You’ve likely heard your friends or family detailing a new diet that they’re trying and it’s working great, only to turn around and have someone else explain a completely different diet that is also working great!How can this be?How is it possible that completely contradictory diets work for some people but not for others?Let’s assume a typical diet – milk, bread, processed foods, cereals, high sugar loads, combined with some meats, fruits and vegetables. Now, let’s introduce a “new diet” of consuming only vegetables.Removing milk, breads, and sugar and replacing them with more vegetables is a huge step in the right direction. The result, for at least the short term, would be feeling better, possibly having more energy and even less inflammation. The obvious conclusion of course – vegetarianism is the best diet. Any claim that it’s not, is echoed with the sentiment “it worked for me!”Have you noticed that this phenomenon rings true for exercise? If you haven’t moved in decades and you start walking backwards up the stairs with a blindfold on – you will absolutely improve your health. In fact, any movement would be an upgrade from what you were considering your current health regime.As a Life By Design Certified Office, TruCentered Chiropractic Care agrees, taking an action step that is better than what you are doing now is a start but the improvements will eventually fade away. There’s a massive difference between ‘better’ and ‘optimal’.
How do we define what is optimal?
Well, it might be contrary to the conventional notion of “what makes you feel better”; it must be based on what is required for the body to function in its healthiest state and the application of the actions that will meet those needs.For example, the nutrient requirements of the body are protein, fat and micronutrients (carbohydrate is technically not required but still recommended in appropriate doses and quality). The more closely your diet approximates these needs, with as low levels of toxicity as possible, the healthier you get. Simple.Eating an all-vegetable diet is better than an all Big Mac diet but it is far from an optimal one. Walking on a treadmill or running 5k’s is better than lying on the couch but it won’t work as well as strength training and conditioning to improve your health.So, when someone claims that his or her new diet is “amazing”! Take that claim with a grain of salt and ask yourself… is it optimal or is it just better than nothing?Did you like this article? Feel free to share it with the people you care about and see if a Complimentary Consultation is the next step to regain their health.Dr. Harris is a Life By Design Chiropractor practicing in Annapolis, MD.