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What is baby alive food made of


How to Make Colorful and Scented Doll Food

I have wanted to make doll food for a while. My daughter goes through this stuff super fast. The store-bought packets are great, but they are a bit expensive and don’t last in our home. We need Costco-size pouches to keep up with our hungry dolls.

My daughter loves dolls more than any toy in our house. The moment she gets a new baby, she gives her a name and cares for her in a super sweet motherly way. It is such a joy to see her play. She plays with all her babies every day, but her favorite ones are the types that she can feed and bathe.

For me, the best doll for this feeding activity is the baby born interactive. This doll holds the liquid! You have to press her belly button to release any fluid. This is an excellent feature for the times your dolls diaper is not on correctly or has no diaper at all. I am not saying this is a mess-free activity, but this toy makes my life easier when it’s time to clean up. So, use any doll that is easy to clean.

Ingredients and Materials

I played around with different ingredients and finally settled on using sugar, baking soda, and cornstarch; these three ingredients give the doll food a puree consistency similar to the store-bought. To take it up a notch and make it more realistic, I decided to use paint and scented oils.

As far as paint goes, I always prefer to use washable paint instead of food gel in my crafts. I want to avoid the small chance of staining anything. We made our first batch with food gels, and the doll food came off the doll’s dress without a problem. Still, I decided to make our second batch with washable paint. I feel more comfortable letting my daughter play with something I know I can easily wash.

I use mason jars in a lot of my projects because they are versatile, but you can store yours in any container you prefer.

Also, although all the ingredients are non-toxic, I am keeping my jars out of reach from my little one.

Doll food

  1. Place two tablespoons of granulated sugar into a small mason jar.
  2. Dip the tip of a toothpick into the paint color of your choice. A tiny bit is enough. Then, dip the paint into the granulated sugar and mix until the color completely incorporates, and you don’t see any speckles. Don’t worry if the powder looks white because it will change color when it comes in contact with the water.
  3. Mix in a few drops of scented oil (If using).
  4. Add one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of cornstarch to the sugar and mix.
  5. Download and print your food labels. Label each jar. If you want different flavor labels, you can download these cute vegetable and fruit clipart from Etsy.
  6. Finally, mix the doll food with water. I use 1-2 teaspoons per feeding. Add drops of water until you get a puree consistency. Don’t worry if you add to much water, your little one and the doll won’t mind. ?

This doll food is good to use with baby alive, baby born, or any doll that is designed to eat.

The manufacturers recommend flushing the baby food after each use. So, we feed our dolls a warm bottle of water along with the doll food to wash it out.

I hope you found this helpful. Visit our DIY page for more fun ideas.

Which Baby Alive Doll Do I Get? Kids Toy Review

Baby Alive Review

 

One day my two-year-old daughter tells me that she wants a real baby that poops.  I immediately think that she wants a little baby brother or sister.  We were at the store and she says “look, mommy, the pooping baby, can I have that?”  There it was, a Baby Alive that actually poops.  While looking at these dolls, I noticed that there were so many different types.  Talking with some of my friends with kids, I learned that a Baby Alive is a pretty popular doll among girls.  I have to admit these dolls are pretty amazing.  Some of them can crawl, talk, pee, poop, be styled.  With so many types, it can be difficult finding the right one. We at www.kidsplayandcreate.com composed a list of some of the most popular types of Baby Alive dolls.  We hope that this list helps you on your journey to finding the best Baby Alive doll for your little one.

History of Baby Alive Dolls

Baby Alive Dolls first came onto the market in 1973.  They were produced by the Kenner company.  The dolls came with little packets of food that needed to be mixed with water.  Once the food was mixed with water you were able to feed that doll with the included spoon.  Once you spoon fed the doll you have to use a lever on the back of the doll to make the mouth go up and down and eat the food.  After the doll ate the food, the food would go through the doll and come out into the diaper.  

In 1992 the first talking Baby Alive Doll came out. The doll automatically ate the food, there was no more lever on its back.   The doll didn’t sell very well as it made a lot of gear noises and the doll had an adult female sounding voice. 

In 1995 a new version of the Baby Alive doll was released.  This doll did not talk and came with a potty , snacks and juice boxes.

After Hasbro took over the Kenner company the Baby Alive Doll was re-released in 2006.   A variety of Baby Alive Dolls came out.  They produced ones that talked and had a baby voice, they have ones the poop, eat, crawl and even some just to snuggle with.

Check out all the different types of Baby Alive Dolls below.

