Is There One Eating Plan For All Dietary Paradigms? Yes!

In the past many headlines and talking heads in the media have been screaming the latest news:

• We are in the midst of an obesity epidemic
• By 2030 42% of the U.S. population will be obese
• There will soon be more morbidly obese people, than those simply obese
• Health care costs related to obesity are soaring

What does it all mean? Okay, I think that answer is obvious — we have a problem, a very serious health problem.  So, what will people do?  They will look for a diet solution to drop pounds and either get themselves off of the obesity train, or stop themselves from ever getting onboard.  Unfortunately my friends, this becomes a contributing factor to the obesity problem.

When discussing our health, the priority is to define the word diet.  I am sure any dictionary will give you plenty of definitions. I will give you mine:

Diet:  Whatever a person shoves into their mouth and swallows into their stomach.

You can have a good diet.

You can have a bad diet.

I guess you can even have no diet.

A diet is not something you go on or off.  A diet is a way of life, and right now many are consuming a diet that is fueling the ever expanding obesity epidemic.

When I decided to take control and be responsible for my health and wellness, I chose a low carbohydrate diet.  I chose this option because my father was a Type II diabetic, as was my maternal grandmother.  Considering the way I was destroying my health, I was sure I was going to be a prime candidate for sticking the insulin needle into my body each day.  So, I used my knowledge of physiology to choose this particular diet plan. I utilized some of the low carbohydrate, pre-packaged products, going so far as to recommend them in the first edition of my book.

However, as I progressed over the last several years, I began steering clear of pre-packaged foods all together.  I started eating foods from only natural sources.  I later discovered that there was a name for this type of diet; actually several:

• Paleolithic
• Primal
• Caveman

There are communities all over the internet devoted to this type of diet, all proclaiming that this is the diet for good health — with which I agree.  After taking some time to think about it, I realized in the world of different diets for health, this model can work for every diet out there.  Just take a moment to think about it.

If you choose a low fat diet: eat lean grass-fed meats, poultry, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, all from good natural sources. Stay away from fattier meats and cage raised chicken eggs.

If you choose a low carbohydrate approach: eat any meats, eggs, vegetables and certain fruits, again all from natural sources.

If you choose calorie or portion control: the above applies as well.

If you are a vegetarian:  eliminate animal products and eat locally grown or organic produce.

Perhaps, when it comes to your own diet for health, instead of worrying about labels — you should simply be — Naturally Savvy.

 

Life is lived in color, but sometimes the answers remain black and white.  

 

Aloha, Ciao and Stay Healthy,

 

Joe