Overall Healthy Diet

[trevorlawrence]

Ok, so this is a question that has been coming up quite frequently lately. Now before anybody turns this into a bashing of one persons preference over another, let me just say that this is a real soul searching question.

Why do people turn healthy eating into strict diets that rely on un-natural sources for complete health?

Here is where the rubber meets the road for a lot of people. Vegetarians, fruitarians, vegans and raw foodist seem to pigeon hole themselves into one specific way of eating. Because of this, there is a necessity to supplement with ingredients that may or may not be natural. Again not getting into a bashing debate or anything over unscientific or undocumented proof of anything. Although we can agree that what the RDA requirements are for individuals is grossly overated, it is still a guideline that the vast majority of people who want to live long, healthy lives strive for.

Take raw foodism for example. Now I eat over 85%-90% raw food. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts. However, even with a large variety there are still some minor defiencies with a strict 100% raw food vegan diet. Iron for example, is in great quantities in green leafy vegetables. However, the iron in those vegetable are not easily assimilated by the body. Even in a juiced or smoothie form. B12 which despite all the arguments for and against, still plays a factor with all of the lifestyles mentioned above including raw foodism.

So in the light of different shortcomings of all our dietary considerations, why do people feel a need to be pigeoned holed into a strict diet? For instance, herbal teas are fantastic for healing and restoring health. It is well documneted that boiling tea and then allowing the tea to steep for several hours releases the full health benefits of the tea. Why would a strict raw foodist for example say that boiling tea is wrong? Another example, there are many lacto-ovo vegetarians that eat dairy and eggs. They obtain their protein through a derivitive of meat products, and vegans will be quick to point all that out. However, honestly vegetarians may be more healthy mind wise because of the B12 factor. Why deprive oneself of a vital nutrient based on a diet?

For me personally, a diet of 85%-90% raw natural foods make perfect sense. However, the reality of this modern society dictates that the remaining 10% be from NATURAL food sources other than my normal diet of fruit, veggies, sprouts, nuts and seeds. Where that other 10% is going to come from, I am not fully sure yet. Currently looking at whole grains (not processed), eggs and (bad choice of words)

[michaelhoffman]

A healthy balanced diet consists of several foods consisting lot of fruit and vegetables, much of starchy foods like wholegrain bread, pasta and rice, some protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and lentils and some dairy foods. It should also be low in fat (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar.