Foods that have a long shelf life often contain unhealthy preservatives.  Ingesting these may result in headaches, skin problems or even more serious health issues like IBS.  Michael Pollan’s third food commandment begs us to consume foods that are free of these nasty additives.

Don’t Eat Anything That Won’t Eventually Rot.

When food never goes bad, we must question if it is actually food.  The alternative?  A chemical.

When cookies are able to withstand 2 years of shelf life there is a problem.  I know that when I make cookies at home, I am lucky if they last two weeks (ok, I admit it.  This might have a little bit to do with the fact that they taste so darn good!).

Even if they do last 2 weeks I still have to include a piece of bread in the sealed up container to make sure they stay nice and moist.  Are our cookies supposed to last 2+ years?

Shop For Fresh.

When we shop we must seek out the freshest foods possible.  Often fresh foods will equate to preservative free.  Here are some examples of how you can shop fresh and limit your consumption of those long lasting shelf stabilizers:

Instead of pomegranate juice….

Purchase a pomegranate fruit and use the seeds in your salad.

While there might not be many preservatives in the pomegranate juice, it can sit on your grocers shelf for a very long time without going bad.  When was the last time you saw someone in the grocery line next to you with a bottle of pomegranate juice?  My point is that the grocer might have over 20 bottles out at a time and they are lucky to go through this amount in a week or even a month.

The pasteurization process has killed off any potential for harmful bacteria and in that same process destroyed beneficial enzymes for assimilation and digestion.  Eat the seeds because they will rot if you leave them on your counter top for any period of time.  Your body will recognize them as real whole food.

Make Your Own Salad Dressing!

Did you know that oils can “rot” too?  Rancid oils are detrimental to cardiovascular health and will lead to increased inflammation in the body.   Instead of pouring this oil onto your salad, why not try a fresh olive oil and balsamic mixture that you make at home.  Mono-saturated olive oil is healthier than most of the other salad dressing oils available anyhow.

Go Organic.

Are you surprised to learn that decaffeinated coffee can be more detrimental than the caffeinated variety?  The reason being is that decaf may contain a solvent called methylene chloride.  According to Wikipedia, “It may be carcinogenic, as it has been linked to cancer of the lungs, liver, and pancreas in laboratory animals.”  Selecting an organic decaf that utilizes the Swiss Water Process is considered the most natural way to remove the caffeine from the coffee bean.  Plus as a huge bonus, you are not getting any of the pesticides from the crop.

Will This Eventually Rot?

The next time you are at the store, ask yourself this, “Will this eventually rot?” and then ask, “How long will it take” and finally, “Is there a better alternative?”

Consider releasing these preservatives from your body (they do accumulate!) with a 21 day detoxification or get further educated on a Health Food Store tour.

Get smart at the store and by doing so, you’ll reduce your toxic load.  Maybe your headaches will disappear.  Or perhaps you’ll just feel more satisfied with your purchase.