In today’s world, we are inundated with the message that consuming fruits and vegetables is essential for optimal health. We’re told they protect our hearts, prevent cancer, and provide vital nutrients and fiber. However, what we’re not often told is how fruits and vegetables can harbor hidden dangers. They contain anti-nutrients that may lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, their toxins can accumulate in our bodies, and the narrative that we must rely on them for optimal health is not entirely accurate.
WHAT?!
When we consider unhealthy foods, we typically think of processed junk like potato chips, cookies, candies, and soda. Granted, fruits and vegetables are undoubtedly superior to processed fare. Yet, it’s crucial to recognize that processed foods aren’t the only ones harboring harmful substances. They share the same poisons and anti-nutrients found in fruits and vegetables, in addition to excess sugar, seed oils, and other additives. So while processed foods may be worse in some respects, fresh fruits and veggies aren’t exempt from potentially causing harm.
The Back Story
Many years ago, before I became a parent, I grappled with numerous health issues. I was unwell all the time. Seeking relief, I embarked on an elimination diet, and miraculously, my health rebounded. This transformative experience propelled me toward a new lifestyle focused on healing my body through organic, whole food, plant-based, and gluten-free eating habits.
However, despite the initial success of my elimination diet, I failed to pinpoint the specific foods triggering my health issues. Instead, I unwittingly increased my consumption of these problematic foods. Why? Because every health guru, book, or nutrition documentary touted them as “superfoods” capable of miraculous healing. I placed my trust in these sources, believing fervently that they held the key to my recovery.
My struggle with fertility only compounded my health challenges. Despite diving into fertility diets recommended by various resources, I found a common thread: the emphasis on incorporating meat and fats into my diet. Many encouraged expensive supplements. Intrigued, I introduced a weekly ground beef dish into my meals and spent hundreds on supplements. After enduring three rounds of IVF, I finally had one viable egg.
Becoming pregnant was a pivotal moment, prompting me to prioritize the healthiest possible diet for myself and my unborn child. I delved into books on pregnancy nutrition, eagerly seeking guidance. Most of these books prioritized plant foods. You can read more about my experience here.
After I had my baby, I followed the principles of Baby Led Weaning, I introduced a variety of foods to my daughter as she transitioned to solids. From sweet potatoes and sautéed spinach to a medley of fruits, hummus, avocados, yogurt, and home grown tomatoes. I believed I was providing her with a nutritious start. As she got older, I even crafted nutrient-packed smoothies, blending spinach, almond butter, almond milk, berries, banana, yogurt, avocado, chia seeds, and hemp hearts into wholesome concoctions. Seemingly healthy, right? Unfortunately, not quite.
The Problems Developed
Despite my efforts, my daughter’s skin never attained the softness typical of infancy. As she grew, it became increasingly dry and irritated. Early on, she was diagnosed with eczema. By the age of four, she developed keratosis pilaris, those stubborn bumps often found on the backs of arms, which also spread to her legs, back, and buttocks. Additionally, she developed ichthyosis on her legs, further complicating her skin conditions.
Desperate for relief, I explored numerous treatments, from creams and lotions to prescription steroids. I eliminated gluten and dairy from her diet, invested in specialized shower gels and exfoliators, and even introduced a humidifier and soft water to alleviate her discomfort. Yet, despite our efforts, her condition persisted, exacerbating our frustration and worry.
Compounding her skin issues, my daughter also experienced difficulty swallowing her food. Initially, I dismissed it as typical childhood behavior, unsure whether she was simply uninterested in eating or merely playing with her food. However, as these episodes persisted, I grew increasingly concerned, grappling with the seemingly random nature of her symptoms.
Attempts to conduct a swallow test at the hospital were unsuccessful as she refused to ingest the barium, understandably so. Difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia, can pose significant challenges.
Observing my daughter’s behavior as she entered school, I couldn’t help but notice similarities to my own experiences. She exhibited extreme shyness, reminiscent of my own childhood. During her initial years of preschool, there was a misconception that she couldn’t speak, despite my assurances to the contrary. I had to wonder, is shyness genetic?
Genetic Testing
Before I conceived, my husband and I underwent genetic family planning testing to identify any potential inherited disorders. The results revealed a variant on the BCHE gene, associated with Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) deficiency, also known as Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency. The geneticist told me it was nothing to worry about, but if I have surgery, let the anesthesiologist know.
