A little about me - and how I've stayed healthy into my fifties
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My passion for healthy eating began over four decades ago when I noticed my first teenage blemish - yes, my significant life change was as shallow as that. I stopped eating junk food and ate mostly nuts, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and fish. After a while, not only was I feeling great, but I was loving what I was eating - and my skin was glowing!
When I had children, I was horrified at the fake food they were exposed to and set out to find healthier versions. This task was challenging, as they were being bombarded with commercials enticing them to eat a variety of sugar, salt, and trans-fat-laden "fun" food. Ugh! The other hindrance was the deluge of information from numerous "experts" who seldom agreed with each other. I made some errors, like pushing processed soy dogs on my poor kids, but I'm happy to say that REAL food prevailed, and we ditched the dogs! |
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Although eating healthy food became comfortable, I must confess, there were times when I wasn't as strong-willed when it came to turning down that extra glass of wine. Thankfully, I realized the harm this was doing to my body (and my reputation) and was able to stop this tendency. I still enjoy wine, but I like to keep it to a single glass.
Now into my fifties, I believe those dietary changes are the reason I don't have the health issues I see around me. Apart from the odd menopausal hot flash or two, I'm feeling great.
So what can you do to improve your eating habits: should you be vegan; is Keto calling, or is Paleo the way to go? Well, the answer is there is no definitive answer! Diet (as in what we eat - not a temporary fix) isn't a "one size fits all" science: what works for one person, can leave someone else feeling ghastly.
The key is to eat what you enjoy - in it's healthiest form. When deciding what to eat, think "real" and "whole." Eat a piece of fruit instead of drinking fruit juice (which is missing essential fiber) and look for 100% whole grains when eating bread or pasta. Egg yolks contain many nutrients (including hard to find vitamin D), so you'll be missing out on this if you only eat the egg white.
If you enjoy dairy (and it agrees with you), the latest studies show that whole milk may actually be better for you than the skimmed down versions. And organic milk really is better for you than conventional milk: among other things, it has significantly more omega 3's (which makes for a healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.) I'd also encourage you to look for pasture-raised, grass-fed, and/or humanely-raised labels whenever possible. However, if for health or ethical reasons, milk is off your menu, you can get your daily dose of calcium from other whole foods like almonds, chia seeds, white beans, and kale.
All vegetables are good for you, so eat the ones you like and don't worry about what's a "superfood" right now - it's going to be a different one tomorrow! If you're avoiding gluten, there are numerous naturally gluten-free products to choose from without resorting to highly processed, less healthy packaged goods. Real food like fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, poultry, and seafood don't contain gluten. And if you aren't sensitive to gluten, you may want to ask yourself why you've banished it from your diet: 100% whole grain products can be very nutritious, and studies have shown that some gluten-free alternatives are less healthy than their regular versions. I had a good friend who was convinced that the words "gluten-free" were synonymous with healthy - and folks, that just ain't so!
And if you're looking for just one piece of advice? That would be to stay away from foods that have sugar added to them: Making this change is probably the only common thread running through all successful diets.
I wish you luck on your journey to better health and happiness, and please contact me with any questions or comments you may have. Also, don't forget to check out my book "Forget the Fad and Eat the Food," which is a quick and easy read. You can take a peep at it here.
Now into my fifties, I believe those dietary changes are the reason I don't have the health issues I see around me. Apart from the odd menopausal hot flash or two, I'm feeling great.
So what can you do to improve your eating habits: should you be vegan; is Keto calling, or is Paleo the way to go? Well, the answer is there is no definitive answer! Diet (as in what we eat - not a temporary fix) isn't a "one size fits all" science: what works for one person, can leave someone else feeling ghastly.
The key is to eat what you enjoy - in it's healthiest form. When deciding what to eat, think "real" and "whole." Eat a piece of fruit instead of drinking fruit juice (which is missing essential fiber) and look for 100% whole grains when eating bread or pasta. Egg yolks contain many nutrients (including hard to find vitamin D), so you'll be missing out on this if you only eat the egg white.
If you enjoy dairy (and it agrees with you), the latest studies show that whole milk may actually be better for you than the skimmed down versions. And organic milk really is better for you than conventional milk: among other things, it has significantly more omega 3's (which makes for a healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.) I'd also encourage you to look for pasture-raised, grass-fed, and/or humanely-raised labels whenever possible. However, if for health or ethical reasons, milk is off your menu, you can get your daily dose of calcium from other whole foods like almonds, chia seeds, white beans, and kale.
All vegetables are good for you, so eat the ones you like and don't worry about what's a "superfood" right now - it's going to be a different one tomorrow! If you're avoiding gluten, there are numerous naturally gluten-free products to choose from without resorting to highly processed, less healthy packaged goods. Real food like fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, poultry, and seafood don't contain gluten. And if you aren't sensitive to gluten, you may want to ask yourself why you've banished it from your diet: 100% whole grain products can be very nutritious, and studies have shown that some gluten-free alternatives are less healthy than their regular versions. I had a good friend who was convinced that the words "gluten-free" were synonymous with healthy - and folks, that just ain't so!
And if you're looking for just one piece of advice? That would be to stay away from foods that have sugar added to them: Making this change is probably the only common thread running through all successful diets.
I wish you luck on your journey to better health and happiness, and please contact me with any questions or comments you may have. Also, don't forget to check out my book "Forget the Fad and Eat the Food," which is a quick and easy read. You can take a peep at it here.
"Learn to love the food that will love you back!"