Why Eating Real Food Matters More than What ‘Diet’ You Choose

Which diet is the best to follow? This is a question so many of us have wondered. Should I eat low fat, low carb, Mediterranean, or vegan? Which one does science say is the best to choose for good health?

Now, we finally have an answer … and the answer is … no diet is the clear winner. Instead, as The Atlantic reports, a recent review of scientific evidence reveals the best solution is to follow some basic principles, which can be part of many diets.

The two basic guidelines for a healthful diet, which also help prevent disease, are to choose:

1. Minimally processed foods close to nature and

2. Predominantly plants

This advice is so simple and has been talked about before. Consider what Michael Pollan wrote in his 2008 book In Defense of Food:

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

So the message here is this: Eating real food matters more than what diet you choose to follow. So don’t stress about which fads to follow. But do choose mostly foods direct from nature. Plant-based eating is the way to go!

As David Katz, Yale medical researcher and co-author of the research, said:

“If you focus on real food, nutrients tend to take care of themselves.”

The findings appear in last month’s edition of the journal Annual Review of Public Health.

As an inspiration to start your journey towards eating more real foods, check out the recipes below:

1. Raw Vegan Veggie Stuffed Collard Wraps