The Perfect Diet
With so many dietary theories out there from Atkins to Vegan to Paleo to the South Beach Diet, it can be very confusing to know which diet is actually the “correct” or “best” one for you. Here’s the secret...there is no “perfect,” one size fits all diet! Each person is different and it’s important not to get swayed by what media is telling you or what the latest fad is.
No matter what your diet preference is, using the below guiding principles will help you move toward the most optimal health!
Recognize Your Bio-Individuality – Each person is unique! A diet that works for you may not work for your friend or family member. For example, there can be variances in the rate in which your body converts the foods you eat into energy or if your digestive system is rejecting a particular type of food. One standard diet will never be right for all people universally. It’s so important to listen to your body, it knows what you should and shouldn’t eat.
Eat Real, Whole Foods – Eat as much fresh, real, whole foods as possible. Green vegetables are key, the more, the better. Greens are nutritionally dense with antioxidants, chlorophyll and minerals that are alkalizing and fight disease. To get a good nutrient profile, be sure to have a variety of naturally bright, vibrant colorful vegetables on your plate. Try to eliminate processed foods. If you do have them, eat ones with the least amount of ingredients and only when you know what the ingredients are.
Find Foods In It’s Truest Form – When purchasing all foods, always try to get Organic, Fresh, Local and Non-GMO whenever possible. If purchasing meat or dairy products, get Organic Grass-Fed, or even better Grass Finished food products. For fish and seafood, always opt for wild caught versus farm raised. Be weary of salmon that is labeled as organic because often times that means it is farm raised as well.
Allow Yourself To Cheat Occasionally – While in a perfect world it would be ideal to eat clean and healthy all the time, it’s not realistic or sustainable long term. If you pigeonhole yourself to be expected to eat a certain way or follow a specific diet, there will be a point where you will falter. This can make you closed off to exploring different ways of eating that may possibly be beneficial for you, or it can result in you becoming too hard on yourself in the times you slip. Set the standard of eating clean 85%-95% of the time, allowing for those off times when you choose to have a piece of pizza or cake at a party! The way you eat should become a lifestyle, not an up and down diet.
The human body is extremely intelligent. This is why it is so important to research what foods are best for your digestion, metabolism and performance and ultimately listen to what your body is telling you.