 

Baby Alive Super Snacks Lily

If your little one is asking for a doll that poops, this is what they are talking about.  This doll comes with special reusable food.  This baby comes with a big appetite.  Your child will enjoy making the food with the included food shaper (kinda like a play-doh mold).  After they make their baby food, they will get to feed her with the special spoon that comes with the doll.   Oh no, the baby has a poopy diaper, time to change her.  Yes, the food comes out the bottom and yes, they will need to change her diaper.  The food can be used again and again by re-molding it in the food shaper. This doll encourages imaginary play.  It is a great gift for your little one who likes to play mommy.  This doll can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American.  This doll comes with an outfit (already on the doll), 2 diapers, 2 one ounce containers of the reusable non-toxic food, bowl, spoon, and a food mold.  This is a great doll for children ages 3 and up.

Features:

  • Comes with accessories including 2 diapers, pretend food, spoon, bowl, food mold
  • Make food for the baby with mold
  •  The baby will eat the food your child made
  •  The baby “poops” out the food
  •  Your child will get the chance to change the diaper
  • 14-inch doll
  • Comes in blonde, brunette or African American
  • Encourages imaginary play

Baby Alive Super Snacks Sarah

Baby Alive Super Snacks Sarah is the super version of the Super Snacks Lily Doll. She is slightly bigger (16 inches)  Not only does she do the same thing at the Lily doll, she also talks and comes with more accessories and she can say 30 phrases and sounds in English or Spanish.  The doll will tell your child when she is hungry, sleepy or full.  She says phrases like “ready for a nap”, “Mommy, snacks please,” “I’d like some juice.” You can change between languages at any time.  It is a great feature for a child learning English or if you want your child to learn some Spanish. This doll comes with an outfit (already on the doll), 2 diapers, 2 one ounce containers of the non-toxic reusable food, 3 food shaping tools, roller, plate, pretend juice box.  She can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American.  This is a great doll for children 3 and up.

Features:

  • Comes with accessories including pretend food, 3 food shaping tools, roller, plate, pretend juice box, 2 diapers
  • Make food for the doll to eat.
  •  Feed the doll
  •  Doll “poops” out the food your child fed her.
  •  Your child can change the doll’s diaper
  • This doll can speak 30 phrases and sounds in English or Spanish
  • 16-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or as African American

Requires 3 AAA batteries, not included (does come with demo batteries)

Baby Alive Baby Go Bye Bye

This is one of the more popular Baby Alive dolls and it does a lot.  This is a fun active baby. If your child really enjoys pretending to be a mommy, then this is the doll for her.  Baby Go Bye Bye can crawl, talk and pee.  Your child will have fun tickling baby’s tummy and watching her crawl towards her.  This baby can also come along on an adventure as she comes with a baby carrier.  With all that action, a baby becomes thirsty, time to feed her, her bottle.  Oh no, baby peed, time to change her diaper.  This is the real mommy experience doll.  The arms and legs do straighten out so you hold her. This doll comes with an outfit (already on the doll), doll carrier,  bottle, diaper, rattle and a brush. Great doll and promotes imaginary play. This is a great doll for children ages 3 and up.

Features:

  • Comes with accessories including diaper, rattle, brush, carrier, and bottle
  • Crawls
  • Reacts to included rattle
  • Your child can tickle her
  •  Speaks over 30 sounds and phrases in English or Spanish
  • Drinks from bottle and pees
  • Has an on and off switch
  • 15-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American

 

Requires 4 AA batteries, not included (does come with demo batteries)

Baby Alive Better Now Bailey

This is the Baby Alive to get if your child likes to play doctor. She is a cute doll that encourages imaginary doctor play.   Bailey is sick and your child will love giving her a check-up using the included stethoscope, thermometer and ear checker. Now, that Bailey is feeling better, she is thirsty, time to feed her a bottle. After giving Bailey a bottle, your child will notice that her diaper is wet.  Bailey also pees.  Your child will enjoy changing her diaper.  This doll comes with an outfit (already on the doll), stethoscope, thermometer, ear checker, diaper, and bottle.  This is a great doll for children ages 3 and up.

Features:

  • Comes with accessories including a stethoscope, thermometer, ear checker, diaper, bottle
  • Pretend doctor play
  • Feed baby a bottle
  • Baby  pees
  • change diaper
  • 14-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American

Baby Alive Play N Style Christina Doll

This is the Baby Alive to get for your little fashionista.  I actually want to get this one for my little girl when she gets a little bigger.  Play N Style Christina is a cute doll with long hair.   Your child will have fun pretending to blow dry her hair, then actually being able to brush it, style it with braids or ponytails.  Christina comes with a colorful hair extension that your child can put in the dolls hair. What’s super fun about this doll is being able to style and restyle her hair over and over again.  You can even purchase hair chalk or extra hair extensions (available at dollar stores or Wal-Mart) that your child can use on her doll or her own hair.  Some moms I spoke to said they let their daughter’s style the dolls hair while they were getting their own hair brushed and styled and it helped limit the whining and crying.   This doll comes with an outfit (already on the doll), hair dryer, hair extension, barrette, and comb. This is a great doll for children ages 4 and up.

