Healthy or Not? It’s not so simple.

Can butter or bacon be healthy?  Should we be putting kale in our morning smoothies?

When it comes to which foods make up a healthy diet, it’s not always as simple as bacon=out and kale=in. Sure – transitioning from processed foods to more real, whole foods sounds simple…but there is one very important factor to consider, especially if it’s an animal product, and that is the quality of the food.

So here’s a quiz, which of the foods below are part of a healthy diet?

• bacon
• butter
• yogurt
• milk
• oatmeal
• smoothies
• kale
• whole wheat bread

I’ve had numerous people tell me I’m crazy for saying butter and bacon are healthy, but the caveat I add to the end of that sentence is most important: as long as it’s from a healthy animal.

“Conventional” animal products come from animals raised in horrific conditions in factory farms, often with no access to sunlight or their natural habitats, and rarely fed their natural diets. To produce the massive amounts of, say, beef, cows are fed the cheapest diet that the farmers can come up with, this consists of rancid soy products and even off-spec candy! Of course these cows, meant to graze on grass, get very sick by not eating the foods that their body needs, so they are pumped with all sorts of hormones and antibiotics. Then, we (non-vegan or vegetarian) humans go ahead and eat not only the beef or milk that is coming from that sick cow, but we are eating all of the unhealthy fats, hormones, and antibiotics that the cow ate. This is certainly not what nature intended for the cow, and not what nature intended for us.

On the other hand, if we get beef from a cow who was able to freely roam and feed off of natural grasses (not sprayed with chemicals), this is filled with the protein, fat, and nutrients our bodies can actually thrive off of.

All of those headlines about the evils of saturated fat or bacon, take with a grain of salt – they are probably referring to the products that come from these unhealthy animals that were raised in factory farms.

So yes, beef, bacon, and even butter are certainly part of a healthy diet as long as they are from healthy animals.

Now, the answer to the quiz questions…let’s see how each of these foods can be a part of a healthy diet:

• bacon: Yes – but make sure it is from a healthy, organic, free range pig and was not cured with any chemicals, artificial colors or flavors, and minimal added sugars.
• butter: Yes, seriously, eat butter every day – but make sure it is at least organic, preferably grass-fed organic. Even better? Try ghee – clarified butter (pure butter fat) that has most of the proteins and lactose, that often cause issues in most people, removed.
• yogurt: Sure, but make sure it is at least organic, preferably from a grass fed cow. You also want it to be whole fat and preferably zero added sugar. Alternatively, try goat or sheep yogurt, or a dairy free yogurt (myself and the kids love So Delicious Unsweetened Vanilla)
• Milk: Maybe. Many people are sensitive to the proteins in milk, or are lactose intolerant. If you do tolerate milk just fine, make sure it is at least organic, preferably from a grass fed cow. You’ll definitely want to limit milk to a cup a day (even for kids!). Alternatively, try raw milk (if it is available in your area), goats milk, or other plant based milks like almond milk.

Alright, so I think we get the idea when it comes to animal products – look for products that are at least organic and at best, grass-fed organic from a local farm where you can actually visit, meet the farmer, and see how the animals are treated.

Now, on to the non-animal products:

• Oatmeal: It depends – there are two things to be careful about when it comes to oatmeal (I know, I know…what can be so bad about beloved, healthy, oatmeal?!) 1. it can be difficult to digest and not super for our gut health, 2. it can spike your blood sugar (especially if you add lots of sugar or fruit to it!) Ideally, soak old fashioned oats overnight in milk or water to break down the phytic acid which is tough on digestion, and keep the added sugars to a minimum since oats on their own already cause a spike in blood sugar.
• Smoothies: It depends – smoothies are a great way to pack nutrients in at breakfast, just be careful about how much fruit and sugar you are loading these with. Focus more on some good fats and proteins (some nuts or nut butters are great for this!). Minimizing sugar in your smoothie will help stabilize your blood sugar and keep your gut bacteria in check – this will keep you from craving more sugar throughout the day.
• Kale: Sure, kale definitely deserves it’s status as a trendy super food, but be careful with how you prepare it, it is very fibrous and can be hard to digest and can cause bloating. Kale is best when cooked or “massaged” – ha! love me some massaged kale!
• Whole wheat bread: Well, not so much… For years we’ve been told to “eat more whole grains”, but now it seems like things are shifting towards avoiding gluten and even grains altogether. It’s all such a hot topic these days, and it really depends on the individual. You can check out a video I did on grains here. But if you seem to handle gluten or grains just fine, then try to make it organic, watch for added sugars, and maybe even try sprouted grain bread or sourdough bread instead.

I really hope that helps clear up some confusion about if butter is really the enemy and the importance of food quality. This is a topic I could talk about forever. My best tip is to buy as much as you can from local farms, talk to the farmers, and support your community!

Here’s a picture of a piggy living it’s best life on the farm where we get our meats, Meadow Run Farm in Lititz, PA.

Do you feel better about your weekend craving for bacon? How are you going to start improving the quality of the animal products you eat? I’d love to know!