Nutrition
“You are What You Eat”
What Should I Eat?
You are probably reading this because the world of food and nutrition is incredibly confusing. I have dedicated many years studying nutrition, and discovered that even the experts in the field often find themselves perplexed by the ever-changing science. It’s no wonder the rest of us are left baffled and bamboozled.
Do you wonder what you should eat each day? Are you tired of being bombarded by contradictory media reports about the latest food research, making it hard to distinguish which foods are good or bad for us? One day, eggs are labelled as unhealthy, and the next, they’re hailed as a miracle food. Government guidelines have swung from encouraging us to consume up to eleven servings of carbohydrates, to advising us to cut the Carbs. It’s a similar story with dietary fat; we were once told to avoid it, only to be advised decades later that it’s not as harmful as we were led to believe. The food industry adds to the confusion with a plethora of “healthy” options, most of which are far from it. My rule of thumb: if a product makes health claims on the label, it’s almost certainly not as healthy as it claims to be.
All of this can make you feel like throwing in the towel and indulging in whatever you desire, whenever you want, and in whatever quantity you like. It’s like experiencing non-stop whiplash when it comes to nutrition.
This is precisely why I created this website. I want to help you ‘unlearn’ all those lies about food that lead to weight gain and poor health. Instead, I aim to replace those beliefs with a new understanding that can lead to a healthier, happier and longer life.
The Chaos of Diet Confusion
To add to all the uncertainty, there is also the mind-boggling diversity of dietary doctrines, from vegan and raw food, to ketogenic and Paleo. How are we supposed to know which one is right? Although there are certainly benefits to each of these dietary regimens, an all-in approach to a single one is far from the answer for everyone. As a species we have a long history on this planet. Over many millennia we have spread to all corners of the globe and adapted to the foods available in habitats ranging from tropical jungles, to arid deserts, and even to the frozen tundra. So, should you follow the high-carb, vegetarian diet of the indigenous Pima of Arizona or the high-fat diet of the Arctic Inuit people? The truth is, we are omnivores, and our digestive systems have evolved to cope with almost anything…
The good news is that science is continually evolving and shedding light on the fundamental principles of good nutrition. We now have a much better understanding of what a healthy diet should look like. In his book “Food: What The Heck Should I Eat?”, Dr. Mark Hyman refers to these basic principles as the “Pegan Diet”, jokingly referencing the fervour of some of his Paleo and vegan friends who passionately defend their viewpoints.
A Deceptive World of Highly Processed 'Food-Like Substances'
Sadly, much of what we eat today is not really food. It has been so heavily processed and altered that it barely qualifies as food; it’s more like a “food-like substance” made up of sugary, starchy, overly processed, nutrient-depleted ingredients, laden with pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics, and other harmful chemicals. As a result, not only our digestive systems, but all our bodily systems are left distressed and confused, not exactly knowing how to cope with many of those substances we put in our bodies these days.
So, what do we know about Food?
We were taught that food is composed of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and various other nutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc.) that our bodies need for growth and vital functions, and to provide energy (fuel) for life. But food is so much more than that. It is medicine. It is information. Food literally controls every aspect of our physical and mental well-being.
Food can reinvigorate your health, affecting your ability to lead a vibrant, energetic, and soulful life – a life in which you have the energy to care for yourself, to love your friends and family, support your community, excel in your professional endeavours, and to live your dreams. When you eat real, whole, and fresh foods that you cook using real ingredients, you are positively affecting not only your own well-being but also the world around you.
Every bite you take is a powerful opportunity to either create health, or promote disease. So, which kind of food will you allow into your body? Real, Earth-grown foods that nourish and sustain us, or the industrialized, hyper-processed, hyper-palatable junk that degrades us and makes us sick? That choice is in your hands…
The Search for a Sustainable Food Future: Ethical, Healthier, Planet-Friendly Choices
This website will also address a number of concerns about the ethics, sustainability, and health implications of our food choices. I am urging you to consider the impact your choices might have, not only on your own health, but also the health of the environment and society as a whole. How we grow, produce, and consume food affects nearly every aspect of our lives and the environment. For example, it has been shown that more sustainable, organic agricultural practices can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, freshwater withdrawal and pollution of rivers and lakes, deforestation and loss of biodiversity – not to mention the enhanced nutritional value of organically farmed foods. For more insight into the ethics and sustainability of current agricultural practices, read Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Search for a Perfect Meal in a Fast-food World.”
This website is intended to be a holistic roadmap based on the latest and best scientific knowledge about what to eat and how to live a fulfilling life. What you put on your plate is arguably the most important decision you make every day – after all, you are what you eat!