Features:

  • Comes with accessories including hair dryer, hair extension, brush, and comb.
  • Style Christina’s hair
  • Play with her pretend hairbrush
  • Comes with hair dryer, comb, hair extension, and barrette.
  • 14-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American

Baby Alive Snugglin Sarina

Baby Alive Snugglin Sarina is a good Baby Alive to get for a young girl as their first doll.  She doesn’t have any fancy features like some other Baby Alive dolls, however, she is super cute and her thumb fits in her mouth. Sarina comes with a hat that is attached to her head and is wearing a onesie outfit.   Sarina is great for holding, snuggling and playing mommy.  It is recommended for girls 18 mts and up, but I think you can give her at 12 mts. This doll comes with the doll only.

Features:

  • Soft to snuggle (except for the head, which is plastic)
  • Great first doll
  • 10-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with light, medium and dark skin tones

Comes with: Doll

Baby Alive Luv N Snuggle

Baby Alive Luv N Snuggle is a great first-time doll.  She is a soft, sweet, cuddly little baby doll.  This was actually the first baby doll I bought my daughter.  Like Baby Alive Snugglin Sarina, there aren’t any fancy features. Which is good in my opinion, because if it did, then you would probably be the one changing the diaper.  This doll can put her thumb or toe in her mouth, just like a real baby.  She is a cute doll.  My daughter loves this doll so much that we ended up getting all three versions (blonde, brown and African-American). This doll comes with a blanket and a bottle.  This is a great doll for children 12mts-4

Features:

  • Soft to snuggle (except for head, legs, and hands, which are plastic)
  • Great first doll
  • 6-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American

Baby Alive Twinkles N Tinkles

This Baby Alive is different from the others because it has a plastic reusable diaper instead of the throwaway one.  After feeding Baby Alive Twinkles N Tinkles, your child will notice that baby’s diaper is lighting up.  That means that it is time to change her.  Simply remove the plastic diaper, wipe her and don’t forget to put on the pretend baby diaper cream that comes with the doll, then put the diaper back on and click in place.  What’s good about this baby is that you won’t need to purchase extra diapers.  This baby also makes over 20 sounds and phrases in English or Spanish by tickling her tummy. This doll comes with an outfit (already on the doll), bottle, pretend diaper cream, wipe, wipes box.  This is a great doll for children ages 3 and up.

Features:

  • Comes with accessories including bottle, pretend diaper cream, wipe, wipes box
  • This Baby Alive pees
  • Plastic diaper (reusable) lights up after she pees
  •  Speaks over 20 sounds and phrases including drinking sound,
  •  Your child can feed her bottle
  • 14-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American

Baby Alive Teacup Surprise Baby

This is the perfect doll for your child that likes to have a tea party or play with pretend food.  Your child will love having a tea party with Baby Alive Teacup Surprise Baby.  She comes with a  tea set changes color when you fill it with ice water.  After the baby drinks her tea, she wets her diaper. This doll comes with a dress, diaper, teacup, teapot and a sippy cup.  This is a great doll for children ages 3 and up.

Features:

  • Comes with accessories including teacup, teapot and sippy cup
  • Tea sets change colors when filled with ice water
  •  Baby drinks and wets the diaper
  • 14-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American

Baby Alive Ready for School

Click picture to purchase on Amazon

Every baby eventually grows up and has to start school.  This is a great baby to get for your child who may be starting preschool or Kindergarten.  Your child will have so much fun pretending to get her baby ready for school.  They can learn ABC’s and read together.  Baby comes with a tiny picture book. This doll comes with outfit (already on the doll), brush and a picture book.  This is a great doll for children ages 3 and up.

Features:

  • Comes with accessories including brush and a picture book
  • Style her hair
  • School themed dress
  • Comes with a Picture book
  • 14-inch doll
  • Can be purchased with blonde hair, brunette hair or African American

 

Can you purchase additional products for Baby Alive?

Yes, You can purchase extra diapers, snack packs, clothes, and bottles. You can also purchase preemie sized diapers.  Check out some accessories listed below

Baby Alive Diapers Pack

Baby Alive Diapers Pack
This refill pack comes with 6 diapers and they can be used with any size Baby Alive Doll that pees or poops. You may want to purchase extra diapers if you are purchasing a Baby Alive that pees right away as you go through diapers rather quickly depending on how much your child plays with the doll.   You can reuse the diapers for the dolls that poop.

Baby Alive Clothes Packs 

Children love dressing their baby dolls. Luckily there are plenty of clothes available to purchase online and in retail stores so your child will never get bored of their doll wearing the same clothes.  There are many outfits to choose from. This adorable set features a cute tutu skirt, shorts, pants, dress and three t-shirts.  These outfits fits Baby Alive dolls between 12-14 inches.
 