Around the time my daughter turned one, I delved deeper into the implications of this genetic variant due to my declining health. I discovered that individuals with this variant may experience difficulties detoxifying pesticides, herbicides, and the toxic alkaloids found in nightshade plants. The BCHE enzyme is needed to protect our brains from these toxins.
After creating a Facebook group to find others with this variant, we found anxiety, poor sleep, and chronic pain to be common symptoms after ingesting nightshades. Is it possible, my own shyness was partly due to anxiety, caused by my diet? If so, then this could be our genetic link?
Upon my daughter reaching an appropriate age, we opted for genetic testing through 23andMe. Analyzing the raw DNA data, I identified BCHE variants present in my daughter’s genetic profile, mirroring those found in my own.
What Are Nightshades?
Nightshades encompass a variety of foods, including potatoes, peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, tomatillos, and goji berries, as well as many spices, starches, and sauces derived from them. These ingredients, along with their derivatives like potato starch, starch, maltodextrin, and dextrose, are ubiquitous in food products. Despite their prevalence, I realized that these ingredients were wreaking havoc on my health.
Prior to eliminating nightshades from my diet, I struggled with everyday tasks like opening baby bottles and unbuckling car seats. I experienced persistent brain fog, memory issues, anxiety, and chronic pain. However, upon removing these foods from my diet, I experienced profound relief.
Why Are Nightshades Toxic?
Nightshades contain alkaloids that function similarly to pesticides, but at a lower level. Normally, our bodies rely on butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) enzymes to protect the brain from these toxins. However, if BCHE enzyme levels are insufficient, the toxic alkaloids can accumulate in the body, leading to disruptions in neurotransmitter function, impacting hormones like ghrelin (the hunger hormone). Notably, one doesn’t necessarily need the genetic variant to experience these issues; an acquired BCHE deficiency can also arise. For further information, you can refer to additional resources here.
It didn’t initially seem to bother her when she consumed nightshades, or so I thought. She appeared okay eating pizza occasionally. However, I later realized that it was more problematic when she ingested foods containing potato starch or modified food starch.
Personally, I react more severely to potato starch. While I avoid purchasing anything with potato starch, she sometimes has snacks at school. In one particular instance, she attended a birthday party where gluten-free cake was served. Unfortunately, it contained potato starch, and the next day she couldn’t swallow solid foods.
I also discovered that food coloring, both artificial and natural, often contains potato starch, modified food starch, or maltodextrin. Therefore, whether the cake is gluten-free and organic or store-bought with additives, we can react.
To accommodate our dietary restrictions, I strive to make birthday cakes for my kids that don’t include any of these ingredients. For her 7th birthday, she wanted a Barbie pink cake. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a natural food coloring that didn’t contain potato. However, I discovered that freeze-dried dragon fruit creates a beautiful Barbie pink color. I made a test cake with cashew flour, coconut flour, eggs, allulose, and used the dragon fruit to color it. While the cake turned out beautiful and delicious, she later complained about her neck hurting. I experienced my full nightshade-like reaction, which includes neck pain. It turns out that dragon fruit also contains alkaloids and is high in oxalate. Unknowingly, I had poisoned both of us while trying to make the healthiest Barbie pink cake.
What Are Oxalates?
Oxalates are tiny crystals found in plant foods, a plants defense system. Oxalates can settle in tissue throughout our bodies. For some individuals, this accumulation can lead to the formation of kidney stones at some point in their lives, for others it can be chronic pain. These crystals gradually build up over time and can eventually discomfort. I came across information about oxalates last year in a book by Sally Norton called “Toxic Superfoods.” In her work, Norton details how oxalates contribute to various health issues, many of which resonated with the symptoms I was experiencing at the time.
Toxic Superfoods
In response, I made the decision to eliminate all high-oxalate foods from our diets, including spinach, sweet potatoes, almonds and almond products, raspberries, chia seeds, beets, hemp hearts, hummus, chocolate, peanuts, and more. Many of these foods were staples in my daughter’s diet from the time she started eating solids, and in my diet during pregnancy. Despite not experiencing the same problems I faced, I didn’t want to expose her to potential future health issues and chronic pain. Therefore, I transitioned our family to a diet primarily composed of low-oxalate foods.
