Given the over-abundance of trendy diets, celebrity nutrition experts, and half-baked medical advice on what we should eat and how much we should exercise, I am reluctant to post on these topics very often.
However, when I run across something that makes me personally rethink what I’m eating, then I reconsider. Why? Because I have a very good diet overall, and if I’m not making the best choices, then you may not be, either.
So let’s start with what I usually eat and don’t eat.
FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. My wife and I are fortunate enough to have easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We visit our local farmers market just around the corner each Wednesday and Saturday. When we do buy from the grocery store, it’s still fresh.
NO PROCESSED MEATS. I avoid processed meats because they’re hazardous to one’s health. “Processed meats are classified as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning there is sufficient evidence that they cause cancer, particularly colorectal cancer.” This is the conclusion of the World Health Organization and the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). Other health risks include stomach cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
LIMITED DAIRY PRODUCTS. I have been vegan in the past, but I live in France. Cheese is a way of life here. So I occasionally indulge, but not regularly. There are also diabolical desserts in Paris. They tempt ,and I sometimes succumb. Living in a decadent city may be an excuse for bad choices. I like to think of it as a rationale. But it’s my rationale and I’m sticking to it.
However, drinking milk on a daily basis is, candidly, is a very American thing and a waste of money. If you want to get essential doses of calcium, eating broccoli, kale, cabbage, almonds, and butternut squash can provide that. You can also avoid the dairy milk side effects: links between dairy milk hormones and prostrate cancer, as well as lactose intolerant symptoms (bloating and skin irritations). I’ve posted on the dangers of red meat, so I won’t go into that again suffice to say that even the government of France is going to begin encouraging its citizens to reduce meat consumption because of health and environmental concerns.
Now, I’m going to climb down off my high horse and admit that I’ve probably been making some mistakes with regards to my own diet. Namely, I’ve been eating too much rice, too much pasta, and too many potatoes.
I didn’t realize that these three foods turn to sugar far too quickly and aren’t healthy to, you know, binge. Which is what I’m prone to do…especially when I’m left to fend for myself in the kitchen. Boiling water, bag of pasta, red sauce, tomatoes, olives, Netflix cued up, and we’re done!
I learned the nutritional details and science-based dangers of these favorite/go-to food choices of mine as I watched the video below. It’s not a short video, so you’ll want to carve out some time, get comfortable, and watch it. (Not with a bowl of pasta.)
The bottom-line result from discovering this new information is that I’m eliminating the pasta and potatoes–and really cutting back on rice. Sugar in my beloved espressos and Mariage Freres teas will be a treat reserved for Sundays.
I share this for two reasons: when I make a mistake or when I haven’t been making the best choices, I accept it, pivot, and try to improve. Second, if my mistakes can help you, great, so much the better.
Enjoy the video and let me know what you think.
- BGT