The war of nutrition religion
In today’s world of health and nutrition, there is a huge problem. On many occasions, the curious newcomer to the health world will begin researching healthier options in their life only to find that the world of nutrition is full of various ideologies that seem to reflect religion more than science. One source will tell you one specific diet is the only route to health, while another will bombard you with convoluted research that condemns said diet. This back and forth of information becomes so overwhelming to most people that it ends their quest for better health.
Growing up, I was always a person that questioned religious dogmas. I never got down with the idea that there was one spiritual path that was better than another. As long as the primary motive was to be a better person, then why would anything be considered wrong? Yet, countless times, I came to face individuals who would condemn my questioning and guarantee my ultimate fate of burning in hell (can you tell I’m from the south). This back and forth of who was right was exhausting and pushed me away from religion. I imagine that this exhausting war of ideologies that drove me away from a spiritual connection is the same thing most people experience when embarking on a journey to better health.
Too many times, I have come across these so-called experts who tout the benefits of these evangelical like nutrition schemes which are blind to glaring issues in their health. I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time taking nutrition advice from someone who gets a cold every other month. My assumption for this problem lies in the fact that these people tie their identity to how they eat. It pretty hard to recognize problems with your health when they go against everything you scream at people on Instagram about.
I have to Admit
Even I have succumbed to these theoretical ideas that are running rampant through the world of nutrition. When I found the ketogenic diet, I got a little carried away. Over the last year, if you have spoken to me about it, then I have taught the benefits to exhaustion. I am a massive fan of a fat-adapted lifestyle, but lately, I have realized that my success in it may be more of my genetics than the diet itself. My ancestors most likely came from a place where meats and leafy greens were more readily available than starches and fruit. Your genetic makeup has more to do with how your diet affects you than most dietary experts want to admit. For this reason, I generally recommend that no matter what you read, it is always more important to listen to how you feel.
What can you do?
It is pretty simple to avoid dogmas in health and fitness. A good indicator of a nutrition cult is that the individuals teaching the diet will tell you that it is the only way to eat. The truth is that your nutrition is more like a snowflake, and almost everyone is going to have nuances that make them different from others. So just because something works for someone doesn’t mean it is always going to work for you.
My suggestion is to recognize how you feel when you are eating a certain way and always reevaluate. A ketogenic diet is perfect evidence of a diet that is great at the beginning for most people but can go south quickly if a person does not take breaks from a high-fat lifestyle. This example leads me to the point of this whole article; eat a diverse diet and switch things up. No matter what, never let someone tell you, there is only one way to eat.
For me, I have settled into the belief that the more a diet reflects our primitive ancestors, the better it will be. The nuances for each individual will vary. Some will be better off eating many more fruits and veggies, while others can be almost carnivorous and feel their best. The main underlying idea is that you eat foods that are real. Organic vegetables and free-range animal products are the best chance we have at eating like our evolutionary counterparts. This belief is the closest thing I have found to cover the umbrella of all humans, but as I have said before, you much try things and feel it yourself.
If you have any questions about changing your nutrition for the better or need some tips on getting in the right direction, please reach out. I am always available through the contact page here on Modern Wellness, or you can DM me on Instagram @wellnessrob. I hope you enjoyed the article, and please don’t forget to share it with your friends and family.
With Big Love,
Robbie