The answer to the opening headline question is no.
These days there is so much conflicting information about what foods we should eat versus those that we should avoid. With all this information out here, it’s a wonder anyone knows what to eat. Life was simpler when my father and great grandparents raised their own food. But these days things have gotten complicated.
One group says saturated fat is good for you, while another group says it is bad. I’m confused! Do you and see what works best for you!
You will not hear me say that a certain food is good or bad for you, because I believe food is neutral (I’m learning). It is all about how nourishing food is to us and how we metabolize it that determines if the food is the best food for us to eat.
The dose makes the poison.
Remember, everyone is an individual and no one diet fits all. Just because someone deems a certain food as the healthiest food on the planet, does not mean it is a healthy food for me.
If you search long enough, you will find that almost every food that is out here, someone has made a case for that food (good and bad). It is either one that is beneficial for health or it is one that is not beneficial for health. There will always be equal and opposing forces or beliefs about food.
Today, I’ll give you some tips on how to navigate around the information out here that can cause confusion about what you should or should not eat.
No One Person Metabolizes Food the Same
While others are saying that a certain food is good and has awesome health benefits, it might not benefit you at all.
Because that so-called healthy food might cause an allergic reaction, digestion upset or simply not taste good to you. If the food is not pleasurable for you, it is possible that it won’t be nourishing and get metabolized properly.
Be Open Minded
Do not put food on a list of foods to eat or to avoid because someone said that you should eat or avoid the food. Be willing to experiment with those foods and decide for yourself if it is one that benefits your health or one that does not benefit your health.
Listen to your body wisdom, because someone might say beans are good for you. However, if every time you eat beans they cause discomfort to your digestive system, then beans are not good for you. It doesn’t mean that beans are not healthy, it just means that beans are not a healthy choice for you.
Eat Good Quality Food
Quality food that you eat is important. The higher the quality, the better it is for your body. Here is a guide to how you can buy good quality food:
- Buy organic produce when possible. If you cannot afford to buy everything organic, focus on buying organic produce that is not on the dirty dozen list. Don’t let not being able to afford organic produce hinder you from eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Look for local produce if you can.
- Read labels on packaged foods. Make sure you are not buying something that has ingredients in them that don’t agree with you or that you do not want to consume. Shopping might take longer, because you are reading labels, but it is worth the time.
- Be mindful of the meat, poultry, fish, dairy, or eggs you buy. If you eat these foods, do not go into a grocery store and pick up the first thing you see. Most grocery stores carry grass-fed beef, hormone and antibiotic free poultry, wild fish/sea foods, and eggs from caged free hens. Look around and read the labels on these foods; ask questions.
Final Words
Do not let anyone, put fear in you when it comes to food. Remember, you are the one who has control over what you eat as well as over your health. It is up to you to decide what works best for you. You know you better than anyone does.
Whatever you do, do not let someone scare you into eating or avoiding certain foods because of your fear of getting a disease. Do it because you want to do it and it works for you; not because of what someone said. Know why you do what you do!
Take care of you, you’ll be better for it.
Thanks for writing this post. I am learning all of this information to be so true. Right now, I am journaling my reactions to certain foods. It can be a tough pill to swallow when realizing that a once perceived good food wreaks havoc on the body.
Hi Trinity!
Thank you for stopping by! You’re doing the right thing by keeping a food journal. Yeah, tell me about it. 🙂
Have an awesome week and take care!
After years of eating too much fatty food such as sausage, my young (57) husband had a stroke. He didn’t exercise either. Now I’ve pulled most meats from his diet and increased the plant-based foods. I sure hope this works for him so that he doesn’t get another stroke. Definitely what worked for some didn’t work for him.
Hi Alexandra,
I am sorry about your husband. You’re doing the right thing and I know he’s grateful to have a woman like you in his corner. Sending well wishes your husband’s way. Thank you for stopping by and sharing!