The fact that spinach, one of the highest sources of oxalates, is promoted as a superfood infuriates me. It should come with a black box warning considering its oxalate content. Yet, from childhood, we are encouraged to consume spinach and other high-oxalate foods under the guise of them being superfoods. Remember Popeye? The same sentiment applies to almond products. I used to believe that drinking almond milk, consuming almond butter, using almond flour tortillas, crackers, and making desserts with almond flour was a much healthier choice. However, this notion is far from accurate. Almond products should also carry a black box warning too. The transition away from dairy and gluten and towards almond products only exacerbated our health problems.
Discovering the Proper Human Diet
Around the same time, I stumbled upon videos from Dr. Ken Berry advocating for the Proper Human Diet, also known as the Carnivore Diet. This approach to eating involves eliminating all plant foods and focusing on animal-based products such as beef, butter, bacon, and eggs. Initially, I was skeptical about this diet, but witnessing the remarkable transformations in Carnivore groups, especially among individuals struggling with health issues similar to mine, sparked my curiosity.
At that point, I was experiencing significant pain and had exhausted almost every other option, leaving me miserable. So, I decided to experiment with the Carnivore diet for myself while transitioning my children to a low-oxalate diet.
My daughter, a very picky eater, had previously resisted meat, aside from small portions of salmon, bacon, and ham. She surprisingly embraced a ribeye steak for our inaugural Carnivore meal. She always refused ground beef until I found creative ways to feed her, cutting burgers into strips and dubbing them “steak fries.” While she occasionally consumed low to medium oxalate foods like strawberries, bananas, and avocados, oxalates were largely absent from her diet.
Eliminating oxalates from our diets triggered a process of oxalate purging in adults, which can be quite painful. Fortunately, my children didn’t experience any discomfort, just me.
After just one month on our new dietary regimen, I noticed remarkable improvements in my daughter’s skin. The keratosis pilaris, particularly on her arms, had greatly improved and I took a photo. Only to witness a complete healing and an unprecedented softness in her skin just two weeks later. It was a revelation that her skin issues, which I had tirelessly attempted to alleviate over the past six years, were actually exacerbated by the so-called “healthy foods” containing oxalates.
In school, my daughter began actively participating in class, making eye contact, and confidently raising her hand to answer questions. Witnessing her newfound confidence and willingness to engage brings me immense pride. It’s a stark contrast to my own experiences with anxiety and shyness, and I am incredibly proud of her for breaking free from those chains. Knowing that she’s thriving academically while maintaining a diet free from toxic foods fills me with hope and gratitude for the journey we’ve embarked on together.
While my youngest daughter had a milder case of keratosis pilaris on the back of her arms, her condition swiftly cleared up. However, it’s concerning that even a single meal containing high oxalate foods can trigger a recurrence of symptoms in my children.
After going full Carnivore, I still can’t believe the very long list of health problems that resolved. Severe dry eyes, dry skin, gout, tennis elbow, joint pain, hormone imbalances, fatigue, depression and more all lifted. My keratosis pilaris healed after 9 months, my brain has been upgraded, and I was finally able to lose weight (even my Lipedema areas greatly improved). Just from eating the foods we were told were bad, and eliminating the foods we were told were good.
Additional Plant Toxins
But wait, there are more toxins. In addition to alkaloids, oxalates, and chemicals, our edible plant foods also have:
- Lectins: Found in legumes, grains, and some vegetables, lectins can interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption. They are also associated with digestive discomfort.
- Cyanogenic Glycosides: Certain stone fruits like apricots, cherries, and almonds contain these compounds. When ingested, they can release toxic cyanide.
- Amygdalin: Present in the seeds and pits of fruits like apricots and cherries, amygdalin can release cyanide when metabolized.
- Phytates: Found in grains, seeds, and legumes, phytates can inhibit the absorption of essential minerals like calcium, zinc, and iron.
- Goitrogens: These compounds are present in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. Goitrogens can interfere with thyroid function.
- Saponins: Found in beans and other legumes, saponins can disrupt red blood cells and cause digestive discomfort.
- Tannins: Present in foods like tea, coffee, and some fruits, tannins can inhibit the absorption of iron and other minerals when consumed in large quantities.
These additional plant toxins highlight the complexity of our diet and the potential impact of various compounds on our health.
Lost Seasonality
The issue with the plant toxins is that while some would require consuming a significant amount to affect us, the problem lies in the loss of seasonality. Today, we can access almost any plant food year-round and are encouraged to incorporate them into every meal, often at the expense of meat.