Baby Alive Super snacks Noodles and Pizza Snack Pack

Children often lose the food that comes with the doll or wants to try new foods.  This snack pack comes with 3 containers of reusable food.

Baby Alive Sippy Cups and Baby Carrier Bundle

Baby Alive Doll Car Seat and 2-Pack Sippy Cup Bundle for 16″ Dolls (Pink)
This pack of 2 sippy cups is made especially for Baby Alive Dolls.  They can be filled with water.   These sippy cups are not magnetic, you must squeeze the water into the baby’s mouth.  These are for pretend play only.  They are not made for your child to drink from.  This bundle also comes with a baby carrier that can hold dolls up to 16 inches.  Children can use the carrier to carry their dolls around or use it as a feeding chair when it is time for their baby to eat.  Great add-on gift.

Can Baby Alive eat regular food?

No, You can only use the special food that comes with the baby.  Also, make sure your child knows that the special food is food baby only and not them.  The food is non-toxic however, you do not want your child to eat the food.  Also, it is important not to fill the Baby Alive doll’s sippy cups or bottles with anything besides water.  Filling the cups or bottles with anything else could cause mold or bacteria to grow inside the doll if not cleaned out properly.  Water is the only liquid that should be used.

Is it possible to use regular Play-Doh as food?

I have not personally tried it, but after some research, I found that people have tried using Play-Doh and it worked well with the food shapers.   It also went through the doll pretty well and did not get stuck.  Make sure when making the food with the included food shapers, that your child only uses a little at a time.  Placing big chucks inside the doll’s mouth could cause it to get stuck and not work properly.

What age group is Baby Alive for?

This depends on the type of Baby Alive you purchase.  For younger girls 1 – 2 I would choose Baby Alive Luv N Snuggle or Baby Alive Snugglin Sarina, they are great first time dolls.   For girls 3-9 I would choose one of the other Baby Alive dolls that have more features such as eating or peeing.

Are Baby Alive dolls made well?

yes, Baby Alive dolls are pretty amazing.  They are a great quality doll and worth the price. If you take care of them, they will last a very long time.

Can Baby Alive dolls be cleaned easily?

Most of the Baby Alive dolls can be cleaned easily.  They are made from plastic that can be wipes down with soap and water.   The Snugglin’ Sarina Doll and the Luv N Suggle Baby Alive Doll has soft bodies that make it a little harder to clean.

 

 

Theory of generations: the choice of catering establishments.

Staff

article

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In marketing, there are many different theories that explain consumer behavior. In recent years, the theory of generations by Neil Howe and William Strauss has gained popularity. Classical marketing does not keep up with the rapidity of changes, and one of the guidelines for marketers can be deep values, which the theory of generations helps to understand. nine0003

Now they are talking about six generations: the "silent" generation (born in 1923-1945), "baby boomers" (1946 - 1963), generation X (1964 - 1981), generation Y (1982 - 1999) , Generation Z (2000 - 2014) and Generation Alpha (born since 2015). In different sources, gradation by year differs, but the essence of this does not change. The “silent” generation, due to age, has practically no effect on the catering market, and the “Alpha” generation does not yet choose independently which institution they will end up in, therefore, in this article we will consider the factors when choosing institutions, what is important in institutions and which information channels work best for each of the four generations mentioned: Boomers, X, Y, and Z.

"Baby Boomers", when choosing an establishment, first of all, they pay attention to the comfort, status of the establishment and the history of the place. A restaurant or cafe should have a choice of dishes and drinks, preferably simple and familiar, which this generation associates with the holiday from childhood: Olivier, Herring under a fur coat, Napoleon cake, etc. Of course, this does not mean that they don't like to try new things, but new dishes for the boomer generation are more of an indicator that they are aware of their existence and, on occasion, can mention that they have already tried it. This is a generation of those who remain "forever young" and therefore do not like mentions of age and offers of help from waiters, for example. They will understand the menu themselves, but for this it must be written in a readable, clear font, with a detailed description of the composition of the dishes. The room itself and the seating layout should also be simple and understandable, a clear distinction between the bar counter and soft, comfortable seating, the allocation of areas for communal tables: they are feast lovers, collectivists. As for the most effective channels for informing this generation, these are, without a doubt, recommendations from relatives and friends, printed publications (guides, status magazines), and radio. Any message addressed to boomers should be saturated with optimism, pictures of an interesting future, the images in the photo are a little younger than this generation, the words should be Russian, and the wording should be clear. nine0003

