HEALTH + WELLNESS
Ditch the diet
THE WORLD OF FOOD AND DIETING HAS BECOME A LITTLE BIT MURKY OF LATE. WHAT WITH EVERY OTHER PERSON WHIPPING UP ZERO-CALORIE LUNCHES AND FLAUNTING THEIR INSTA-PERFECT BODIES ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, THE FOCUS, IT SEEMS, HAS BECOME INCREDIBLY SHALLOW AND IS ALL ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT. ON THE FLIPSIDE, THERE IS A GROWING ARMY OF BODY-POSITIVE INFLUENCERS WHO ARE CHANNELLING HEALTHY EATING AND A‘ STRONG NOT SKINNY’ MESSAGE, WHICH CAN ONLY EVER BE A GOOD THING. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES AND WHAT WORKS FOR ONE MAY NOT WORK FOR THE OTHER – IT’ S TIME TO DITCH THE DIET AND INSTEAD EDUCATE OURSELVES ON NOURISHING THE MARVELLOUS BODIES THAT WE HAVE, RATHER THAN COVETING THOSE THAT WE DON’ T. BY POLLY HUMPHRIS
A massively important point to remember is that our bodies crave nutrients and not calories. Since long before the dread-inducing phrase‘ bikini body’ was invented and we all started juicing like there was no tomorrow, a common misconception surrounding‘ healthy eating’( often the sheep’ s clothing in which the dieting wolf is dressed) is that it equates to calorie control alone, so people started obsessively totting up every bite that passed their lips and opted for the lowest numbers on the label instead of what was in the packet.
Of course, a calorie deficit will lead to weight loss – albeit short term and depressing – but a focus on calories alone can cause us to lose sight of proper nutrition and inadvertently starve ourselves of some really valuable nutrients. Lots of really nourishing foods such as whole grains, legumes and healthy fats have a relatively high calorie count when compared to, say, rice cakes, but will a rice cake keep your hunger at bay and boost your body’ s natural fat-burning mechanisms? Nope. High-fibre carbohydrates such as quinoa, brown rice and oatmeal will though, as will food high in healthy fats like avocado, salmon and nuts.
Our body gets calories from three main sources: fats, carbohydrates and proteins. While one calorie from a healthy food provides the same amount of energy as one calorie from an unhealthy food, different types of calories have different effects on overall health, which is where the unhealthiest trait of the calorie counter rears its ugly head. You could fill up on two apples to rack up a 100-calorie snack, and although one 25g cube of cheddar cheese only adds up to the same number of calories, by choosing the apple your body is benefitting from a life-affirming hit of antioxidants, soluble fibre and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C, whereas cheese, although delicious, is loaded with saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol and is best saved for a treat.
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