What is the "healthiest diet" to you? and why?
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Having an all-round healthy relationship with food to me is healthy.8
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AlabasterVerve wrote: »Whole, minimally processed foods in just about any combination are healthful. Ultra processed foods are harmful in just about any combination and should be minimized.
How are you defining what an ultra processed food is? And how are they harmful?3 -
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Life would be way too easy if there was a "healthiest diet". It all depends on your goals and whatever you consider to be "healthy".0
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I'm happy with "healthy enough". All food is glorious and deserves to be enjoyed. I eat goldfish crackers daily because they make me happy. Vegetables I love most when fresh. I'm working through a bag of baby Bok Choy right now. Very tasty.
Pursuit of "healthiest" though, can lead to miserable extremes. Why cut out tuna just because you read somewhere that salmon is even better, or prefer apples over a banana, say?6 -
crzycatlady1 wrote: »AlabasterVerve wrote: »Whole, minimally processed foods in just about any combination are healthful. Ultra processed foods are harmful in just about any combination and should be minimized.
How are you defining what an ultra processed food is? And how are they harmful?
The Brazilian food guide did a nice job of defining ultra processed foods and that's the definition I'm using. The more ultra processed foods you eat the fatter and sicker you become (metabolic syndrome and all that entails).
Eat better -> eat less -> feel better -> move more -> healthier life.2 -
cerise_noir wrote: »Having an all-round healthy relationship with food to me is healthy.
^ Absolutely. Both physically and mentally. You can drive yourself crazy (and some have!) obsessing over what's perfect.
As the saying goes, "don't let perfect be the enemy of good".
Or to quote Eric Helms, "Once our nutrient needs are met, we don’t get extra credit for eating more nutritious food!"3 -
singingflutelady wrote: »comptonelizabeth wrote: »I suffer from ulcerative colitis so the diet that keeps me well would probably not be considered healthy! Basically low residue.
I'm low residue too for Crohn's so yup the diet where a salad is the unhealthy choice! Low residue is so hard as everyone gives you the evil eye. It's basically very few super well cooked vegetables (no raw), very few fruits (bananas basically only safe one for me) no seeds, nuts, legumes, whole grains, spices, garlic, red meat, lactose and overly fatty foods. I call it the white diet lol
The beige diet!
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AlabasterVerve wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »AlabasterVerve wrote: »Whole, minimally processed foods in just about any combination are healthful. Ultra processed foods are harmful in just about any combination and should be minimized.
How are you defining what an ultra processed food is? And how are they harmful?
The Brazilian food guide did a nice job of defining ultra processed foods and that's the definition I'm using. The more ultra processed foods you eat the fatter and sicker you become (metabolic syndrome and all that entails).
Eat better -> eat less -> feel better -> move more -> healthier life.
I have no idea what the Brazilian food guide is, off to google!
eta: found it- http://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-based-dietary-guidelines/regions/countries/brazil/en/
4. Avoid consumption of ultra-processed foods
Because of their ingredients, ultra-processed foods such as salty fatty packaged snacks, soft drinks, sweetened breakfast cereals, and instant noodles, are nutritionally unbalanced. As a result of their formulation and presentation, they tend to be consumed in excess, and displace natural or minimally processed foods. Their means of production, distribution, marketing, and consumption damage culture, social life, and the environment.
I disagree with how their labeling foods, and I eat foods from this list every day and am in excellent health-not overweight and not sick. But to each their own
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The best one for me is the one where I burn more than I eat....every day if possible...0
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JustMissTracy wrote: »The best one for me is the one where I burn more than I eat....every day if possible...
Being in a calorie deficit is not healthy for prolonged periods. But in the short term, a calorie deficit could improve peoples health if they are obese/overweight.0 -
trigden1991 wrote: »JustMissTracy wrote: »The best one for me is the one where I burn more than I eat....every day if possible...
Being in a calorie deficit is not healthy for prolonged periods. But in the short term, a calorie deficit could improve peoples health if they are obese/overweight.
