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What’s your relationship with food? Would you describe it as healthy or unhealthy? What can you do to improve it? Many people struggle to forge a healthy relationship with food. If you find it difficult to strike a balance between eating too much and too little, try eating by the following rules, 1) listen to your body, 2) don’t rush food, and 3) prepare your own food. Keep reading to learn how to improve your relationship with food.
What are traditional diets? Why do traditional diets tend to be healthier than modern diets? Traditional diets are dietary patterns that center around foods tied to their corresponding cultural identities. Unlike modern diets, traditional diets are characterized by the consumption of natural, whole foods that haven’t undergone industrial processing. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of traditional diets and explain why they tend to be healthier than their modern counterparts.
What is the difference between the Omega-3 vs. Omega-6 fatty acids? What functions do they perform in the body? The main difference between the Omega-3 vs Omega-6 fatty acids is in the location of double bonds. Function-wise, Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain development and reducing anti-inflammatory response. Omega-6 fatty acids, on the other hand, are good for skin and lowering blood cholesterol, but they also promote an inflammatory response in the body. Learn about the difference between the Omega-3 vs Omega-6 fatty acids, their main food sources, and what functions they perform in the body.
What’s all the hype about plant-based eating? Are diets consisting primarily of plant-derived foods really better for you? What are the main benefits of plant-based eating? There are numerous health benefits to eating a plant-based diet. To name a few, plant-based foods contain more antioxidants (compounds that fight free radicals) and fewer calories. They are also lower in toxins. Learn about the benefits of plant-based eating.
Why is reading food labels important? What ingredients should you avoid and why? Reading food labels can help you make informed food choices by avoiding ingredients that may be damaging to your health. One simple rule of thumb to follow is to stay away from foods that contain unpronounceable ingredients, low-fat or fat-free dairy, and paradoxically enough, the health claims. Here are some things you should be looking out for when reading food labels.
What are the top four diet-related diseases? Is the damage done by the modern diet reversible? Americans suffer from a wide range of killer diet-related diseases, the main ones being obesity, cancer, type-II diabetes, and heart disease. However, this hasn’t always been the case; before the second world war, the rates of dietary diseases were low. Read about the rise of diet-related diseases.
Are refined foods really bad for you? And if so, why do we eat so much of them? Refined foods are almost empty of nutritional value without fortification and lead to massive influxes of glucose and fructose in the body. And even though their damaging effects are pretty much common knowledge these days, we still eat them in abundance. Why? Part of the answer can be found in history. Read about the rise of refined foods and how they function in the body.
What was the McLibel case in the 1990’s? How did the case change public perception of McDonald’s? In 1986, Greenpeace activists began distributing pamphlets explaining the many issues with McDonald’s. McDonald’s eventually sued for libel, but their reputation had already been damaged. This became known as the “McLibel” case. Read more about the McLibel case below.
Is spending a lot of money on food really worth it? Is expensive food really significantly better than cheaper, more affordable staples? Most people are geared towards quantity and cheap, accessible food. But according to Michael Pollan, the author of In Defense of Food, we shouldn’t be too frugal when it comes to spending money on food. In general, more expensive food (especially, food of natural origin) is better for you because of a lack of toxins and improved nutritional quality. Here is why spending more money on food is indeed worth it, according to Michael Pollan.
Is there McDonald’s in Europe? How did McDonald’s expand so rapidly? McDonald’s in Europe is now almost as common as McDonald’s in the U.S. In fact, you can find a McDonald’s in almost every country on Earth. Read more about McDonald’s in Europe and how the fast food chain spread all over the world.