Generation X appreciates the speed of service, the uniqueness of the establishment, the place must be verified, preferably on their own experience. The generation grew up in an era of scarcity, so they like to try everything new, including new dishes. But, if for boomers to try “new” means to put a tick, then for Xs it is important to find a product that suits them. This generation grew up in the era of the arrival of the Western and the development of domestic fast food, in addition, they value their time, so this format is one of the most popular among the X's. Due to their pragmatism, they prefer combo offers, promotions, large portions, but they are ready to pay for speed and variety. Unlike younger generations, they are more fond of alcoholic drinks, so pubs and bars are also establishments for them. They appreciate the level of service, individual approach and emotions - an interesting interior, serving dishes, visiting places with dancing and live music is what they will definitely pay attention to and will be your regulars until you disappoint them. Perhaps they will give another chance, but if the disappointment repeats, they will not return again, no matter what they were promised. They trust word of mouth, notice outdoor advertising, and draw on their own experience. To capture the attention of this generation, advertising must surprise them, give them the opportunity to make their own choices, and focus on saving time and effort. The wording is specific that you have just for them. nine0003

Millennials of prefer new and trendy places where they can not only eat but also have fun. If the “X”s find “their” places by experience and remain their adherents for a long time, then the “Ys” do not have a limited range of establishments, they visit new and new places, sometimes returning. New dishes and places - new emotions. In addition, they are aesthetes and it is important that the place, dish, drink be beautiful, bring pleasure, both in taste and appearance. Among them, there are more adherents of soft drinks compared to previous generations. "Yigers" like to eat on the go, while paying a lot of attention to the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, often prefer vegetarian food. They are adherents of proper nutrition, pay attention to the energy value, the content of minerals, vitamins and the percentage of fat. Vegetarianism, total rejection of meat or flexitarianism are quite popular in this environment. Growing in popularity, food halls, and soon bar courts, the favorite places of this generation, here you can try different food and drinks, different cuisines, and also soak up emotions. In addition, this generation is the main consumers of the delivery service. They are actively involved in loyalty programs if they give bonuses and guarantee discounts, and if the program is built on the principle of the game, then this is an additional bonus. Advertising in social networks and the Internet is one of the main channels for informing this audience; they often use sites with reviews and, of course, recommendations from friends. Messages should carry sincerity and optimism, use real characters with their strengths and weaknesses, be remembered by sound, image and main emotion. nine0003

Generation Z pay attention to the aesthetics and visuals of the place, environmental friendliness and manufacturability. Unlike the “gamers”, there are more introverts among them, they do not like live communication and prefer delivery, among other things, because there is no need to communicate with the operator if you give them such an opportunity. The ability to order dishes without communicating with the waiter/cashier, for example, through the terminal, will also be appreciated by representatives of this generation. Due to the limited financial capabilities of the majority of Zed representatives, they prefer budget establishments (coffee houses, fast food) and the opportunity to buy a promotional offer. Despite the fact that the favorite dishes of this generation are pizza, burgers and “snacks”, many people try to eat right and will be happy to order homemade food and healthy meals. They also like coffee and soft drinks, desserts and sweet dishes. The more you impress this generation with the appearance of a drink or dish, the more likely they are to mention it on their social media. From childhood, they were taken to master classes in cooking various dishes, so they are happy to visit establishments that provide such opportunities. Advertising through bloggers, video advertising on the Internet and youtube, as well as in other social networks will allow you to be noticed by this generation. They prefer pictures, and even better short videos, offers that can be obtained immediately. In the message, it is necessary to combine their vocabulary and terms with good and eternal values. And yes, they do not like long texts and, in principle, texts. nine0003

Mar 03 2020

Anna Savinova

Expert in the field of restaurant marketing

Recommended materials

We debunge myths from popular nutrition books

Do not eat wheat - You lose weight

OTNAYDPHOTOS.COM
and The wheat belly by William Davis.

Thesis
According to the American cardiologist, Dr. William Davis, the main cause of excess weight is wheat. nine0003

Humans have been eating wheat for about 10,000 years. However, the varieties cultivated now are very different from the wheat of the past. They contain gluten, which, in turn, stimulates the appetite.

Modern wheat also contains amylopectin. This carbohydrate is quickly absorbed, causing a jump in blood sugar. A lot of insulin is released from the pancreas, which leads to the accumulation of internal fat. As a result - the stomach, excess weight and a "bouquet" of concomitant diseases.

Antithesis
Books from the Wheat Belly series are very argumentative, and therefore convincing. Dr. Davis is consistent on why modern wheat is a health problem. In particular, he links the popularization of hybrid wheat varieties with the increase in the number of obese people. But correlation ≠ causation.

One of the reasons for the increase in the number of overweight people is the aging of the baby boomer generation. Whether you eat wheat or not, with age, fat is deposited on the stomach and sides. nine0003

Yes, abdominal fat (also known as abdominal or visceral fat) is quite insidious: it provokes the synthesis of cortisol, the stress hormone. And if you follow this logic, then there is fat "good" and "bad". But, according to recent studies, deposits in the gluteal adipose tissue that were considered harmless lead to the development of metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetic condition). Therefore, gluteal fat (the one on your butt) is just as dangerous as abdominal fat.

