Factor #3: Quality and Purity of Calories (MY DIVA DIET: Five Factors)

Factor #3: Quality and Purity of Calories
You should always monitor the quality and purity of your calories. This is crucial—not only for fat loss, but more importantly for health—“you are what you eat!”

Factor #3: The quality and purity of calories are determined.

• They must be lean (containing little or no fat, especially bad fat).
• They must be healthy (conducive to health).
• They must be clean (free from foreign or extraneous matter).
• They must be pure (free from contamination).
• They must be alive and/or fresh (recently harvested, with no decay, not preserved or processed, and not overcooked)
• Animal protein should be from animals that are raised, treated, and fed properly as well as killed humanely.

“Take the plunge and choose foods in their natural states that are fresh, organic, and humainly treated animals. You will not only reap the rewards of better health & fitness, but you will also help our environment and discourage mass production of animals for food (and reduce cruelty to animals)!”

This topic is too large to cover in a blog...so here is an EXCERT from MY DIVA DIET: A Woman's Last Diet Book. The following is a quick reference guide on Factor #3 factor and the relevant areas of dieting for better health and low body fat. This will help those of you who want to learn about specific areas.

Factor #3: Quality and Purity of Calories
14. Junk food (fast food, pizza, ice cream, potato chips, cookies, candy, donuts, etc.)
15. Total daily fat intake (grams)
16. Total daily sugar intake (grams)
17. Sugar substitutes intake (aspartame, saccharine, Splenda and other artificially made sweeteners)
18. Total daily sodium intake (milligrams)
19. Quality protein intake
20. Quality carbohydrate intake
21. Quality fat intake
22. Total daily dairy intake
23. Clean calories (reading labels/things to look for)

• Preservatives and additives
• Flavoring agents, coloring agents, sweeteners (artificial and natural), emulsifiers, texturizers, stabilizers, etc.
• Chemicals and other fake foods
• Hidden fats (hydrogenated vegetable oils and other unneeded and unhealthy fats)
• Hidden sugars (maltodextrin, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, etc.)
• Hidden sodium (salt, MSG, sodium benzoate, sodium nitrate, ferrous sulfate, etc.)
• Hidden flour (white flour, baking powder, starch, dextrin, etc.)

24. Purity of calories

• Natural foods vs. processed
• Fresh foods vs. man-manipulated
• Organic vs. non-organic
• Cruelty-Free animal meat

25. White flour intake (bread, cereals, crackers, noodles, pasta, pastries, tortillas, etc.)
26. Total daily fiber intake (grams)
27. Food, sports, energy and protein bars
28. Sauces, salad dressing, dips and condiment intake
29. Cooking and seasoning (fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices)
30. Supplement intake (vitamins, minerals and others)

MY DIVA DIET: The Five Factors Affecting Body Fat and Health