I was reviewing a recent blood test (advanced lipid panel), trying to figure out what was causing some adverse results. Surprisingly, some of my “healthy” choices might be part of the problem. It seems like every food that helps one thing is bad for something else.

• Olive, coconut and avocado oil are great. Oh wait, they have really high Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acid ratio and we need much more omega 3s than 6s. (We often cook with avocado oil and I frequently eat avocados.)
• Many foods that are generally healthy might not be great for your gut biome. Based on my last test, I need to avoid peppers, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, almonds and more!
• Fresh vegetables are amazing for you, get lots of colors! Oops, if you’re sensitive to nightshades, you might want to avoid potatoes, peppers, eggplant and tomatoes.
• Walnuts and oysters have amazing health properties, including high Omega 3 fatty acids…unless you’re allergic to nuts and mollusks.
• Depending on you sensitivities and needs, the list goes on…

Each of us needs to do the best we can within our constraints. When in doubt, eat mostly whole vegetables and fruit, with some grass-fed protein, wild-caught fish and healthy fats. If you’re not sure what you need, get some tests. An advanced lipid panel and gut biome analysis might surprise you.

What do you do to navigate the world of “healthy” foods?

PS – note I didn’t mention processed food. Few of us need that, so eat as little as you can; whole food is almost always going to be better.