But even assuming that belly fat is is the most harmful , is wheat to blame for its formation? Big question...

If you really want to get rid of your belly, study saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and watch your carbohydrate intake. There are studies showing that people whose diet contains unsaturated fats and digestible fiber (oats, beans, barley) gradually get rid of visceral fat.

Lower your pH if you want to be slim

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Books: The alkaline cure by Stéphane Domenig, The eating the alkaline way Natasha Corrett, The amazing acid-alkaline cookbook by Bonnie Ross.

Thesis
There are many types of alkaline diets. Their essence is to achieve the optimal acid-base balance of nutrients in the body. It is believed that due to this, metabolism is normalized and excess weight will go away. Increased acidity reduces activity, destroys bones and provokes diseases. An alkaline environment, on the contrary, is considered beneficial. nine0003

Each product is either acidic or alkaline. At the same time, they have a diametrically opposite effect on the body. Acidic ones alkalinize, while neutral ones oxidize. The optimal ratio is considered to be 70% alkalizing foods (greens, vegetables, fruits, berries) and 30% acid-forming (natural coffee, proteins, cottage cheese, beans, pasta, and so on).

Antithesis
Maintenance of normal blood pH depends, among other things, on the functioning of the kidneys. Acid-base balance in human blood is one of the most stable parameters. Diet as such cannot break it. nine0003

A review of scientific research on the benefits of alkaline nutrition found that there is no convincing evidence that alkalizing foods strengthen bones and protect against osteoporosis. There is nothing wrong with eating more vegetables and fruits (they are just lower in calories, after all), but alkaline diets should not be considered a panacea for excess weight and carcinogenesis.

Probiotics are the foundation of the body's "ecological balance"

belchonock/Depositphotos.com
Books: The probiotic rescue by Allison Tannis, The probiotic revolution by Gary Hufnagle, The fermented foods for health by Deidre Rawlings. nine0047

Thesis
Dairy products are fashionable today. Why drink milk if there is kefir? After all, fermented foods contain wonderful, incredibly useful bifidus and lactobacilli. These are the "good" bacteria. They live in our intestines and help our digestion. In addition, they strengthen the immune system.

Antithesis
Do foods have to be fermented to be considered healthy? According to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), probiotics are actively used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But in practice, patients experience relief not only when they drink fermented yogurt, but also when they consume regular milk. nine0003

Let's say probiotics are really as useful as they are advertised. But this does not mean that by buying yogurt, kefir or fermented baked milk marked “probiotic”, we will enrich the body with healing microorganisms. When bacteria are grown in a laboratory and tested on humans, they make sure that each test subject receives a certain dose. Most manufacturers don't measure how many good bacteria are in each package of a product. Also, they make no effort to keep the bacteria "alive" as advertised. Therefore, most often we eat and drink probiotic placebo - products with a certain amount of useful, but, alas, dead bacteria. nine0003

Raw food cleans

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Books: The raw food detox diet Natalie Rose, The raw cure by Jesse Jay Jacobi, The raw food cleanse Penny Shelton.

Thesis
Cooked food accumulates toxins in the body. And toxins are a source of excess weight, as well as an inspirer of cancer. While natural raw foods, on the contrary, cleanse the body. The body recognizes and easily assimilates such foods. nine0003

In addition, cooking destroys nutrients and denatures enzymes important for healthy life. Finally, some products simply do not fit together. Therefore, you should not eat fruits and vegetables at the same time, otherwise you will not get any benefit from either the first or the second.

Antithesis
Detox programs involve the cleansing of toxins through diet. But even without it, we have detox organs that are designed to free the body from everything alien and harmful - these are the liver and kidneys. If they don't work, carrots won't help. nine0003

Research on the anticarcinogenic properties of raw foods is controversial. Some argue that a raw food diet reduces the risk of cancer; others that, on the contrary, cooked vegetables are safer.

Cooking really kills nutrients. At the same time, the useful lycopene contained in tomatoes is better absorbed if the tomatoes are cooked, moreover, with some kind of fat. The “performance” of enzymes depends on many factors: temperature, pH, and others. And it is impossible to determine what deprived the enzymes of their natural properties: the acidic environment of the stomach or cooking. nine0003

And finally. There are no convincing arguments in science why it is impossible to combine vegetables and fruits, as well as any other products.

Time to get off the sugar needle

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Books: The suicide by sugar Nancy Appleton, The sugar blues by William Dufty, The sugar nation by Jeff O'Connell, Carly's overcoming sugar addiction Randolph Pitman.