Our ancestors primarily subsisted on meat, which played a crucial role in our survival and evolution. However, many of the plants we consume today bear little resemblance to those our ancestors ate. Through selective breeding, plants have been modified to be larger and sweeter, introducing higher levels of sugars.
We’re now inundated with these sweeter foods alongside highly processed seed oils and modern processed foods, a stark departure from historical diets. The result? We’re inadvertently poisoning ourselves and our children.
While not all children may exhibit adverse reactions to these foods, my own experience with my children illustrates the profound impact they can have. While my son hasn’t shown physical signs of these plant toxins affecting him yet, it’s important to recognize that our individual responses to these compounds depend on factors such as our exposure to anti-biotics, gut health, genetics, and age.
Gut Health
Oxalate-degrading bacteria are crucial for metabolizing oxalates in the human gut, with Oxalobacter formigenes being one of the most notable among them. Unfortunately, once antibiotics eradicate this bacterium, it cannot be replenished with probiotics. There are other bacteria that have been implicated in helping oxalate metabolism, including:
- Lactobacillus: Certain strains of Lactobacillus bacteria have exhibited the ability to metabolize oxalates.
- Bifidobacterium: Some species of Bifidobacterium have shown promise in degrading oxalates, as observed in laboratory studies.
- Enterococcus: Certain species of Enterococcus have demonstrated oxalate-degrading capabilities.
- Prevotella: Specific strains of Prevotella bacteria have been linked to oxalate degradation.
- Roseburia: Certain species of Roseburia have been explored for their potential role in oxalate metabolism.
It’s important to recognize that the capacity of these bacteria to degrade oxalates may vary among individuals, and the composition of gut microbiota can influence how effectively oxalates are broken down. Additionally, the precise mechanisms involved in oxalate metabolism by these bacteria are still under investigation.
Pesticides & Herbicides
As I mentioned, the genetic variant on the BCHE gene reduces the body’s ability to detox pesticides and herbicides. However, it’s essential to note that one can have this BCHE deficiency without the genetic variant, and other variants, such as those on PON1, are common as well.
We’ve been told these chemicals are safe, but are they truly? With my sensitivity, exposure to these toxins can disrupt my sleep and increase pain. Moreover, I’ve witnessed these chemicals disrupt the sleep of family members who do not have the BCHE variant. If they come in contact with herbicides, they lose sleep, and I experience severe pain as well.
My first painful lipoma developed after using Roundup. It appeared on my right forearm, and I endured several months of severe chronic fatigue. While I eventually recovered and remained free of further lipomas for several years, our move to a new home, previously farmland and adjacent to a farm still using herbicides, led to the development of lipomas all over my body. It begs the question: Are we truly certain it’s safe to feed our kids foods treated with these toxins?
Seed Oils
Modern diets are inundated with highly processed industrialized seed oils, a stark departure from the dietary habits of our ancestors. Scan the labels of packaged foods and you’re likely to encounter vegetable oil, soybean oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, or peanut oil—all ubiquitous ingredients in the modern food supply chain.
When these seed oils, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), are subjected to high temperatures during cooking or processing—think fries and chicken nuggets—they undergo oxidation, giving rise to harmful compounds such as lipid peroxides and aldehydes, including formaldehyde. These compounds have been implicated in oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage within the body. They store in our body.
Moreover, emerging research suggests a potential link between these compounds and an increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Consumption of seed oils high in omega-6 fatty acids has also been associated with adverse effects on metabolic health, contributing to insulin resistance, obesity, and dyslipidemia—a condition characterized by abnormal lipid levels in the blood.
In light of these findings, reconsidering our reliance on highly processed seed oils and opting for healthier alternatives may be pivotal in safeguarding our long-term well-being.
Last summer we took our kids out to an amusement park. My daughter loves corn on the cob and begged me to get one. At least she’s not begging for Slushies. I ordered her the corn, and I was asked, “Do you want butter or extra butter?” I asked, “Is it REAL butter?” and he looked at me like DUH! and said, “Of course!” I asked to see the package. From under the counter he lifted up a giant jug with a yellow oil. Right away I knew it wasn’t butter and asked to read the ingredients. It was soybean oil with yellow coloring.
Food Pyramid Lies
We’ve been told to eat 6-11 servings of grains a day. That’s insane. WHY!?
