas. Go check it out for  yourself. Not to mention, I've even reluctantly  

put some kale into my smoothies, trying to benefit  from those anthocyanins that doctor Rhonda Patrick  

talked about, not knowing along the way that I was  really severely undercutting the effectiveness of  

what I was doing in the first place. The bottom  line is you might want to rethink the timing  

of your banana, not the banana itself, but where  and what you're using it with, because you might  

be doing a lot less nutritionally for yourself  than you thought you were in the first place.  

[Video clip] Whole grain bread, is it whole  grain? Says whole grain right on the label.  

Here's a grain right here. Okay? The husk. If it  stays intact, it's a whole grain. You swallow it,  

okay, say a true piece of whole grain bread. The  enzymes in your intestine have to strip this husk  

off and we don't have enzymes that work very well  for that, so it takes a long time. And so that's  

why a whole grain is good because it's a delivery  system for getting the food further down the  

intestine to feed your bacteria. Whole grain bread  in the supermarket is not whole grain because the  

grains have been pulverized to smithereens. Now  you consume it, and the starches are immediately  

acted on by the saliva and by the stomach. And  now you liberate all of that glucose, and it  

goes via the portal vein to the liver, generates  an insulin spike, and you're off to the races in  

terms of chronic metabolic disease. [End video] Now, this is a change that's not new for me. It's  

actually one I made a long time ago. However,  it certainly gives me a lot more confidence  

when I hear somebody as good as Doctor Lustig talk  about the reasons for avoiding whole grain bread.  

Because most of the time it ain't whole grain  bread. See, when I used to eat what I thought was  

healthier bread, I would go and look for things  that said whole grain on them. Not realizing  

that all it really meant was how it started,  not really how it finished in the package.  

Anything might start as a whole grain, but when  you pound it and pulverize it, like he said, down  

to nothing. To the point where you're taking away  all the nutritional value, then what are you left  

with other than just a bunch of empty carbs? So, I  made my way to those specialty health food stores  

or even Whole Foods, and I actually found what  he was talking about. That brick like bread that  

can knock you out if you hit someone in the head  with it. And remember, the goal is to preserve the  

integrity of that grain so that it doesn't cause  those insulin spikes that might happen from eating  

the fake whole grain bread. Look, this is a case  where our best intentions can go awry, but it's  

videos like this that are hopefully serving the  purpose of making you aware of what those pitfalls  

might be so you can avoid them all together. Now, this next one is actually a very personal  

choice of mine, but it comes along with a personal  story. You see, there's only two times in my life  

that I've thrown up. That's it. When I was  five and not again until I was in my mid-40s,  

I got some kind of a neuro virus that caused  me to not throw up just once that day,  

but about 20 or 30 times. Now, that scarred  me. But not necessarily the act of throwing up,  

but the fact that the last thing that I  ate healthy was white beans soup. Fresh,  

unbelievable white bean soup that my wife had  made. And unfortunately, every single time that  

I see white bean soup to this day, I get nauseous,  and I want to throw up. I've had that strong of a  

PTSD experience with it that will not allow me to  even have it in the same room as me. I'm sure you  

guys may have even a similar story. But what it  actually does is it sort of illustrates a point  

that was actually homemade white bean soup,  and it's actually the only type of soup that  

I'll ever eat. Because if you look at the amount  of sodium that's contained in a canned soup, you  

might run away and hide like I have forever. And don't fall for the label lies where they  

make you think that there's only 800 or 900mg of  sodium in that can of soup because it is for two  

servings, and nobody eats just half a can. And  it's all due to the preservation that's required  

to make canned foods last for a long time. Look,  preservatives help mummies last a long time too,  

but they're dead. So, what kind of quality  of life is that? The bottom line is,  

soup is an amazing addition to a healthy meal  plan that actually gives you a convenient way  

to get the vegetables in in a day that you  might be missing right now, but you got to  

make sure you're making it yourself, you're  not just relying on the cans on a shelf.  

The next one for me is one that I've tried to cut  out the best I can years ago and still find myself  

fighting because I'm just never fully aware of  where these things exist. And we're talking about  

artificial dyes. You know, those colors of the  rainbow with a number attached to it at the end.  

