Eat To Live!
What others are reading:
There seems to be a trend creeping across America – and the blog world is no exception – towards alternative styles of eating. “Diets,” if you will. Rather than cutting out carbs or fat like folks did in the last millennium, diets these days are a little more sophisticated. Trends of veganism and vegetarianism are in full force, raw foodists are gaining popularity, some are cutting out whole grains and others have banished any form of sugar from their kitchens. Sure, these diets are very healthy, and many follow them for moral reasons or personal digestive tract solutions. Everyone has a right to eat whatever and however they want, and I’m not here to criticize any of these diets.
But to those of you who feel a little confused by all of the trends: relax! You don’t have to be so restrictive to live a healthy life. There seems to be a fear sweeping the healthy crowd that if we don’t eat 100% nutrient dense nutritious foods all of the time, that we will not be healthy. Our hair and nails won’t be as strong. Our arteries will suddenly clog. We won’t glow.
But our bodies are not going to deteriorate if every single food we put in our mouths isn’t super healthy. If you eat a donut or French fries or a Coca-Cola, you are not going to do destroy your body. High fat and sugary foods are often treated as single-dose poison, but is the cumulative effect of the high-fat, high-sugar foods that is harmful, especially in combination with lack of exercise and an overall unhealthy diet lacking in fresh produce.
What used to be normal food – meat, dairy, whole grains, fruit, and cooked food for that matter – is now viewed as “bad” as people shun entire food groups. Human beings have been eating all kinds of foods for eons, and those who stay active and eat real food in proper proportions are living longer than humans ever have. Despite the obesity crisis, life expectancy in this millennium is double what it was just a few decades ago. There are plenty of centenarians who eat meat, drink wine, and enjoy dessert on a regular basis.
I personally believe that our species would not be here if we hadn’t been able to eat the variety of foods that we do – including dairy products and animal meat. Our ancestors who traveled from sunny Africa to Europe would have died out without vitamin D supplementation from diary, and they evolved to digest it. Vitamin B12 is only naturally present in animal products and we require it to live. But an argument for the consumption of animals is another loaded article, and clearly there are many factors other than nutrition affecting the choice to not eat meat.
Rather than focusing on what you shouldn’t eat, I proclaim that we focus on what we should be eating. The book SuperFoods, Health Style was life changing for me as I read study after study of the benefits of the world’s superfoods, which hail from all food groups, are raw and cooked, and come from plants and animals.
What’s so great about yogurt? Probiotics, calcium, a great source of digestible complete protein.
Why should we all enjoy daily blueberries? For their antioxidant phytonutrients and protection against degenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Why should we all be eating [preferably organic] turkey? Lean protein coupled with niacin, selenium, vitamins B6 and B12, and zinc.
I think wild salmon can speak for itself 
These foods all have been shown to make us healthier, and a diet without them would be a missed opportunity. Make your daily goal simply to enjoy as many superfoods as possible, and maybe even a slice of layer cake if you so desire. Good nutrition nourishes the heart and the soul.
I loved this article! That book really changed how I eat too and I try to include superfoods as often as possible
I totally agree with this article! I have read Superfoods Rx and cannot wait to get my hands on Superfoods, Health Style! I can always tell the difference in how I feel based on what I put in my body, so I try to eat foods packed full of heathy nutrients. However, I would never be able to survive if I didn’t include a few guilty pleasures in moderation every now and then!
Great Article, Kath!
I’ve only recently stumbled upon your blog and love your open and fresh perspective on things. I LOVE this article and couldn’t agree more!
GREAT ARTICLE Kath.
This comes at an AMAZING time for me, because though my primary goal right now is weight loss (thanks to vanity for motivation
) I strive to be healthier and I was toying with the idea of giving up sugar(including honey etc)and coffee. But thanks to bloggers like you and other people who’s eating styles I admire (a particular weight watcher leader I had for example) I see that I’m personally better off with moderation instead of cutting things out completely.
