Think again before jumping on the latest food trend bandwagons
“Invest your commitment and energy into a long-term holistic lifestyle that’s built gradually and avoid makeshift food trends.”
Most of us have now settled back into our daily routines following the summer holidays. The crisp air and warm autumnal colours make it easy to be inspired by the latest health trends and go to extra lengths to maintain our summer well-being. Or maybe you want to kick-start something new? We often turn to different products, methods, cures, and quick fixes, and it’s easy to get carried away and think of them as the best solution. Sometimes you can even feel healthier by simply buying a product that promises health benefits. Unfortunately, these products often fail to live up to their promises and, in the worst case, actually contribute to nutritional deficiencies or an excess of additives in your system. Sometimes it’s the case that a specific diet requires such a high level of commitment that there’s a risk of unhealthy behaviours developing, such as hyper-focusing on your health and lifestyle. Something that, in itself, can reduce your well-being. Here are some trends that I think more people should be observant of
Vegan fast food – as the vegan diet has become more popular, the supply of vegan ready-made food has also increased. It’s easy to assume that this is healthy, both in regards to animal welfare and the environment, especially since it’s often marketed that way. But the best solution is to eat as much natural food as possible, whether it’s vegan or not. If you choose to buy ready-made food, it’s helpful to look at the ingredients and not just pick what’s marketed as healthy. Unfortunately, there may be more added sugar and salt in vegan products when compared to “regular” ready meals. And sometimes different types of additives are included to achieve the right flavour. Even snacks that are vegan may be less healthy. If you choose vegan fast food and snacks, there’s a risk that it’s actually less beneficial than what’s marketed as “regular”.
Different types of milk alternatives – these offer an alternative for those that either can’t, or choose not to drink cow’s milk. Here, however, it’s important to read the ingredients. Too many products contain sugar or other unnecessary additives and are therefore not always a healthier option. So, choosing alternatives to milk doesn’t mean that it’s automatically healthy. Look at the ingredients before choosing a product. It’s also crucial to remember that you could end up denying your body the vital nutrients it gets from cow’s milk products, such as calcium and vitamin D, by choosing alternatives. Therefore, you need to ensure you include foods that are rich in these in your diet
Vegetarian meat – Alternatives to red meat products that replicate how it tastes have increased in popularity dramatically. Store shelves are full of different products that attempt to mimic “regular” red meat. These often have a good protein content. Many people omit red meat from their diet for ethical, health, or environmental reasons. If you look at the impact on our health, many people should eat less red meat, but that doesn’t mean that you have to rule it out completely. When you exclude red meat from your diet, you risk becoming deficient in the nutrients they contain. If you choose to become vegetarian or vegan, you should be wary of this. The more restrictive a diet is, the more careful you have to be about getting enough of certain nutrients. It’s also good to keep in mind that these different types of vegetarian meat substitutes are processed foods, unlike red meat, and can therefore contain many unnecessary additives instead. In this case, you should carefully read through the ingredients. Personally, I’ve chosen to eat red meat once or twice a week to not completely cut out the important nutrients, and I choose locally reared meat to be environmentally conscious.
Detox with juicing – this is a trend that unfortunately has a lot of misconceptions surrounding it. For many, detoxing sounds both appealing and healthy. In my opinion, I believe that a bit of the “all or nothing” mindset comes into play here. In other words, it can feel easier to exclude all regular meals than to moderate your diet. And often it may be more to do with wanting to lose a bit of weight. Drinking fruit or vegetable juice once in a while can provide vitamins and antioxidants. In addition, it can be very healthy and brighten up weekend breakfasts, for example. That being said, there’s no scientific evidence to support that the body is detoxified or cleansed, simply by drinking juice over a certain period of time. In addition to the fact that it can be expensive, there’s the risk of a negative effect on things like your blood sugar levels if you drink juices that are too sweet. You also miss out on many valuable nutrients, in addition to not getting enough all-important fibre. Fibre has been shown to “feed” the healthy bacteria in the gut. The healthy bacteria found in the intestine create a healthy intestinal flora, and recent research indicates that these could play a key role in counteracting a number of different diseases and strengthening the immune system. What’s more, these healthy bacteria are believed to have a positive effect on our brain and contribute to mental well-being. Another aspect that I think everyone with children living at home should keep in mind is that the foundation for future eating habits is created at home, and that’s why it’s so important to create an environment that contributes to healthy eating habits, where adults can act as role models.
“Often the focus is placed so heavily on what not to eat that you no longer see clearly.”
My advice:
Invest in long-term healthy choices that form the basis of a positive lifestyle, and skip the makeshift trends and diets. And if you choose alternative products, you should pay attention to the ingredients, as different additives are often used to create a better flavour.
