Unfortunately, these products aren’t the only so-called “superfoods” promoted within the mainstream raw food movement.

Here are 3 more not-so-superfoods you shouldn’t waste your money on:

#1: Raw Cacao

Raw cacao consists of cacao beans (the seeds of the cacao fruit) that have been processed under 118 degrees F. It’s often sold in powder form, in pieces called “nibs, as cacao butter (the extracted oil from the cacao bean), or in chocolate bars.

Cost

• Powder: $13-27 per 16 ounces
• Nibs: $14-25 per 16 ounces
• Butter: $15-25 per 16 ounces
• Bars: $6-12 per bar

What (Supposedly) Makes It So Super?

• good source of magnesium
• lots of antioxidants
• gives you energy

Why You Shouldn’t Buy It

Raw cacao as a source of magnesium isn’t too special. Plenty of fruits and vegetables contain this mineral.

For instance, one pound of bananas (only 400 calories) contains 122.5 mg of magnesium. According to the FDA, that’s about 40% of the daily amount required for the average adult female (310 mg).

Antioxidants? A raw food diet is full of ‘em. Just get in enough fruits, greens, nuts and seeds and you will get TONS of antioxidants.

What about raw cacao/chocolate as a bringer of energy? Quite the opposite, actually! Cacao (raw or not) contains the stimulants caffeine and theobromine, making it an energy stealer.

#2: Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is just as it sounds. It’s flower pollen that has been gathered by bees for food.

Cost

$15-25 per 16 ounces

I also found some “special” Australian bee pollen for $44.95…for just 8 ounces!

What (Supposedly) Makes It So Super?

• provides all 8 essential amino acids
• good source of folate
• contains more enzymes and co-enzymes than any other food

Why You Shouldn’t Buy It

The complete protein theory was debunked a long time ago. You don’t need to ingest all the essential amino acids (essential means those that the body does not synthesize and, therefore, must be acquired from the foods you eat) at every meal or every day.

You can get all essential amino acids simply by eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and getting in enough calories.

As far as bee pollen and folate goes, who cares?

Greens are filled with folate, along with bioavailable protein, calcium, iron, and other vital vitamins and minerals. Plus, they won’t blow out your budget.

And enzymes? Big deal!

Enzymes are for the plant, not the person. The only enzymes that can help you digest the foods you eat are the digestive enzymes produced by your own body.

#3: Wheatgrass Juice

Yep, it’s juice made from wheatgrass. The wheat grass is typically sold as a powder or in seed form for you to sprout and juice yourself.

Cost

• Powder: $13-20 per 16 ounces
• Seeds: $3-5 per pound

What (Supposedly) Makes It So Super?

• good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, and magnesium
• provides all 8 essential amino acids
• lots of enzymes

Why You Shouldn’t Buy It

You’ve probably heard that “one shot of wheatgrass is equal to one kilogram of vegetables” in terms of nutrition. But is this really true?

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find a complete nutritional analysis of wheatgrass. The best I found was for a specific wheatgrass brand, Nutrigrass.

According to their findings, one serving (2 tsp) of Nutrigrass wheatgrass powder contains:

• Vitamin A: 2500 IU
• Vitamin C: 13 mg
• Calcium: 25 mg
• Phosphorus: 24 mg
• Zinc: 105 mcg
• Iron: 2000 mcg
• Magnesium: 6.6 mg

How does one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of vegetables stack up? It depends upon the vegetable, but let’s use romaine as an example:

• Vitamin A: 104,206.9 IU
• Vitamin C: 695.8 mg
• Calcium: 554.5 mg
• Phosphorus: 763.2 mg
• Zinc: 5.4 mg
• Iron: 15.1 mg
• Magnesium: 599 mg

Wow. Not even close. 2 pounds of romaine is clearly much more nutritious than 2 teaspoons of this wheatgrass powder.

In fact, you could reduce the amount to 12 ounces of romaine and STILL get more vitamins A and C, as well as calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, and magnesium than you would from a serving of wheatgrass.

Oh yea, and this 2 teaspoon serving is actually 3x more than a typical 1-ounce shot!

