Which option do you think is the key to a healthy lifestyle?

[Anonymous]

Reduce fat consumption

Reduce sodium consumption

Reduce carbohydrate and sugar consumption

Completely eliminate ALL store-bought processed foods from the diet and only derive sugars from carbohydrate-rich whole food, freshly cooked and raw vegetables, and fresh fruits; and eat them until you feel satiated

Avoid products that explicitly label monosodium glutamate on the Ingredients

[OlderAndWiser]

It is impossible to know what to believe about nutrition. Everyone has an agenda and a point of view that they espouse. Companies that grow corn and wheat fund research to "prove" that your diet should be high in grains. Stores like Whole Foods engages in the same stupid marketing strategies as do other major retailers; they are simply trying to maximize their profits. (E. g., selling "Rain Forest Granola." What in the hell is the connection between the rain forest and granola? But anything called "Rain Forest___" MUST be healthy, right?)

The other problems with nutrition advice are:

Of course, no one can guarantee that, if you follow a particular diet, who will live an additional 2 years or 5 years or whatever.

No one addresses the issue that, regardless of your diet and lifestyle, eventually you will die. Should we have tunnel vision about living as long as we possibly can or should we give some consideration to the enjoyment that we experience while we are alive. What good is it to live to age 95 instead of 92 if I had to spend 95 years without an occasional steak, a bowl of ice cream, or a double shot of a single malt Scotch?

[Anpu23]

Balanced diet and exercise.

[Asker]

Exercise does not have to be done in the gym, which can be hundreds of dollars. It doesn't even have to be a specified time allotment in your life just for exercising, like biking in the neighborhood for an hour. It can be as simple as doing various housework and garden work on a daily basis. Running straight down the stairs to lift the water kettle off the stove may be a form of high-intensity physical activity.

[Asker]

Housework also takes a lot of time and energy, especially if they are done by hand.

[Anpu23]

I agree completely, honestly I built a gym in my garage for about $150.00. But I am a runner and Yoga practitioner both are anywhere type exercises. The gym was more for the brutal winters I see in Utah.

[Asker]

If you do housework manually on a regular basis, then I do not think you need to give special time to exercise at all. Housework is extremely time-consuming and energy-consuming. You have to scrub dishes, scrub carpets, polish floors, wax floors, nit-pick lint from big blankets with a brush, reach high-end places, lift objects while vacuuming, carry clothes to the laundry, garden, mow the lawn, etc.

[Asker]

A real food diet based in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and meats without added sugar is guaranteed to help any fat person lose weight and gain nutrition. The housework provides muscle-building.

[Asker]

Added sugar in all its forms (artificial or natural) should not be used at all.

[Anpu23]

I suppose it comes down to goals. Yes housework is energy intensive, as is gardening. But my 45 minutes to an hour a day running, stretching, lifting, biking on top of my daily chores (we share chores in our house) certainly doesn't hurt.

If I was going to suggest a diet change, to me meat is a big culprit in many problems. But I am a vegetarian and have been for 25 years.

[Asker]

I believe the culprit is added sugar and processed foodstuffs, and those things overlap very tightly. People in some cultures in ancient times primarily consumed meat or primarily consumed plants, based on geographical location. So, I don't think meat is the real issue.

[Anpu23]

I would direct you to a book "Diet for a New America" for some information on vegetarianism for health. www.amazon.com/.../ref=dp-kindle-redirect

[Asker]

I don't think it hurts to raise chickens in the house. The hens can lay eggs. Eggs are meat. I consider all animal-based products meat, even eggs, milk, and bugs.

[Anpu23]

That's fine. I am speaking about my own experiences, and I do eat eggs and dairy.

[Anpu23]

Thank you for MHO

[alor1an]

processed food, sugar, salt, and carbohydrates are crap. i eat meat, vegetables, nuts, and fruit. just like our ancestors did. after i stopped eating crap, i moved better, my sense of smell increased, and i was able to focus more. but everyone has their own way of doing things.

[Asker]

A little bit of salt in the diet is a necessary nutrient. Salt is iodized to contain iodine. Without iodine, you may get a goiter in your neck, which was common in the olden days. Carbohydrate-rich foods are typically known as staple foods. Staple foods are good for storage, easy to grow, and provide a lot of energy to feed many people. Plant-based staple foods may be more accessible than meat-based staple foods, because they are cheaper and more readily available. It takes more resources to grow and slaughter an animal than it is to grow plants. Another reason to go green.

[alor1an]

i do not believe in vegetarianism, and i do not eat more salt than is already in the food.

[madhatters4]

I feel like there is a lot of misinformation about message. not saying you are spreading it but just saying. I was very curious about it and looked it up. message occurs organically in many products. it is used to improve flavor in certain foods but there are no proven (as i could find) unhealthy features to it. no it can be addicting (that's the negativity about it) but even that has not been proven to be 100% true.

just seems strange that so many have really vilified message when its negative affects, compared to things like sugar, don't seem to be all that apparent or warranted

[Bobflackmen]

Cut processed foods completely drink at least a gallon of water a day and stay under 65 grams of sugar

[Asker]

65 grams of sugar is way too much. The American Heart Association recommends men limit added sugar to 36 grams, or 9 teaspoons, per day. Women should limit added sugar to 24 grams, or 6 teaspoons, each day.

[Bobflackmen]

I stay right at 60-65 grams and I eat about 4200 calories a day and that's not added sugar that's from fruits and veggies. I'm 6'5" 250 and about 8-10% body fat I haven't taped in awhile but I'm sure I haven't changed much

[Asker]

Even normal-weight people can have diabetes. Check your blood for blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

[LunaLawliet]

Plants are key! :D

[anonman32]

common sense