There are so many diets being promoted these days that the selecting what to have for lunch or what to make for your children’s dinner can be overwhelming. People ask me every day which diet is best for them: keto, plant-based, low-carb or Mediterranean? They want to know what will help their allergic kids: fodmap or Dash and they are eager to learn which is best for weight reduction: South Beach, Intermittent fasting or vegan? Truth is, that since I’ve been in practice, the most widely touted dietary plan of the day is constantly shifting.
When I first started my practice, Mishio Kushi’s macrobiotic diet was first on everyone’s healthy diet list and people interested in improving their health were buying brown rice by the bushel. Now, many of those same people are horrified at the thought of eating carbohydrates. So how can we gain confidence in our food selections and reap greater health rewards for the choices we make?
I propose that we shift our focus entirely- away from what food is best towards the way the food is grown and prepared. When a carrot (that is part of most “healthy diets”) is grown in poor soil, fertilized with harsh chemicals, shipped thousands of miles and stored in a grocer’s refrigerator for weeks, it has little nutrition. When beef (that is shunned by countless concerned eaters) comes from a farm where the cows are grass-fed and humanely treated, it provides far more nutrition than one might otherwise expect. It’s not so much that one thing is healthy and the other is not. It’s more that when fruits, vegetables and grains are grown with respect for the environment and when animals are raised with understanding of the laws of nature, they both offer us greater health benefits. So we are freer with our food choices and more able to enjoy the foods we love!
Not everyone has access to a local organic farm, however all of us can move away from processed foods towards more whole and organic foods. The best way to do that is with baby steps. That way the change is not so burdensome and you will be more likely to stick to the new program till you see the rewards of greater energy, improved sleep, and less bloating after eating.
A guide to foods that provide more energy and that yield a stronger body with increased clarity of mind
- First and foremost, give up the Splenda and Sweet & Low. They are not good for you.
- Shift from sugary sodas and drinks towards those made from natural sources.
- To make water more palatable, try adding slices of lemon or cucumber for a more spa-like treat.
- Seek out pastries and breads made with organically grown wheat or other grains.
- When shopping for dairy, opt for organic eggs, milk, cheese and butter.
- See if you can find a source for grass fed beef. This can be in your local market or online
- Fresh picked organically grown vegetables have the highest nutrition. If you are fortunate, and there’s a farmer’s market nearby, go visit!
- If you can, arrange an outing to a small farm committed to the environment. From time to time treat yourself to a bushel of fresh veggies and fruits and be sure to bring your kids. The following farms and farmers markets make for wonderful excursions:
NYC Greenmarkets: https://www.grownyc.org/files/gmkt/map.pdf
Amber Waves Farm; Amagansett, NY amberwavesfarm.org
Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture; Pocantico Hills, NY: stonebarnscenter.org