Real. Whole. Simple.
Over the years a variety of diets have been marketed. Where some recommend lower fat intakes, others encourage it. If one insists on reducing carbohydrates you will easily find one that says they are not the culprit. How did bacon suddenly make it to the OK list? Is sugar the new “enemy”? What should you follow?
We need to do three things to begin with. First, reset the definition of the word diet. Currently, the word is associated with missing yummy food and following a list of strict requirements. This attitude needs to change. Diet, by definition is the food you eat and not about deprivation. Second, understand that maintaining a wholesome lifestyle isn’t about living longer but giving your best shot at living a healthy and independent life. Any added years are the bonus, not the goal. This means that we need to rethink the philosophy of just enjoying whatever time you have on Earth rather than paying attention to your health or lifestyle. And third, pay attention to the sustainability of the lifestyle you are setting up for yourself. If your steps and goals are not realistic, then the chances of you following through reduce drastically.
About the diets. There is no doubt that science has established, through extensive research, the broad concepts we should follow to establish and maintain health. A diet rich in whole foods, full of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes, is our best bet. We describe this as Real. Whole. Simple. A variety of Real food eaten as close to its Whole state as possible (not refined or highly processed) cooked or put together in a Simple manner. And if you look closely, you will notice that these concepts are a common factor between diets that have been associated with weight loss and other health indicators. DASH, paleo, gluten free, vegan, Mediterranean, Atkins, Weight Watchers, Blood group or pH diets – all of these recommend a variety of whole foods while reducing packaged and refined ones.
When we pull away from this big picture and focus on individual nutrients, we start to get confused. Are we getting enough Omega 3s? How about B vitamins? Is saturated fat good or bad? New research will keep working on these details and that is a good thing. These answers are important for people with specific health needs. But in general, the best thing you can do is remember Real. Whole. Simple.
Everything in moderation is the recent mantra, which actually is pretty vague. So instead, think about the 90-10 guideline. As long as you eat Real Whole and Simple for 90% of the time, don’t focus on the other 10%. Simply put, your health is affected more by the things you do the majority of the time and less by what you do during the rest. If you remember this, there is no need to worry about “cheating on a diet” because it now doesn’t enter the equation.
So to wrap up, remember that the common factors amongst all the diets that have been shown to establish and maintain health are Real. Whole. Simple. Stop thinking about diets as deprivation and keep in mind that your health is more affected by what you do the majority of your time.
If you have any questions just let us know.