Thesis
Today only lazy people do not scold sugar. According to endocrinologist, MD, author of several books on the problem of obesity, and popular lectures ("Sugar: the bitter truth", "Fat chance: fructose 2.0") Robert Lustig, sugar leads to obesity, catalyzes old age, "litters" the liver and has many more harmful properties. nine0003

Why it is worth eliminating sugar from the diet

But most importantly, the brain's reaction to sugar is about the same as to cocaine and heroin. Nancy Appleton, Ph.D. in Psychology, cites the key problem is that although our mind says "I don't want this," our body says "I need it." And manufacturers, in turn, are in no hurry to warn how wide the range of products containing sugar is.

The bitter truth about sugar

Antithesis
Nobody says that a piece of biscuit cake soaked in syrup and sprinkled with chocolate is healthy. But it's not cocaine. nine0003

Most research and testing is done on rats. It is important that the body of rodents and the human body react to a particular stimulus in the same way. Lab rats love sugar. Its consumption is addictive in them, as it stimulates the brain area responsible for pleasure. In the course of the experiments, sugar affected these centers more than cocaine.

But human studies show a completely different picture. If sugar really caused an addiction like a drug, then it would be logical to assume that the feeling of hunger was equated with the desire to eat something sweet, and overweight people would eat only cakes and sweets. But none of these scenarios are typical. Moreover, studies show that sugar blocks the receptors that cause a surge of "drugs" in the brain (opioids, endorphins). There are many sweet tooth in the world. There are those who abuse sugar and cannot live without it. But these are rather personal problems - at the physiological level, sugar is not addictive. nine0003

Superfoods cure all diseases

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Books: The SuperFoods Rx by Stephen Pratt and Cathy Matthews, The super immunity foods by Frances Sheridan Goulart.

Thesis
Superfoods (SuperFood, "superfood") have superpowers, they are recommended by superstars in their superdiets. If you form a diet of superfoods, you can get rid of almost all diseases. After all, superfoods contain antioxidants that prevent cancer, strengthen the immune system, increase metabolism and, of course, promote weight loss. nine0003

For example, Californian surgeon Stephen Pratt developed a diet based on 14 superfoods (beans, blueberries, cabbage, oranges, and so on). If you eat them constantly, you will lose weight, the skin will be beautiful and the aging process will slow down.

Antithesis
According to some studies, antioxidants do protect cells from cancer in the laboratory. They neutralize free radicals that cause processes in the body similar to rust and decay. Free radicals are known to destroy everything, including microorganisms. What's wrong with killing viruses and bacteria? That they are part of the immune system and the body must fight them. nine0003

There is no clear answer as to whether antioxidants prevent cancer. Some studies show that this is the case; others - that antioxidants do not kill cancer cells and even reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Obviously, laboratory experiments are one thing, and the human body is quite another. A cell in a petri dish may react in one way, but within a complex "ecosystem" of organs, in a different way.

Dosing is even more difficult. In the laboratory, scientists use extracts (that is, concentrated raw material extracts) of superfoods in certain dosages. The "eat blueberries" recommendation doesn't explain how much you need to eat to recharge your antioxidants. So, to feel the antioxidant effect of green tea, you need to drink several cups a day (three or more). And this is not the best idea, given that the tannins contained in tea interfere with the absorption of vitamin B9..

Superfoods are good for you. But they are not a panacea for all diseases. You can not rely on them in the issue of cancer prevention. After all, superfood is primarily food, it contains many components that affect the body in different ways. It is more effective to use individual components derived from a particular product in dosages verified by specialists.

Drink the skinny juices

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Books: The skinny juices by Daniel Omar, The, sick & nearly dead: how fat fruits and vegetables changed my life Joe Cross. nine0047

Thesis
Many have heard the story of Australian businessman Joe Cross. The young man weighed 150 kg, was ill and felt disgusting. Until one fine moment he turned to a healthy nutrition specialist, Dr. Joel Furman. He recommended fasting on juices from vegetables, fruits and herbs. Joe ate juices for two months and lost 30 kg.

The fresh juice diet is popular because it is believed to help detoxify the body. Juices are pure health. They have more nutrients than whole fruits and no indigestible fiber. nine0003

Antithesis
Liver and kidneys cleanse the body of toxins. Nothing will replace these organs. In addition, there is no evidence that juice is an invaluable source of nutrients. But there are real problems that can be amassed if you eat only juice. Bacteria quickly settle in freshly squeezed juice. If you drink it, then immediately.

There is a lot of "invisible" sugar in fruits, that is, purely psychologically, we do not notice that we are consuming something sweet, and therefore we easily violate the dosage. nine0003

Also, fructose and acids contained in fruits have a negative effect on tooth enamel.

Juices by themselves are not terrible. The question is in the approach to their consumption. Extreme passion for juices can be detrimental to health.