Everyone has to decide for themselves. I love vegan dishes and fresh raw veggies and nuts, but I also LOVE eating a beautifully roasted free range chicken, fresh sashimi, organic fresh roasted coffee, whole wheat pancakes with honey and almond butter.
I know there are plenty of people who happily restrict, and I don’t want to come off smug as being an omnivore, but I think it’s what’s right for me.
Thanks for the great post!
xoxo
Great article! As you suggested, balance is key!
Kath–Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for writing this article! It is always refreshing to hear someone say that it is OK to eat meat, whole grains, fruit, cooked food, etc and that you’re not “unhealthy” for doing so. I have a friend who recently went back to eating meat after being a vegetarian for ~15 years, and she has told me how much healthier she feels now that she is eating meat again–this isn’t a perspective that often gets heard. I think that eliminating whole food groups may work for some people, but you don’t necessarily need to do so to be healthy.
Very well written article, Kath. Meat or no meat in the diet, the most important thing is to eat chemical-free food.
Best, and keep the posts coming.
I loved this, Kath! It’s very hard not to compare my eats to others (in the blog world), but like you, I am from the school of “a little of this or that won’t kill you.” Great food is here for us to ENJOY, right? Of course I love my healthy food, but we shouldn’t feel guilty if we want a slice of cake at a wedding or for the fact that I eat 2-3 servings of yogurt a day.
I think it is important to note with this article that many people have digestive disorders and they should definitely take that into account when thinking about their diet. It probably is not a good idea for them to eat some of the foods suggested as okay.
Its important to think about what works for you and if something makes you feel sick then don’t eat it.
for me a slice of cake would make me feel so sick that its just not worth it.
Fantastic Article. You raise some really good points. What works for one person may not work for another, and it’s always important to eat in balance (right proportion of carbs/pro/fat), in moderation (fries & coke are ok sometimes as you mention), and variety (lots of different foods have various nutrients like you mention!).
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed this article! This is pretty much the philosophy I follow. I have an about 90% “healthy” diet the other 10% I enjoy thoroughly and move on…no stress.
What a well-written and timely article! Thanks, Kath. I’m always grateful for the sense of balance you bring to the food blog world. I enjoy seeing the variety of food styles out there, and they help me stay on track, but it can be discouraging to see people who seem so PERFECT. I think it’s important to remember, like you said, that it’s the cumulative effect of poor eating, rather than a ‘one-strike, you’re out’ deal.
I am thankful that you wrote this article and reaffirmed for many of us that it’s OK to have a non-vegetarian, cooked diet. I frequently hear about all the other diets that you mentioned (I support everyone’s choice to their own choice of diet) but it’s nice to see – I’m one of your loyal blog readers-and hear that nutritionists still advocate a healthy, super food rich, and COMPLETE diet.
Hey Kath!
I loved this article and found it really refreshing. Sometimes I do find all the restrictions suffocating (this coming from a vegetarian), but really do think that moderation and your squiggly-line effect is the way to go, for sure!
Thanks for a healthy and inspiring outlook.
Great article Kath! I love your writing style and I think you have such a level headed and logical view on things. Enjoying one’s favorite foods from time to time, in moderation, is so important for one’s pleasure and sanity. Moderation is key…
I COMPLETELY agree – I lost 115 pounds using moderation as my number one side kick. It’s refreshing to hear someone support the idea.
If we do not allow room for the things we love to eat, and for ALL the food groups, we have no shot of living a healthy, happy life with a well-functioning mind.
Great article Kath! I’ve been wondering what your stance is on all the diet extremes that have been popping up on the blogs, and it’s so nice to see you retain your balanced approach to eating and LIVING. Keep up the good work
Great article!! I totally agree….as a Registered Dietitian, I see the damage that “diets” and especially the “dieting mindset” can cause.
Great balanced approach!!
Great article! I hope you don’t mind that I referred to it over on my blog!! http://melandluc.blogspot.com/ I’m new to all the natural eating, and am having a GREAT time with it!! Thanks for the advice you always give!