The Foundation of All Diets
Do you get tired of hearing about this or that kind of diet? Have you ever been on a diet and felt so deprived but didn’t know any other way to lose weight, have more energy, etc.? Does it confuse you as to how much protein, fat, and carbohydrates you should eat every day?
It really does not have to be complicated. There are a few key areas to focus on to make your diet a lifestyle not a prison for you.
I love this great advice from Michael Pollan, “Eat plants. Mostly green. Not too much.” It truly is that simple. No food nourishes the body in more ways than plants (fruits and vegetables). Remember your mom always telling you to “eat your vegetables?” Well, she knew what she was talking about!
Fruits and veggies contain phytonutrients, enzymes, antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, are nutrient-dense, mainly water, are living foods, unprocessed, non-cancer causing protein and are easy to digest. They really are the perfect food for our bodies and so many of us aren’t getting enough of these powerhouse foods every day.
So, how much produce do we really need each day to be our healthiest? Adults need 7-9 cups of vegetables a day which breaks down to 2-3 cups per meal, cooked or raw, based on how your digestion is (many can’t digest raw veggies well so we can then do cooked veggies until digestion improves), and they can be blended, raw or frozen. On the fruit side of things, adults need 1-4 cups of fruit a day which breaks down to 1-2 cups per serving. If you want to lose weight, you would have less fruit and more if you want to gain weight.
As far as good fats like olives, avocado, raw seeds and raw nuts, and coconut or olive oil, you want 1-3 tablespoons per meal, depending on caloric requirements. Some unhealthy fats are excessive red meat, processed meat, fried fat, and oxidized oils.
To round this out, you want to have lean protein (paleo or vegan) at every meal. Aim for about 100 grams of protein a day, possibly more if you are an athlete.
The Standard American Diet (a.k.a. known as SAD which seems quite appropriate) does not contain these simple, yet powerful, steps to eating well. When you work with me, you will learn what type of fruits and veggies, fats, and protein are best along with the amount you need each day to lose, maintain or gain weight.
You will notice that fast food, boxed or packaged foods, soda, alcohol, and junk food are not on the lifestyle diet list. I teach people to change their habits and choose healthy, unprocessed foods to fuel their body. Making better food choices really is a mindset shift and being thankful for learning how to choose healthier options. If you go into this lifestyle change with a deprivation attitude instead of an abundance attitude, you will more than likely not succeed.
When my husband and I started to make dietary changes over 24 years ago, when I had to cut gluten out of my diet, I really missed having bread, pasta, pizza, etc. But, as I learned more about the benefits of eating better and felt the changes in my body, I was very thankful to have the knowledge to do better. My digestion had gotten so bad that when my hubby (at that time he was my boyfriend and then fiance) and I would go to dinner, we would have to rush home afterward to my apartment because about a half hour after we finished eating at a restaurant, I would get sharp, shooting pains in my stomach. I would then spend the rest of the evening in the bathroom. It was embarrassing, really painful and uncomfortable.
I was eating inflammatory foods all the time and ruining my gut. If you would like to know what foods are stressing your system, please check out the bioenergetic testing here.
This will be a life-long journey for you and will take time and patience. But, I know you can do it and will feel so much better.
To your health!
Jen
The information presented on this blog is not intended to take the place of your personal physician’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. It is for informational purposes only.