Bottom line: There’s no reason to drink disgusting wheatgrass when you can get all the vitamin A, calcium, iron, etc. you need from delicious fruit and greens.

Do I sound like a broken record yet?

And I don’t really need to talk any more about the complete protein or enzyme myths again, do I?

What Say You?

Have you been duped into buying these overhyped products in hopes of a life full of health, energy, and well-being? Please share in the comments below!

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze

P.S. Want to learn more about superfoods, supplements, and other money-wasters on the raw food diet? Check out Frederic Patenaude’s tell-all book Raw Food Controversies:

Raw Food Controversies

How to Avoid Common Mistakes That May Sabotage Your Health

Click Here!

Not only will you read all about Frederic’s own fascinating raw food journey, but you’ll learn exactly what it takes to adopt a healthy and sustainable raw food diet.

Frederic also addresses your burning questions, including how to ensure healthy decay-free teeth, how to get enough omega 3 fatty acids, whether or not you must eat meat and dairy to be healthy, and which superfoods/supplements to avoid and why.

Raw Food Controversies is a definite must-read for anyone interested in going raw the right way. You can learn more and purchase your copy at the link below:

==> Raw Food Controversies

If you’re at all familiar with today’s raw food movement – given the fact that you’re currently reading a raw food and fitness blog, I’d say that’s pretty likely – then I’m sure you’re aware of the prevailing belief that as long as it’s raw, it can (and should) be eaten in abundance.

If it’s raw, it’s healthy!

This is anything but the truth. Here are 3 raw foods that I NEVER consume and why:

SIDE NOTE: Obviously french fries aren’t raw, but isn’t that a great image?

#1: Raw Cacao

You’ll see raw cacao touted on all the popular raw websites for its high antioxidant content. It’s used in various formats – nibs, powder, butter – and in all types of recipes.

I stay away from raw cacao in all its forms and here’s why:

First, cacao contains caffeine and caffeine is a stimulant. You know that awake, hyped-up, jittery feeling you get after consuming coffee, coca cola, or chocolate? That’s the body’s reaction to the caffeine.

And what comes up must come down. Once your body is done dealing with the toxin and things return to normal, the “energy boost” is gone.

Time for another cup o’ joe, right?

Second, “raw” cacao is not really raw. Cacao comes from the cacao bean, the seed of the cacao fruit, which is very bitter and must be heated and processed to be eaten.

And even then it’s still quite bitter, which is why it’s mixed with fresh or dried fruit, agave nectar, or honey to make it taste good.

Third, just because a food is high in antioxidants (or any other beneficial substance) does not mean it’s the best source of that substance.

More does not necessarily mean better. In fact, often it doesn’t. There are many sources of antioxidants such as strawberries, spinach, and sunflower seeds that are actually raw and healthy.

So if you want to get in your antioxidants and other cancer-killing nutrients, don’t rely on raw “but not really raw” cacao. Stick with whole, fresh, ripe, raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

#2: Bragg’s Liquid Aminos

Bragg’s Liquid Aminos is a non-fermented soy sauce that is loved by raw and cooked foodists alike. It is seen as a healthy alternative to fermented soy sauce that provides essential amino acids.

I do not consume Braggs because it is NOT a health food. It is really nothing more than salt. Just one itty bitty teaspoon contains 320 milligrams of sodium!

And as far as being “healthy” for its amino acid content…hogwash!

A teaspoon of Braggs contains only 620 milligrams (.62 grams) of protein. In order get any sort of significant amount, you would have to consume a ridiculous amount of the stuff. Given the sodium content, this would be an incredibly unhealthy practice.

For reference, a full pound of tomatoes contains 3900 mg (3.9 g) of protein with only 40 mg of sodium.

So if you want to get in high-quality protein, don’t rely on Braggs “high blood pressure in a bottle” Liquid Aminos. Stick with whole, fresh, ripe, raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

#3: Oil

Raw foodists love their oils! Viewed as a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, they have no problem pouring cups of the stuff onto their greens or into recipes.

I don’t consume oils of any kind, be it olive, coconut, avocado, or grape seed. Contrary to popular raw food “wisdom”, oil is NOT a health food. It’s nothing but refined, rancid, fiberless, 100% fat!

