By Staff Reports
(DGIwire) — Most health gurus will say that you need variety in your diet and the greater the variety the better. However, from a nutrition standpoint, all foods are not created equal and you need to focus on the most nutrient-dense choices possible. This means that processed man-made junk food is totally out.
“It has been estimated that our ancient ancestors ate hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different foods based on seasons and availability over a year or years. The variety of these foods and the various nutrients they supplied were adequate to allow us to survive and thrive as the human race. However, today most people, even health conscious people, tend to eat very, very limited diets. Yes, they will say that they eat their fruits, veggies, grains and quality animal products like eggs, dairy, fish and meats, but, how much variety are they really eating?”, asks health expert Tom Griesel, co-author of TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust (BSH 2010).
Here are a few questions to help you to evaluate your own diet:
In the past week…
How many different fruits have you eaten?
How many different vegetables?
How many different kinds of fish or shellfish?
How many different nuts or seeds?
How many different meats?
How many different herbs and spices?
Did you include some eggs and dairy products?
Most people tend to stick with a few favorites for the bulk of their meals. If you eat the same breakfast, lunch or dinners, even if they include (the same) healthy ingredients, you are scoring very low on the variety scale and most likely missing out on many key ingredients and their subsequent health benefits. It’s time for you to get a little adventurous.
Griesel adds, “Good health depends on eating a wide variety of whole, natural, fresh foods. When choosing foods from this category, you need to start to broaden your horizons. The next time you are cruising the perimeter of the supermarket (that’s where you’ll find themostlow-calorie yet nutrient-dense foods), pick out some fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, or meat that you haven’t had in awhile, or perhaps never had before. Better yet, head to the local farmer’s market where you will find all kinds of fresh, whole foods in season. There are so many interesting choices for you to sample. “
Why place any limits on your palate or your health?