Looking for the Best Diet in the World to Get Healthy? Start Here
Navigating the complex world of nutrition can often feel like an intricate dance of choices and recommendations, each step tailored to the unique rhythm of our individual bodies. While the basic tenets of nutrition apply broadly, the subtleties of how we respond to different foods can turn the act of eating into a highly personalized experience.
It's not just about the macro- and micronutrients; our food choices are also deeply intertwined with our values and beliefs.
For some, the priority may lie in the organic nature of their food, for others, ethical considerations such as animal welfare take precedence, and yet for others, supporting local farmers is key.
Fine Tuning Your Nutritional Needs
Everybody is different and while we all have similar nutrition needs, it’s the fine-tuning that can be the difference between a diet that works for you and one that doesn’t. It’s also important to realize that food decisions are not just about our body’s needs.
Does the food we put into our mouths follow our belief system?
For example, for some eating only organic products is the most important, for others it’s fair treatment of animals, for others it’s important to buy local.
Listen to your Body and Mind
My best advice is #1 listen to your body and mind, is it telling you that your diet isn’t working? If it is not, #2 seek professional advice from a practitioner that you identify with. Is it someone with a holistic lens, someone who can focus on the emotional part of eating, someone who specializes in food addiction?
Do you have a condition that requires a registered dietitian? Some of us can follow our gut (pun intended) while others need a more medicalized approach.
Knowing what bucket you fall into is important. Then it’s all about informing yourself with the facts, listening to your body for what feels right, and asking for support when you need it. You don’t have to do it alone.
The Intricate Link Between Food and Health
I am most excited about the science pertaining to our gut microbiome. I feel like we discovered life on another planet and basically, we did.
There are organisms that live in our bodies that contribute more DNA than we do, that have a powerful influence on our health and yet we know very little about them. It has been established that microbes are essential in reducing the risk of chronic disease.
In the future, I see a new specialty in which various strains of microbes are prescribed for various diseases and conditions as well as to improve one’s response to treatment. Plus, I see the makeup of our microbiome as being able to predict which diseases we are headed towards before they occur.
Got Fiber?
In the meantime, the most important piece of dietary advice I can give is to make sure you are getting enough fiber in your diet (25 grams for women and 38 grams for men) and lots of colorful fruits and vegetables.
The majority of us get nowhere near that amount of fiber — with American adults only consuming 10 to 15 grams a day.
Make sure you are also consuming fermented food and eat foods that nourish the microbiome like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, and seaweed.
The Medicinal Properties of Food
I say it’s time to stop telling people what they can and cannot eat and show them how to prepare delicious meals within their budget. It’s time to let their tastebuds lead the way to healthy eating.
Education, in my opinion, has to turn towards culinary skill-building.
Period.
The only way to change the world through healthy delicious food is to do it together.
With a spoon and a smile.
Dr Deb
Curious to learn more? Read the full interview in Authority Magazine.
