Okay, I'm not into diet fads and jags in the least. I've been eating better and making a healthier lifestyle for myself for the past two years. It's working great. That said, I do like my processed foods and goodies as much as the next guy or gal, and my doc agrees that people take it way out of hand with all the "clean eating" and vegan, etc. fads. Totally getting rid of *anything* is bad... even carbs. Even fat. But that's not my question. I was reading an "expert" this morning... about clean eating. And I found myself disagreeing with the major base of the whole program.... so I'd like to hear your thoughts. Bottom line was "only eat what your great-grandmother would have eaten, and you'll be healthy like she was on the farm with home-grown veggies, meat, and eggs." But that's where it lost me! Where's the logic?! Our great grammies died when they were 40 or 50.!! Granted, childbirth killed many earlier, but I mean the ones who made it past those years. The "clean food" they ate was not helping them one whit! What am I missing here? Of course I know that fresh veggies and fruits are wonderful... I eat them. Grains, eggs, legumes... sure. All great. But how can it be the total fault of processed foods if they didn't HAVE processed foods when they were dying decades earlier than the current life expectancy? I'm lost.
Great question @Mari North this is a question I keep asking over and over again...granted we use pesticides and hormones in our foods today that are not healthy for us...but that aside, I'd like to know the answer too..
Yes... that even kind of makes it worse, doesn't it, @Holly Saunders ? Because the things they push us to eat (fresh produce) are the very things that have those pesticides. Bizarre! I *do* buy from the Farmer's Market in the spring and summer but can't do that the rest of the year. It's always been like this for me every time I hear something about how unhealthy society has become from the days of our grandparents... but our grandparents often didn't even make it to 60... I find myself thinking of the Mr. Spock quote, “May I say that I have not thoroughly enjoyed serving with humans? I find their illogic and foolish emotions a constant irritant.”
Hahah...I love that spoke Quote...and sooo true too... Star trek writers were sooo ahead of their time...
Our great grandfolks died earlier because they worked harder, usually from sunup to sun down and longer sometimes.
Yes that's also true @Ike Willis and there were plenty diseases of which they had no cure for that today they would have vaccinations for..etc...but still the...not everyone died of disease, or in childbirth and not everyone had to work hard from sun up to sundown...there were white collar workers in those days too...there were women who never had to work a day in their lives and had no children, who were rich enough to afford the best quality food.., who still died in middle age..and it was accepted as 'old age''...
Yes... my issue with the logic (or lack thereof) is because the newfangled clean eating folks try to blame our health problems now entirely on food and use the "grandparents" thing as a selling point. But it makes no sense because they *did* eat organic. On the other hand, I read an interview yesterday of a man who just passed 90 and attributes it to "hard work every day of your life." So... yeah, I'll stick with Nimoy.
Many of them died from infections and diseases that are curable and preventable today. Emergency rooms, ambulances and helicopter transport was unknown. I don't think diet had much to do with early mortality but I believe not eating processed foods made them healthier. Their meats were a lot fattier, refrigeration wasn't the best or many even non exsistant in some areas. I think it's a coin toss. My grandmothers lived into their 90's, their husbands died by accidents.
Pardon me if you are a believer of the health measures issued by doctors and nutritionists. My great grandmother died at age 70 and my grandparents died almost of the same age. Maybe because they have been eating the same food. But my mother, although stricken with paralysis, is still alive at 82 maybe because my mother has been eating modern foods. My husband once remarked that healthy foods like vegetables tend to be a turn off. His point is why eat that if we do not enjoy? Isn't it that our longevity is increased when we enjoy life? And eating organic food that is bland is like doing a sacrifice instead of enjoying your food. Well, I guess I will eat anything that catches my fancy and as long as I eat moderately then I am on to a longer lifespan.
My favorites are beefsteak and chocolate! Not together, mind you! Note "favorites" does not imply how often they are indulged in, which is rarely.
Wow, it's like you've been reading my diary, only I don't have one, LOL!! Well, I am struggling a bit with the "clean eating" thing Mari. So here's what I have to say at this point in my life I think that it is good to eat from the basic, food-groups, protein, vegetables, fruits, grains, and dairy. Barring anyone being allergic, which is not the majority of people, imo. Now, speaking of proteins, I am wrestling with the way that man/woman is getting our animal-based proteins. I'm not going to try to horrify anyone with the details, but it is apparent for most people, that in order to make more money, animals are being horribly abused. With that said, I am trying to just eat plant-based proteins, in the last couple of weeks. Although, if animals are put down in a humane way, then I wonder if it is not ok to go ahead eating meats. Back in the day, when man/woman hunted, or raised beef, sheep, I think that they did kill to eat, in a humane way. So I am not saying everyone is abusing animals to obtain their lively-hood. Ok, so back to your topic in general. I believe that all foods are acceptable if we are not allergic, or, we like the taste. The problem is more about living a sedentary lifestyle. I don't know about anyone else, but my grandmother was sedentary, 10 of 12 hours a day. I mean in her times after raising the children. She wasn't a farm-worker etc. But either not eating enough to keep up with what a person does do, or eating too much for what a person doesn't do, I think is our biggest issue.
I feel there are many reasons for living longer other than food, as others have mentioned stress, lifestyle and even undue worry about diets and what we are actually eating can also play a part. My grandparents lived into their 90s with what we would consider an unhealthy diet nowadays. Statistics can be misleading too, as so many more women died in childbirth and of course huge numbers of young men dying in world wars, which can give a false impression from average figures.
What a thoughtful answer, @Denise Happyfeet ... thank you! All foods being acceptable is a huge part of why I've been successful, yes. Like you said, unless there's an allergy involved, of course. And it goes without saying that it's not valid for things like sugar/diabetes. But otherwise, yes... don't try to take my chocolate away! Saw the doc one week ago today... asked the same questions, gave the same answers... he's amazed at my progress and tells me so every time... but this time I threw in more detail "yep, still eating my diet foods." I got a funny look from him and I knew he was thinking of creepy fad junk and cutting essential nutrients out or taking massive amounts of supplements that would eventually end up harming me... so I said "No, no, not weird stuff, I just look at my cookbooks and cook low-calorie meals... lots of spinach, ya know, things like that!" He laughed and was relieved he didn't have to give me a lecture about extremes.