The only thing cold pressed oils are good for is keeping my skin silky and soft during the cold winter months.

So if you want to get in your omega 3s, don’t rely on olive “empty calories” oil. Stick with whole, fresh, ripe, raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

And You?

Are there any popular raw foods that you avoid? Which ones and why? Leave me your wonderfully raw response below!

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze

P.S. Cravings for cooked foods making hard for you to enjoy your cacao, salt, and oil-free raw recipes? Then be sure and check out my newly released e-book:

“How to Conquer Your Cooked Food Cravings Once and for All”

A Guide for Destroying Cravings on a Raw Food Diet

www.cookedfoodcravings.com

* What’s New: Enough about me.  What about you?

* Feature Article: How I Cured My Coffee Addiction

As I stated in last week’s issue, I’ve been receiving a bunch of great emails from all of you.  Many people are really enjoying transitioning to a high fruit raw diet and are seeing great results.

If you have a great raw story to share, relevant question to ask, or just want to say hi, feel free to post it on this blog.  This will give everyone the chance to throw in their 2 cents and will allow more people to benefit from the conversion.

Thanks guys,

Swayze

How I Cured My Coffee Addiction

I have to admit something.  I used to LOVE coffee.  I had a cup every single morning after my exercise with a “splash” of half and half and a couple tablespoons of sugar.  I could not even imagine starting my day without my little cup of energy.

That was about two years ago.  Now, I can’t stand the stuff.  The smell alone makes me want to hurl.  The fragrance is so strong and bitter.  Yuck.  I’ll just stick to water, thank you.

So what changed?  How was I able to kick my coffee habit over two years ago?  Why is just the smell of coffee so aggravating to me now?

Coffee Addiction

When I was much younger,  I hated everything about coffee.  The aroma, the look of it, the few sips I had tasted.  I felt the same way about coffee as a child that I do today.

As I got older, I started having a cup in the morning.  I still hated it at first, but it just seemed like something people did.  Every adult I knew got up in the morning and fixed themselves a cup of coffee.  My Mom drank coffee all throughout the day!

Before I knew it, I was hooked on the stuff.  And it only took a few weeks to go from something I despised to something I relied on everyday.  If I did not have my coffee, it was very hard for me to stay awake during my first few classes at school.  I would usually experience a slight twinge in my forehead as well.

At the time, I thought that this was a sign that coffee was necessary in my diet.  When I drank coffee, I felt good.  When I stopped drinking it, I felt bad.

The Effects of Coffee

You see, coffee has two effects: a short term effect and a long term effect.  The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant and consuming it causes your body to work overtime trying to neutralize it.  Your body’s sudden state of frenzy causes you to feel energized and awake for a short period of time.  This is the short term effect.

Once these effects have worn off, the body returns (or “comes down”) to its original condition.  You now feel sluggish and tired again.  This is the long term effect of drinking coffee.

Many people only notice the short term effect.  While virtually everyone experiences the “drop off” later in the day (I know I did), they do not associate this with the coffee.  In fact, I’m sure many of you attempt to solve the problem by having more coffee!

How to Cure Your Coffee Addiction

The best way to stop drinking coffee is to STOP DRINKING COFFEE!  If you continue to drink the stuff, you will continue to be dependent upon it.

Personally, I went completely cold turkey from my one cup a day.  I had a couple of slight headaches for a few days, but that was the extent of my detox.  After a couple of weeks, I felt much better and no longer longed for coffee.  After two short months, I could not imagine drinking coffee at all.

If you drink numerous cups of coffee each day, it might be best to gradually reduce how much you drink.  An easy way to do this is to replace each cup with caffeine-free tea.  If you choose, you can keep going by replacing the tea with just warm or cold lemon water.

Either way you choose, your goal should be to completely eliminate coffee from your diet.  It provides no nutritional value and has no place in a healthy lifestyle.

My hope is that one day coffee drinking will be a thing of the past and people will rely on good ole exercise and nutrition to energize themselves for the day.

A girl can dream, right?

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze