Keto, Atkins, paleo… when we say the word ‘diet’, we most likely think of these terms. But a diet isn’t something you should follow for a few weeks just to lose weight – it’s a long-term commitment to your health.
Something we get asked a lot is, ‘what is a healthy diet?’ And this is something that dietitians and naturopaths have been working to answer for a long time.
But as broad and technical as this question is, there are some very clear and simple answers.
Here, we’ll discuss the idea of a healthy diet, what it looks like, and why it’s never the same for everyone.
A healthy diet: explained
Simply put, a healthy diet is one that maintains or improves your overall health by supplying essential nutrition. Nutrition means a good balance of fluids, macronutrients like protein, micronutrients like vitamins, fibre and energy. Generally, this looks like fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and lean meat (if eating meat), while minimising processed foods and sweetened drinks.
Contents of a healthy diet
Now, a healthy diet for one person may not be healthy for the next. Allergies and intolerances may some foods unacceptable for some, while they’re perfectly fine for others. This is particularly the case with nuts and lactose products. There are also personal choices about diet, like going vegetarian or pescatarian, which rules out healthy foods like lean meat. But in general, the contents of a healthy diet will include:
- At least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
- Protein such as beans, legumes, fish, eggs and meat
- High fibre starchy foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta or couscous
- Dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt, or dairy alternatives
- Small amounts of oils and spreads like avocado oil or olive oil
- Plenty of water – at least two litres per day
The role of a naturopath in achieving your healthy diet
So, what if you’re eating some of these healthy foods, but you still feel unhealthy? Meaning, you’re still experiencing lethargy, IBS, muscle or joint soreness, stomach cramps, or another chronic condition?
That’s what a naturopath is here to help you with. Naturopaths conduct rigorous testing and aim to rule out foods that contribute to these conditions, while replacing them with foods that alleviate these conditions.
The thing is that a ‘healthy’ diet may not be as simple as consuming these foods mentioned above. Naturopaths work to find the cause of foods that irritate bodily conditions, tailoring a diet for you so that you can start to feel truly healthy.
Contact Luke Clarke today
Luke Clarke is a functional medicine practitioner and naturopath in Melbourne who treats and advises people suffering from a variety of conditions on a daily basis, such as IBS, fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue and many others. Combining science and naturopathic philosophies, Luke Clarke cares about your health and works alongside you to improve it naturally. Contact Luke Clarke for a 10-minute free consultation.