There are diets out there that promote the consumption of higher amounts of one type of food group over the next, diets that have you counting calories or macros and/or diets that have you consuming 75% uncooked foods.

With so many varying diets, contradicting information, doctors, nutritionists and dieticians promoting polar opposite diets, it’s no wonder why people are left feeling confused or misinformed. What diet is really best for me? Which diet is health promoting? Which diet will leave me feeling and looking my best?

The answer, is actually quite simple: The best diet that promotes longevity and good health is a wholesome diet of whole foods.

But what exactly qualifies as a wholesome diet? Well I guess it depends on who you ask, as everyone will have varying opinions, but as for myself, based on my own experience and what I have learned through schooling and research, a wholesome diet is a diet that is high in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, high quality proteins, legumes and whole grains, all while avoiding processed and refined foods.

The idea of a wholesome diet is to eat as closely to whole foods as possible, as nature intended it, eating nutrient dense, low calorie foods. It is these types of foods that will provide the body with the nutrients that it needs: the vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants and fibre. Now while you are consuming these whole foods, it is best to avoid (if you can eliminate them, even better!) processed foods, refined sugars and carbs, saturated fats, foods high in cholesterol, refined oils, trans fats, enriched/fortified products and foods containing additives and preservatives. This may all seem daunting and even impossible to achieve, but I assure you it can be done! With a health coach by your side to teach you and guide you on proper food choices, you can easily transition to a more healthier whole foods diet. Hit me up if you need assistance!

A wholesome diet also includes eating locally grown foods, choosing organic whenever possible, consuming seasonal foods, food combining and balancing different types of foods so that all essential nutrients are met.

Nowadays, too many of us are consuming the SAD diet, the Standard American Diet, which consists of high calorie, low nutrient foods, foods that are manufactured at labs with ingredients that you either can’t pronounce or have never even heard of. As a result, society is overweight and getting sicker at an alarming rate. Most illnesses and diseases are a direct result of our food choices and can be avoided if we just chose to be more mindful of what we put on the end of our forks. That is why a whole foods diet is imperative to long lasting health. Eating whole foods not only helps us to stay lean, but it promotes a clean and healthy gut, provides us protection against cancers and diseases, improves our mood and memory and provides us with energy to go about our day!

All in all, to obtain and maintain optimal health lets DECREASE: empty calories, saturated fats, acidic, processed and refined foods and lets INCREASE raw fruits and veggies, water, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Your body will thank you for it! 

We must remember that our body is a temple, an extension of the universe, and with this gift, we must learn to nourish, nurture and take care of it. If we take care of it, our bodies will take care of itself and us.