Red number 40, blue number one, yellow number  five, or number six. The bottom line is, guys,  

you should look to avoid these at every single  turn. Because I don't believe there's anything  

that's beneficial that comes from it, other than  the fact that your food may look prettier on your  

plate, and that's not a good enough reason to  eat it. Especially when you realize some of the  

dangers that are linked to these things. One thing  I know for sure is that there is some scientific  

literature linked to increased hypersensitivity  and hyperactivity in kids, so I do my best to make  

sure that my children don't eat these things. But beyond that, there's immunosuppressive effects  

that have been linked to these dyes, supposedly  even at safe levels, whatever that might be. Or  

even carcinogenic links that have suggested  that long time use of these could lead to  

cancer. Again, something I'm not interested in.  When I made my own RX-1 pre-workout supplement,  

guys, I took all those food colorings out. And  believe me, they're on the market. I don't want  

to name names but read the back of your label  and some of the most popular ones actually have  

these colorings in them. For what reason?  So that your pre-workout glows in the dark  

when you drink it? No thanks, I'll pass and  so should you, because these additives are  

adding nothing to your long-term health and  should definitely be avoided at all costs.  

And that brings me to food number six and believe  it or not, it's actually related to the last  

one. We're talking about farm raised salmon and  coloring. Yes, because the natural color of farm  

raised salmon is actually this very pale, almost  white. But the way that they make it look like  

this is through the inclusion of some of the very  same food colorings in the feed that they supply,  

these farm raised fish. And as the old saying  goes, you are not only what you eat, but you're  

also whatever you eat ate because that's also  making its way into your body. So once again,  

the recommendation is to always seek out whatever  it is you're eating in its most natural form.  

Wild caught fish is going to be better for  you than farm raised fish every single time.  

The bottom line is, make sure you're also getting  it from a reliable source because with all fish,  

no matter farm raised or wild caught, you're  still going to have to be concerned about heavy  

metal contents and high levels of mercury, so you  want to be sure you know where you're getting it  

from. But if it came down to these two choices,  guys, certainly with salmon pass the farm, raise  

and choose that wild caught every single time. [Video clip] Yogurt has active cultures and active  

cultures help populate the intestine with good  bacteria . The question is, if these foods worked,  

why would you have to keep eating them? If they're  live cultures, they reach the intestine. It's nice  

and dark and murky, and certainly bacteria are  growing in there. Why don't they just set up  

shop? And the answer is because they're not living  anymore, they died. And that's the reason why you  

needed them, is because your own died, because you  have an inhospitable intestinal environment. So,  

you don't need a probiotic, you need something  that will let the bacteria grow. You need  

a prebiotic. Well, what's the prebiotic  that's in real food? Fiber. But it's been  

taken out of the processed food. [End clip] And so once again, Doctor Lustig makes me think  

twice about something that I'm eating every single  day. And for me, that's a good thing because I  

think we should always be open to reevaluating  what we put in our body. But for me, I will  

continue to eat yogurt, and only because I do  believe that I'm getting that prebiotic portion of  

the equation right by eating lots of fiber every  single day. You can even go back to the whole  

grain bread, if you're getting things like that.  Right? And you're eating enough of the vegetables,  

not the canned kind, but the regular vegetables,  you should be providing your body with enough  

of the fiber to create that environment that's  necessary for the good bacteria colonization of  

your digestive tract. So, even though the yogurt  portion of my diet may not really be hitting it  

out of the park, and I might actually be providing  myself with a bunch of dead bacteria in the  

process. I still think that, as he said, the most  important part is getting the fiber portion down  

to create a better environment for the yogurt that  you are eating. Therefore, continue to eat your  

yogurt, but make sure you're not avoiding  your fiber if you want to do it right.  

Now, if you want to know what I eat every single  day, there's actually 17 foods that make it into  

my daily nutrition plan. You can see that video  here where I break each one of them down. Yes,  

yogurt is on that list. If you're  looking for a complete program, guys,  

that includes a meal plan, you can find it at  athleanx.com. Click Subscribe, turn on your  

Notifications so you never miss a video when we  put one out. All right, guys, see you soon.