What is a Healthy Diet?: The Million Dollar Question

MY APPROACH TO DIET AND NUTRITION MIRRORS BALANCED NUTRITIONAL MEDICINE’S OVERALL WELLNESS AND FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PHILOSOPHY – IT’S ALL ABOUT CREATING A BALANCED LIFESTYLE THAT IS HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE IN ALL REGARDS.

Fad diets work about 2% of the time. Real health is more of a marathon (rather than a forty yard dash!), that has a slow stride where you settle in for the long haul. This includes establishing a way of eating that serves you, your body type and your activity level. Below are 5 guidelines that will help you find the healthy diet that’s just right for you.

1. Balance – Achieving a balance of all macro nutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). This supports balancing the body’s overall metabolisms – how we burn calories, and how we produce hormones, neurotransmitters and other biochemical that help with things like mood regulation and stress management.
2. Create Your Own – I look for the clinical relevance of trend diets like paleo/ketogenic/Atkins/macrobiotic and extract the positive aspects of each – fusing them together into one balanced philosophy.
3. Customize – There isn’t ONE diet that is right for everyone. You have to experiment and find what works best for you. Consulting with a professional is always a good idea.
4. Whole Foods – Choose foods that can spoil but eat them when they are fresh. You will be surprised how cooking with whole foods can simplify meals and preparation.
5. Supplements – Unless you have had inflammatory conditions, injuries or an unhealthy lifestyle, you can get all the nutrients needed from foods. If you experience the aforementioned conditions supplements may be needed to affect your biochemistry and physiology to produce a desired health outcome. Make no mistake…diet is the focal point of their health strategy. You can’t supplement your way around an unhealthy diet.

In the end it is about creating a realistic dietary strategy that can be adhered to and enjoyed for years to come. If you’d like assistance developing a plan, please feel free to reach out.

Dr. Jason Bojar