There is no diet that exists that is perfect for everyone. Some health trends work great for weight loss or blood sugar, but don’t hold up in longevity research, cancer prevention, or brain health. The science evolves constantly and, as we often say, today’s dogma is tomorrow’s dog you-know-what!
Here are rules of thumb that have stood the test of time and are clearly supported by evidence and our decades of experience.
Health Trends That Will Actually Help Your Body
- Aim for at least half your plate to be a variety of colorful & green organic veggies
- Commit to at least one vegetarian day per week
- Add legumes, at least 1 serving per day, to your meal because they are associated with longevity. However, avoid or consider sprouted legumes if you notice difficulty tolerating or digesting those; people with autoimmune, breast or thyroid issues should avoid or minimize soy.
- Eat organic for at least the dirty dozen fruits and veggies
- Eat organic, grass-fed meats, eggs, and pasture-raised chickens (corn fed chicken is highly inflammatory & obesity provoking)
- Consume healthy fats liberally – healthy fats include organic nuts and seeds, unsweetened nut butters, avocado/oil, Extra virgin olive oil, grass-fed butter/ghee, and coconut oil
Food you should avoid…
- Minimize dairy if at risk for any inflammation or autoimmune issues, allergy/asthma, or breast/prostate cancer
- Avoid farmed fish (which contain very high levels of agricultural chemicals) and aim for smaller wild-caught fish
- Eat fish lowest in mercury, like salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring (check this site in order to see which are healthiest).
- Avoid sugars, processed foods, meats, and vegetable oils (they can be full of glyphosate, which is in Round-Up weed killer)
- Minimize cereal grains
Remember, there’s no one-size fits all diet.
Make sure to get your nutritional advice from someone well-trained in nutrition and supplement advice (such as our own nutritionist Bonnie Roill) or someone with advanced training in physiology, pharmacology and biochemistry. Always remember that supplements are in fact drugs that have potential risks and interactions.
To sum it up? Here are words we like to live by when it comes to diet - this awesome advice from Michael Pollan: “Eat real food, not too much, mostly plants”.
