Finding the Best Diet For You

Monday, July 13, 2015

Andrew Hill, GoLocalProv Contributor

 

View Larger +

One of the most common questions people ask their medical practitioners, especially those of us on the alternative side, is, “Whatʼs the best diet for me as an individual?”

Itʼs easy to tell why they might be confused. In the last several years, there has been a greater emphasis on eating foods that fall under very strict restrictions with the idea of minimizing negative food reactions: Vegetarianism, Veganism, Paleo, Atkins, Gluten-free.

Itʼs no wonder people are bewildered.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Well, Iʼm sorry to say that I donʼt have those answers for you. What I can offer is a different way of looking at food and how it interacts with your body.

By incorporating a few simple ideas into how you think of food, you will have tools available to help you determine which foods should become staples, which foods to avoid, and which foods you can indulge in, but only every once in a while. 

Avoiding Additives 

One thing that I will say to avoid universally is anything that was not considered a food prior to 1945. When I say this, Iʼm not talking about foods that didnʼt reach the US until after that point, or combinations of ingredients with a more recent pedigree.

Iʼm referring to foods, additives, preservatives, and other edible compounds that literally had never been consumed by any living creature on earth prior to that time because they didnʼt exist.

There were a number of creations that came pouring out of the factories of chemical and pharmaceutical companies following World War II that found their way into the food supply. Artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives were discovered that have since become ubiquitous, but which our bodies had not ever processed before.

Adapting to a new factor in the environment often takes several generations and in the past four generations, humanity has seen literally millions of them arrive. These items wonʼt have an immediate effect, but if they become a regular part of the diet, they can start to build up in your system (which has no use for them, but doesnʼt always flush them out) and create greater health problems or exacerbate existing ones over time. 

The second step is to keep a food journal. This isnʼt terribly uncommon advice when it comes to dieting as most people generally donʼt think about all the things they consume during the day.

The difference in what Iʼm advising is that three to four hours after you eat, write down how you feel. Good, bad, bloated, tired, energized, clear-headed?

Write it down.

The reason you want to wait a few hours is because our digestive system takes time. Specifically, it takes time to break down foods that are complex, full of nutrients, and which havenʼt been overly processed.

Some simple and quickly absorbed foods are fine - things like soups and broths for example. But if you eat a hamburger that breaks down fast enough to make you feel energized in fifteen minutes and hungry again two hours later, that is not a good thing if you arenʼt burning through those nutrients through physical exertion. 

Fast Food is Never a Smart Choice 

View Larger +

Let me put it another way: Fast food especially, but anything that you can get prepared really, is basically pre-digested. Thatʼs what processing means. The food has been broken down to make it easier to absorb. Thatʼs part of how juicing works.

The problem is that our digestive system works best when it has to break things down. If that work is done for it, some things that shouldnʼt be absorbed are, and other things that are supposed to be released slowly hit the body in a flash. 

Hereʼs another way to think about how food should make you feel. A good meal should feel like waking up after a good nightʼs sleep. You should feel energized, but calm and collected, like you're ready to go all day but at your own pace.

Overly processed and artificial foods will make you feel more like youʼve just slammed a triple-espresso after three hours of sleep. Technically you have energy, but itʼs the jumpy, nervous kind that leaves you exhausted three hours later. 

View Larger +

Andrew Hill has been practicing acupuncture and massage therapy as a private practitioner since 2009. Before that, he was involved in technology, theater, and a whole slew of other professions, learning first hand a wide variety of on-the-job injuries. Visit him online at cavemanmedicine.net.

Homepage Photo Credit: natasia.causse via Compfight cc

 

Related Articles

 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook