What is the healthiest diet?

By: Mike Staszak 

It seems like there is always a new diet trending that claims to be the best, whether it be vegetarian or vegan, keto, paleo, and whole foods. The bottom line is there is no one diet or formula that works for everyone. The diet that works best for me simply will not work the same for very many other people. Not only that, as our bodies change over the years often or dietary needs adjust as well. So, once we think we have it all figured out, we need to make further adjustments. 

One of the big questions for a lot of people is should I eat meat or should I be on the vegetarian side? As I stated above, this varies between individuals, some people’s bodies do extremely well with healthy meats incorporated into their diet, other people’s bodies respond better with primarily a plant-based diet. Problems start to arise when somebody’s body does better when consuming meat products regularly and they have other philosophical reasons for their dietary choices and vice versa for non-meat eaters.

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Here are some key tips for a healthier diet: 

• Reduce the amount of sugar you consume. 
  

• Food from the fresh food section is better than packaged food.
  

• If you are a meat-eater, organic meat is better than non-organic meat, and meat packaged locally is better than meat sourced from different regions of the country.
  

• Any diet should not be overly reliant on grains. Grains have the same effect of raising your blood sugar that sugar does.
  

• A large percentage of people, whether lactose intolerant or not, have some level of sensitivity to dairy products.
  

• Fats are good for you, as long as they are a good kind of fats. Olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, meat fat, including eggs (if you are a meat-eater of course) are all in a good fat category.
  

• Fast food is not good for you and should be eaten on a more occasional basis.
  

There is no perfect diet. When it comes down to it, everyone has different eating habits that work best for them. Eating what feels best for your body is important and will help you maintain a healthy and balanced life. 

About Mike Staszak
Michael Staszak has been an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist for the past 27 years. He is the owner of Staszak Physical Therapy & Wellness Center in Eugene. He and his staff believe that the more people who understand how their bodies work and learn proper body mechanics, the less likely they are to become injured again. With this commitment to patient education, Michael provides wellness articles and presentations for businesses and community members.