Eat Like a Caveman and Be Healthy

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Books: The paleo answer by Lauren Cordain, The paleo solution by Robb Wolfe, The Primordial Body , the primal mind "(The primal body. Primal mind) Nora Gedgaudas. nine0047

Thesis
The Paleo diet is based on the idea that we should eat the way people did in the Stone Age, that is, eliminate grains, dairy and legumes, sugar, processed oils and eat food that was available to our ancestors , hunters and gatherers (fish, meat, berries, nuts, roots). After all, 10 thousand years ago, people did not know about obesity. Therefore, in order to be slim and healthy, we must eat natural food.

Antithesis
We evolve, and every few thousand years we can state obvious changes. So humans developed a tolerance for lactose, which in turn allowed us to get calcium from milk. Also, our digestive system has adapted to legumes, which are high in protein and low in fat. And the paleo diet forbids both dairy and beans. But historical identity and proper nutrition are not the same thing. nine0003

Moreover, we are not the only ones evolving. Even if you become a farmer and eat meat and vegetables grown in your backyard, you still cannot equate yourself with the ancient people. Animals and plants have also changed. Corn, for example, was once a weed and is now a healthy food crop.

In addition, we imagine the Paleolithic hunter as a strong, lean fellow. But it's not. Archaeological excavations prove that then people also had health problems, including arterial disease. nine0003

Vegetarianism is the path to ultra slimness

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Books: The forks over knives by Gene Stone and Caldwell Esselstyn, The China study by Colin Campbell.

Thesis
On the basis of the works of American scientists, practicing doctors (Caldwell Esselstyn, Colin Campbell and others), the film Forks Instead of Knives was made. It became a worldwide bestseller. It says that proteins and fats of animal origin provoke a number of serious diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.). While the transition to a completely plant-based diet, on the contrary, heals the body. nine0003

The link between dietary habits and chronic diseases is also mentioned in the famous book by biochemist Colin Campbell. He studied mortality statistics in 65 counties in China. It turned out that when the Celestial Empire was dominated by rural residents and the basis of their diet was plant foods, cancer and cardiovascular disease were less common. Everything was spoiled by globalization, which brought more fatty animal food.

Antithesis
The film does not directly state that a vegetarian diet low in fat (including vegetable) stops carcinogenic processes. Because it's a lie. Research shows that veganism can prolong life when a person already has colon cancer. But other studies show that vegetarians are simply more health conscious than the rest of the world's population.

As regards the predisposition of vegetarians and meat-eaters to heart disease, the former are indeed less susceptible to them. But they tend to have higher mortality rates from other diseases.

Although experts acknowledge that there is a strong correlation between the amount of fat and protein in the diet and the incidence of cancer and heart disease in the China Study, Campbell's theory has a number of shortcomings. So, critics note that the scientist places too much emphasis on the dangers of animal proteins and uses statistics as a background for his hypothesis. Even Dr. Campbell himself admits that not necessarily 100% plant foods are better than 95% vegetarian diet. In addition, there are conflicting studies. For example, the French eat a lot of animal foods, including those with saturated fats, but have a low rate of cardiovascular disease.

Carbohydrates are a brain killer

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Book: The grain brain by David Perlmutter.

Thesis
Carbohydrates, or rather grains, destroy our brain. So says the neurologist, nutritionist David Perlmutter. It's all about gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley and products made from them. Gluten provokes memory problems, insomnia and is addictive. But Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be avoided. If you abandon cereals and enrich the diet with more fatty foods. nine0003

Antithesis
Firstly, this idea is contrary to the system of plant nutrition. The Forks & Knives website has a separate page with a bunch of links proving the Perlmutter and Davis theories (about wheat and belly fat) wrong.

Second, the arguments for a low-carbohydrate diet are not convincing. Although there are studies that allow a link between obesity and Alzheimer's disease. But they do not prove that obesity is the cause of this disease. Critics are convinced that there is no connection between gluten and cognitive impairment. In addition, the book presents as proven fact a preliminary study that examined the link between Herter's disease and gluten. nine0003

However, the beauty of Perlmutter's work is that it showed how many buns we eat. Grains are often the basis of our diet. By reducing them and favoring vegetables, we can make our diet healthier.

Total

As you can see, many of the theories presented in popular books about healthy eating are unsteady and contradictory. This does not mean that they do not work (for specific people in a specific period of life). Also, all the authors are right at least that in order to switch to a healthy diet, you need to radically review your diet and study your body, and not just eat a vegetable salad a couple of times a week. nine0003

But there is no miracle diet in the world that would burn fat, cure diseases and turn back time. Just as there are no absolutely harmful and absolutely useful products. Just as there was not and will not be a "golden time" when everyone would eat right and be healthy.

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