Food Nutrition is SO Confusing!

ar1356

I am so far past the point of frustration when it comes to nutrition and diets, the right and wrong food, etc.

I beleive that low carb works but nutritionist state that we should never cut out a food group. They state low-fat is bad, and then arguements state low-fat works. Don't use sugar and then don't usa artifical sweetners. Fruits are good and fruits are BAD because of the high sugar content, which DOES matter. More protien, less protein. Some state that as long as you stay under certain numbers for calories, carbs, no matter what you eat you will lose. It goes on and on and on.

Does anyone have the right answer??

jbucci1186

from my own experience, it REALLY depends on how your body works. try different things, and see what happens. i do what i WANT to do first, and if that works great, if it doesn't change it. it's annoying, but eventually the frustration will lessen as you figure out what works best for YOU.

Riebop

Everyone's body is different. There is no one right answer. I tried low-carb once and got migraines from it, but that's not to say that it wouldn't work for someone else. Stick to healthy fats, whole grains, and lean protein. Get your fruits and veggies. Just play with it and find what works for you.

hpsnickers1

People who are lactose intolerant have to cut out a food group. People who are grain-intolerant have to cut out a food group. There is no logic in saying 'never cut out a food group' but it's okay if you can't digest it. So I don't believe it for a second.

I cut out 2 food groups (along with sugar and legumes and I eat very little fruit - usually low sugar berries) back in the end of April and I try to eat as clean and natural as possible - I eat lots of meat, fish, veggies and healthy fats - mostly fats and I don't have to count calories and I don't have to eat 6 times a day and don't have to do a lot of exercise. My gut is healing; my IBS is gone; my hiatal hernia is gone; my body is absorbing nutrients again; my anxiety is gone and I feel calmer; I sleep better. I dropped 7lbs of body fat in 6 weeks (and this was at a healthy weight - 5'2" and 120lbs). I had the slightest symptons of carb 'withdrawl' for a few weeks, just a little light-headedness here and there (I was moderate carb before making the change). Yes you suffer withdrawl symptoms when you go low carb because they affect the same receptors in the brain as heroin, cocaine, opium. (headaches, lack of energy, brainfog, light-headedness). What you don't suffer is constant hunger.

I went completely and totally against what we know as the "conventional wisdom". And it was the best thing I have ever done for my body, mind and health. This worked for me.

You just have to do the necessary research (and there's a lot of contradictory information out there) and decide for yourself. You can't rely on what the government tells us (to them our diet is about money and politics), doctors (majority of the doctors today just treat the symptom, they don't heal), scientists (they seem to already have specific beliefs and will twist and ignore data to help support their beliefs).

Just my thoughts. Not everyone feels like this.

I don't completely 100% believe in calories in/calories out. I don't believe a calorie is a calorie. It's just too simple when how the body process the nutrients we ingest is so complex.

Huskeryogi

Agreed - it is REALLY confusing. After several failed diets, I have settled on one conclusion. There are many ways to get there but you have to do the one that is sustainable for YOU.

I have decided I think Paleo makes the most sense biologically, but I'm not willing to completely give up anything. I have cut down my bread intake, but I haven't given it up completely. I think fruit is absolutely healthy. If you think from an evolutionary standpoint the earliest humans would have been fruit and nut eaters before anything else because meat required fire and vegetables and grain require agriculture. I've also firmly embraced Intermittent Fasting which according to most people will bring on the dreaded "Starvation Mode". I've lost 11 lbs in 5 weeks.

But like I said these are MY personal conclusions after reading a lot of conflicting information. This is just what makes sense to my brain.

eveunderground

My opinion is that if you focus on eating real whole unprocessed food (i.e. comes straight from a tree, or the ground, or a farm, or however it is found in nature) then you can't really go wrong...that's the best source for getting maximum nutrition, and eating that stuff will generally lead to weight loss. Beyond that, the only other reason to cut out foods that fall into this category would be if you have a sensitivity or intolerance, but that's really an individual thing.

Garrett1234

Agreed about confusing, and I think previous posters are right about everyone being different and there not being ONE right answer. Try different things and see what works best. For me it's a matter of eating a little less (fewer calories), eating less red
meat (I watch my cholesterol) and eating more fruits and vegetables. I guess you could say I loosely follow the Zone diet. And
I exercise when I can.