Choosing the diet that is right for you.
- Marcia Howard
- Feb 9, 2018
- 3 min read
Introduction
As a practitioner, I have never been one for counting calories as it is tedious and sucks the joy out of a night out but I have opted for wise food choices inclusive of eating more whole and plant based foods, which by the way, is yet another dietary plan. Personally, I am a flexitarian, meaning I follow more than one eating plan at a time, for example I practice the Mediterranean diet, vegetarian days, as well as, intermittent fasting. There is no diet that is one size fit all and nutrition is still individualistic by nature.
One of the hardest, or rather, most difficult things I have encountered as a natural health therapist, is trying to convince an individual, that there is need for dietary change outside of obvious health issues and even when there are, clients find themselves in comfort zones where food is concerned. Everything is being tampered with, from our livestock to our vegetables and people are scared as they make the link between the foods they eat and the diseases they have encountered and sometimes, in a rush to do the noble thing in saving the environment, they embark on a journey of diet change, unprepared. Let’s be real, the foremost reason these diets even exist is because we no longer eat unadulterated food and our health is being threatened as a result.
Choose your diet wisely
My aim is to educate, as many as possible, in the hope of them making informed decisions as to which diet plan is best for them. The world of food has become complicated over the last 20 years and I can understand why there is so much confusion as to which diet should be embraced and what should be ignored. However, studies continue to emerge, citing several reasons why we must change the what we eat and the way we eat. Some diets may be for a reason and there are those that will engage you for a season but there are none that will be exactly your fit, unless a diet change is needed to correct a situation or ailment. Whatever you choose as your eating plan, should be based on sound and guided advice, as against. ad hoc advice obtained from social media.
One of the hardest, or rather, most difficult things I have encountered as a natural health therapist, is trying to convince an individual, that there is need for dietary change outside of obvious health issues and even when there are, clients find themselves in comfort zones where food is concerned. Everything is being tampered with, from our livestock to our vegetables and people are becoming cautious as they make the link between the foods they eat and the diseases they have encountered and sometimes, in a rush to do the noble thing in saving the environment, they embark on a journey of diet change, unprepared. Let’s be real, the foremost reason these diets even exist is because our health is being threatened and many are looking for answers to save themselves from disease.
According to Medical News Today, among the thousands of diets that are available, there are nine that are most popular which perhaps you have subscribed to at some point in time. The Atkins diet, the Mediterranean diet, Vegetarian diet ( there are several variations to this diet), the Vegan and Raw food diets, Ketogenic diet, Zone diet, Weight Watchers and South Beach diet are some of the more popular choices. Hollywood has also influenced some of the diets we choose. After all, there is a diet bearing its name, which has more to do with calorie restriction than wholesome eating, and with many stars opting to choose vegetarian and vegan diets to keep their bodies stealth for the next big role they play.
In conclusion………..
Should a shallow industry, such as this, influence our eating habits and essentially our nutritional intake? Are some of these diets or fads, in some instances, sustainable eating changes? Are there benefits to changing the way we eat and what are they? Sorry for the pun but this should be food for thought. You may have noticed by now that I have not mentioned the words overweight nor obesity or the likes of non-communicable diseases and that is for good reason. I teach my clients about food in terms of nutrients, with the hope that these issues would become a thing of the past although these are often the primary reasons they seek me out.With all the information currently in the public domain, the question is how do you choose which diet is best for you? You may say this is all very basic but it also serves as a great reminder the next time you sit to a feast at your table.
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