Vegan, gluten-free, Paleo. You could insert any one of those
and more into the title and it would form a question I’m asked all too often:
how do you eat, Emily?
And the answer to that would be… however I want to eat.
Since my blog is growing, I felt it was important to address
this. People like to know what the person who’s giving them advice or sharing
ideas with them believes and practices, and including it in my blog adds to the
reality I strive for with Keeping it Real.
I don’t play hard and fast with rules when it comes to the
way I eat. I allow myself to go out to restaurants to eat, and I don’t restrict
any food groups in particular. If I absolutely had to define the way I eat at
home, it would be a plant-based,
high-fiber diet. How did I come to this conclusion? Well, let me tell you:
1. I love fruits and vegetables.
I believe that loving what you eat is one of the most
important aspects of eating at all. Fortunately, I actually do enjoy eating
kale in all of its forms, along with most every other vegetable. Plant foods
are also convenient. I can take a banana or apple in my bag without worrying
that it’ll be a breeding ground like meat would be. Granted, I do eat meat, but
fruits and vegetables are my priority. My goal when I’m eating is first, to get
all of the essential nutrients I need from my food, and second, to enjoy it.
2. It’s sustainable.
The process of growing plants is far more efficient than
raising animals. Plants produce gases that are good for the environment, leave
behind less waste, and if crops are rotated correctly, can replenish the soil
they are grown in. While I know that me eating more plants doesn’t have a huge
impact on the global aspect of sustainability, it certainly does for my
personal financial aspect. While I do enjoy meat, it’s not the cheapest to buy.
I do eat meat, but it’s far cheaper
to make some beans and high protein (and fiber!) grains.
I can also practice sustainability at home by having my own
garden. Space in an apartment complex is limited, but there are plenty of
resources for container gardening, which is how I’m growing my chard plants.
3. The science.
Plant-based diets are naturally high in fiber. The potential
health benefits of fiber are huge, and a lot of them are still unknown. To keep
things simple, some of the less mainstream benefits include: an improved immune
system (fiber feeds the healthy bacteria in your intestines and may also
interact with immune cells), increased fat oxidation (using fat for energy. It
does this by increasing the expression of genes that code for certain fat
metabolizing enzymes), and it slows the absorption of sugar into the
bloodstream, helping to prevent high blood sugar and insulin resistance.
I could go on about the benefits and wonderfulness of fiber,
but the rest of the plant needs some recognition, as well!
As we all know, plant foods contain, in differing amounts,
all of the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that we currently know the body
needs. I subscribe to a “whole foods” system in this area, and believe that the
best way to get all of the nutrients your body needs is from the diet first. If
you absolutely can’t get enough of something, then take a vitamin supplement. Phytochemicals are also present in
plant foods, and while their purpose and function are still mostly unclear,
they have been observed to have great health benefits.
Now for the part where I present my opinion:
Though research tends to focus on single nutrients and their
impact on a specific disease state, enzyme, or function, I do believe that
eating a varied, plant-based diet provides benefits beyond those of
supplements. For example, carrots don’t only
have vitamin A; they also contain vitamin C, K, and a number of other
nutrients, some of which may still be unknown.
4. It works for me.
I found a way of eating that promotes health that I enjoy.
It provides me with the essential nutrients I need, it maintains my current
weight, and I leave myself room to enjoy foods that aren’t strictly “whole” or
“plant-based”. I do not consider it a
“diet”, in the modern use of the word; it is a lifestyle, and a lifestyle
approach to eating and exercising is what I encourage. I’m not strictly
vegetarian, vegan, or even organic. I purchase what I can afford, and I make it
work. I eat eggs (yes, yolk included), fish, meat, and even ice cream and
desserts, but I also enjoy tofu, almond milk, and sweet potato burgers.
Just remember, health is not and should not be a fad. I
recommend talking to a registered dietitian before changing your diet, and
research in-depth and independently of what blogs (mine included) tell you. No two people are the same, and no single
way of eating is ideal for everyone. Eating and activity should be
purposeful, enjoyable, and personal.
Sources:
Benefits of Fiber
Sustainability of Plant-Based Diets
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