Food. It’s a scrumptious staple of life that we choose at least three times a day to sustain and rev our bodies. Food is our main source of nutrient intake, instrumental and paramount in our short-term and long-term health. Our daily food intake is known as our diet — “going on a diet” is an incorrect phrase because it assumes diet means a stricter eating plan.
We know certain food choices are better for us than others, and there are an overwhelming amount of opinions on which diet is the healthiest. There is the gluten free diet, the South Beach diet, the liquid protein diet, the Paleolithic diet, the vegan diet — all of these fads and more promise rapid weight loss and healthier bodies. However, before radically changing your diet, be aware of phony, unhelpful diets that seem to pervade our Pepperdine culture. Let’s unpack some of these diets:
1. Gluten-Free Diet:
First things first: let’s dispel the idea that gluten-free food is healthier for your body. Designed for those who are hypersensitive to gluten or have Celiac disease, the gluten-free diet does not contain necessary nutrients your body needs, such as vitamin B, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and fiber. Gluten-free options are incredibly helpful to those in need of dietary assistance due to Celiac disease but are unnecessary and unhealthy for those who are able to properly digest gluten.
2. Paleolithic Diet:
For those of you who attended Wednesday morning convocation last week, you may recognize the name of this diet. The Paleolithic diet focuses on food products that a “caveman” could have eaten in pre-historic times, like lean meats and raw vegetables. A difficult diet to follow in the 21st century, the Paleolithic diet was ranked by the U.S. News and World Report in 2011 as the least effective diet for weight loss and increased health.
3. Veganism/Vegetarianism:
Before you get up in arms about this being called a “fad” diet, read this section thoroughly. This article is not insulting animal rights or those who abstain from meat for religious or ethical reasons. However, those vegetarians out there who eat grilled cheese for every meal, this section is for you. If you want to be healthy, you have to make sure you ingest the proper amount of protein and other essential nutrients. Veganism is not a diet that can be healthy without consistent preparation — when a food group is removed, be sure that you supplement your diet with the nutrients that are missing. Do your research and find foods that contain higher amounts of protein and Omega-3s.
Our daily food intake is an important decision that affects how our bodies perform. There are a lot of diets out there that claim to be the best for our bodies, as well as specific food products that market health. The key to nutritional health is research and understanding what we are putting into our bodies and why. Don’t let fad diets control your health — be proactive about understanding your own body and what it needs.
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As published in the Nov. 7 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