This recommendation from our government had nothing to do with our health. It’s because we had a grain surplus. Why did we have a grain surplus? It was a political move made by Nixon to get votes in Iowa, for subsidies. It had nothing to do with health. NOTHING.
We are told to prioritize grains, fruits and vegetables, all while limiting red meat and saturated fats. We were even told to prioritize cereal over eggs. Eggs that our ancestors have eaten for thousands of years, over newer highly processed foods filled with grains, sugars, and seed oils, marketed to kids! How did our parents fall for that? Sugar is addictive and when addiction is involved, we’ll always find ways to justify it.
Saturated fat is an essential food that has been demonized and blamed for what sugar and seed oils have done. Again it’s personal agenda’s, nothing to do with science. The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz dives into those details.
The deceptive recommendations ingrained in the food pyramid misled generations into prioritizing grains, sugars, seed oils, and low-fat products, not for health but for political gains and economic interests. Growing up, I adhered to these misguided notions, opting for high carb grains and low-fat options, oblivious to the sugar-laden reality. Even working at fast-food chains, I fell for the allure of “healthier” low-fat alternatives, like the McLean or low-fat cookies and milkshakes. Reflecting on the past, I shudder at the amount of sugar consumed then, knowing it’s even worse for kids today.
I’m committed to reducing sugar consumption and will delve into strategies in a future post. It’s alarming how deeply entrenched these falsehoods were in our understanding of nutrition, leading to a multitude of health problems. Everything we once believed about healthy eating was nothing but a fallacy.
Figuring out the right diet has been challenging. I was sent down the wrong path, time after time, after reading dozens of nutrition books. All of these health gurus pushing a rainbow of fruits and vegetables to heal the damage that processed grains caused, and demonizing meat. To my astonishment, not a single resource mentioned the existence of plant toxins or issued cautions regarding their consumption.
Environmental Impacts
For a while, I bought into the narrative that cows were detrimental to the environment. Some of those documentaries can be persuasive, and I’m ashamed I fell for it. Cow farts damaging the environment? Animals have inhabited this planet far longer than cars, planes, and industry. It’s humans who are creating the chemicals that sicken our environment, not cows. We uproot natural grasses, which are a cow’s natural diet, with their remarkably deep root systems capable of surviving drought. Instead, we plant crops with shallow root systems that demand excessive water and require spraying with pesticides and herbicides. Without chemical herbicides, crops can be infested with weeds containing poisonous alkaloids that necessitate the same enzymes for detoxification as pesticides and herbicides. These tropane alkaloids can end up in processed foods and have poisoned and even killed people. Don’t believe me? Read the study here.
Let’s consider the loss of seasonality. After harvesting, crops are transported on trucks, planes, or ships halfway across the world. These farms tear down forests, decimating the land and displacing all the animals that call it home. Ever noticed the scavenger birds circling over plows? They’re drawn to the carcasses of the animals destroyed in the process. Yet, cows, nature’s perfect food source with all the nutrients essential for survival, are painted as the culprits damaging the earth… It’s time we wake up to the truth.
Finding The Truth
As we journey through the complexities of nutrition and health, it becomes increasingly evident that the narratives we’ve been fed about healthy eating are deeply flawed. From the illusion of “superfoods” to the deceptive promises of low-fat diets, our understanding of nutrition has been clouded by political agendas and economic interests. The consequences of these misconceptions have reverberated through generations, impacting our health and well-being in profound ways.
Yet, amid the sea of misinformation, there is hope. Through personal exploration and the pursuit of truth, we can reclaim control over our health destinies. By challenging conventional wisdom and scrutinizing the foods we consume, we empower ourselves to make informed choices that resonate with our bodies’ needs. It’s a journey fraught with challenges and revelations, but one that ultimately leads us toward a path of vitality and resilience.
As I reflect on my own experiences and those of my family, I’m reminded of the resilience of the human spirit and its capacity for transformation.
In the face of adversity, we’ve discovered the power of resilience, the importance of questioning, and the beauty of embracing our individual journeys. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of nutrition, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to truth, integrity, and holistic wellness. For it is in these moments of clarity and revelation that we find the strength to write our stories and reclaim our health, one mindful choice at a time.
Recommended Books for Further Understanding:
- Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind – Dr. Georgia Ede
- Toxic Superfoods – Sally Norton
- The Big Fat Surprise – Nina Teicholz
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