Let me rephrase then. While losing weight, the "healthiest diet" I found was the one where I burned more calories than I ate. I'm in maintenance now, and pretty much burn exactly the same number as I eat, on a pretty constant basis.0 -
I would say my understanding of the "healthiest" diet would be: eating a large variety of in-season fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes as the bulk of the diet with fish, meat, or dairy sparingly (1 serving 3-4 times per week), and abundant sources of poly and monounsaturated fats. ALL WHILE meeting their microtnurient needs consistently AND controlling overall calorie balance.
This is just based on the societies which seem to have the longest lives, lowest incidences of cancer and heart disease, etc.
I do not follow this diet as I don't eat meat for ethical reasons and i prefer to eat a diet I can maintain indefinitely. This means I eat according to my calorie goal and micronutrient needs, but do consume many processed, fried, and convenience foods.1 -
JustMissTracy wrote: »trigden1991 wrote: »JustMissTracy wrote: »The best one for me is the one where I burn more than I eat....every day if possible...
Being in a calorie deficit is not healthy for prolonged periods. But in the short term, a calorie deficit could improve peoples health if they are obese/overweight.
Let me rephrase then. While losing weight, the "healthiest diet" I found was the one where I burned more calories than I ate. I'm in maintenance now, and pretty much burn exactly the same number as I eat, on a pretty constant basis.
BUT HOW HEALTHY WAS IT!?!?!
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JustMissTracy wrote: »trigden1991 wrote: »JustMissTracy wrote: »The best one for me is the one where I burn more than I eat....every day if possible...
Being in a calorie deficit is not healthy for prolonged periods. But in the short term, a calorie deficit could improve peoples health if they are obese/overweight.
Let me rephrase then. While losing weight, the "healthiest diet" I found was the one where I burned more calories than I ate. I'm in maintenance now, and pretty much burn exactly the same number as I eat, on a pretty constant basis.
BUT HOW HEALTHY WAS IT!?!?!
LOL..
I eat just about everything.........except for most grains, seafood and mushrooms, thanx to allergies. Everyone's definition of "healthy" is different. For me, I make most of our food from scratch, but I will use convenient alternatives if I'm stuck for time or just can't think of anything...We get take out about once every three or four weeks.
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Same here, or sometimes when we're just not wanting to do the meal prep. No food allergies on this end though, thank God. One of the kids friends is allergic to sea food. That would be rough for me. Love my fish dinners.JustMissTracy wrote: »LOL..
I eat just about everything.........except for most grains, seafood and mushrooms, thanx to allergies. Everyone's definition of "healthy" is different. For me, I make most of our food from scratch, but I will use convenient alternatives if I'm stuck for time or just can't think of anything...We get take out about once every three or four weeks.
Oh - Chinese take out every few weeks. Yum.
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comptonelizabeth wrote: »I suffer from ulcerative colitis so the diet that keeps me well would probably not be considered healthy! Basically low residue.
(first post on my new account!) I have stomach issues too, and when things are really bad my doctor has me down to chicken breast, white rice, cooked soft veggies and cooked/canned fruit or bananas.
It doesn't look "healthy" to others maybe, but it makes me feel the best, with the most energy.
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Considering I eat pretty much whatever I want - and my doc looks at my yearly bloodwork, gives me a check-up/physical, declares me the healthiest patient he has, asks if I have any complaints, then tells me to get the hell out of here and come back in a year?
The eat whatever I want - just not too terribly much of it all - diet.5 -
Considering I eat pretty much whatever I want - and my doc looks at my yearly bloodwork, gives me a check-up/physical, declares me the healthiest patient he has, asks if I have any complaints, then tells me to get the hell out of here and come back in a year?
The eat whatever I want - just not too terribly much of it all - diet.
