On diet
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants
-Michael Pollan
To survive, we eat food. How we eat is probably one of the most critical decisions. Unfortunately, not all of us take it seriously. Many people eat only for sensational pleasure, but not for the body’s demand. They become obsessed with the smell and the taste of foods and almost forget that our bodies also need nutrients to sustain themselves. Some go for another extreme. They are addicted to protein shakes, premium supplements, and concentrates. Few people would view it as possible to reach the best of the two worlds: delicious and nutritious.
I used to be obsessed with sugar. I loved eating all kinds of candies and ice creams until my teeth had severe cavities, even if I regularly visited the dentist. Then I decided to quit sugars. I radically cut off all sugary products except fruits from my diet. It was painful at first, but I managed to do it by removing all sugars from my apartment. Each time I had the temptation to buy sugars, I warned myself that I might lose more teeth had I done that. After being deprived of sugar for two years, many fruits taste too sweet for me. We don’t know what we got till it’s gone. The deprivation of sugary products makes me cherish natural sweets from fruits.
I mainly cook myself because I cannot control the ingredients (especially sugars, salt, and trans fats) when I eat out. I want to avoid exposure to sugars, trans fats, and additives. Because I rarely eat out, my exposure to these ingredients remains minimal. When I eat out, I order what I like to eat without worrying about the ingredients. A little exposure is acceptable.
I follow Michael Pollan’s simple tip “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” I often eat raw foods or minimally processed foods (boiled, steamed, and baked). Whenever I had a feast on a day, I fast for the following two days. I drink a cup of coffee a day and at least 7 cups of water. In the evening, I enjoy non-caffeinated herbal tea. At most times of the year, I avoid alcohol. A few exceptions are important holidays and celebrations. Even then, I drink no more than a cup.
I only take supplements if I believe I have nutritional deficiencies. But I make sure I soak in the sun every day (Not all days are sunny).
No optimal diet exists and we aren’t supposed to find one. But we can always find ones that suit our best interests. Only by becoming mindful about how we eat can we get them.