That pretty much sums up me too
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I'm the healthiest I've ever been right now. I eat probably around 75% plant-based foods and get my protein from eggs, nuts, and beans, though I do chicken or fish one or two times a week. Dairy in moderation (mostly because I'm lactose intolerant). Whole grains only and no added sugar. Low sodium. Snacks are usually popcorn or these addictive puffed veggie straw things I love.
I spent a long time as a vegetarian, so it's really no big deal for me to not eat much meat, and I've never met a veggie I didn't like, so this is an easy diet to sustain for me.0 -
To be healthy I try to eat as clean as possible, no processed foods and I try to avoid sugar. For weight loss, I have been doing a "body type" diet, which seems to be working pretty well so far. I am a the thyroid type, you can see what you are here if interested http://revitalizemaui.com/optibodytm-quiz-5
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For me, I like meat/fish/fowl/eggs fed things as close to what nature intended them to eat. I also like vegetables and some fruit, preferrably grown in ways as close to as they grow in nature. I also like a bit of raw nuts and a bit of high fat dairy and a bit of high percentage dark chocolate to get mixed in there. I'm pretty happy with just those things.0
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For me.
No dairy ( lactose intolerant)
Lean protein mostly chicken and fish a few times a week.
Lots of fruits veggies and whole grains
Beans legumes nuts.
Plenty of water.
I feel the best when I eat this way0 -
AlabasterVerve wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »AlabasterVerve wrote: »Whole, minimally processed foods in just about any combination are healthful. Ultra processed foods are harmful in just about any combination and should be minimized.
How are you defining what an ultra processed food is? And how are they harmful?
The Brazilian food guide did a nice job of defining ultra processed foods and that's the definition I'm using. The more ultra processed foods you eat the fatter and sicker you become (metabolic syndrome and all that entails).
Eat better -> eat less -> feel better -> move more -> healthier life.
I understand the definition of ultra-processed foods (I think) and I don't see how they can be harmful in the context of a diet where one is meeting one's nutritional needs. If I am eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, a can of soup isn't going to hurt me. If I'm getting plenty of fiber, an Oreo isn't going to make me sick.
Eating too much of these could be harmful, sure. But then, eating a diet of exclusively fruit and vegetables could also make me sick. In both cases, I'm not meeting my nutritional needs. That seems to be the underlying issue.
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I'm in Italy, so we use the Mediterranean diet. Italians are very into quality ingredients and want to know where their food comes from. My sons have been educated at the table so they know what we're eating, where I bought it and how it was prepared. It makes it easy to hit my macros.0
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The best one for me is where I truly limit sugar and carbs and eat pretty much whatever else I want. I not only lose weight but I dont feel hungry too much on it and thus I do not let my stomach control my actions. Very liberating to only think about food as an after-thought.0
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Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.
Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.0 -
If you are wondering, the folks that are successful and have been here the longest are not the ones who buy into the latest fad diet. In fact, most won't even call what they do a diet. Diet means restrictions to most people and that is how they fail. It is very hard to restrict yourself from something you love.
I see this all the time. Someone comes along preaching some nonsense they read on the internet and they get 20 replies from successful people and 2 replies from others that believe the woo. They fight with the successful ones and side with the woo. Then they disappear. I can only guess at the outcome but based on experience I have to guess it is back to yo-yo dieting.
So the 'healthiest diet' is one that you can stick too. It is one that will keep you happy for the rest of your life. It is one that will keep you healthy for the rest of your life. It is up to you to find the right balance. Start by getting an accurate count of your calories and adjust from there. Once you nail that, the rest is easy.
thank you love that1 -
Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.
Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.
How specifically do things like boxed pasta, rice, canned beans or tomatoes, or Greek yogurt harm my health? Why, with no medical reason to limit salt or sugar, should I avoid foods with it added, in the context of an overall balanced diet.6 -
I am not a supporter of "fad" diets. What I do. Believe in is eating healthy. For meat I eat lots of fish and chicken. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies. No fast food and no store bought heat and serve items even if they are promoted for weight loss. I want to know what goes into what I eat.1
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