Which diet actually works?

We are constantly bombarded with diet plans.  We could easily spend a lifetime of limiting this and cutting out that and as a result have a horrible relationship with food and probably feel miserable.

So what are we meant to do?  Who should we listen to?

I used to think ‘listening to your body’ was a good idea (and it is when you get to the point that you have cleansed your body and it is being honest with you - telling you what will make it feel good). However, most of the time people listen to their body when it has already picked up bad habits and is telling them they want sugar, fat and food additives, as that is what it has learnt to crave.  

So, rather than listening to your body at first, I think it is better advice to accept that what is right for one person is not always right for another and that you have to work out and create your own 'personal world of food' that suits you.  This is called bio-individuality - we all need different foods to suit us.  This should be a plan of food for YOU that makes you feel vital, energised, happy and shows in your skin.  This can take a while to get right, but I think it is better than jumping from one book of rules to another. 

1. Add foods and take foods away, don't throw one diet book away and buy another.  

2. Read books on nutritional advice and alternative health methods and take from each of them things that fit with you.  

3.  Knowledge is power, gather lots of it and draw your own conclusions. 

There are books on blood type diets, high protein diets, combining diets, low carbs, juices and smoothies, wheat and gluten free diets, calorie counting...I could go on.  There is some truth in most of them, but definitely none in a few of them. I think the best thing to do is start with a good detox or cleanse which strips away your cravings and leaves you with a clean start, a click of the reset button.  This way, you can start to add things slowly and can then make an accurate test on foods you suspect don't suit your body.

If you can get to a good detox centre or embark on a home detox after careful research then you are on to a winning start.  But this is not always available immediately so you have to start with the basics. I think it is always best to start adding good stuff as a priority, if you cannot take away the bad stuff at first, start adding good.  The most important thing is to get your nutrients from somewhere, so adding that all important green smoothie and boosting your current diet with salads and vegetables is the best step forward.

I don’t like to use the word ‘diet’ too much when working with detox guests (although I have used it endlessly in this post so far) as it has too many negative connotations with limitation and makes you feel like you are giving things up.  We are only human and I like to think that perfection is found in our imperfection and a point of balance is where we succeed.  

So, fad diets are everywhere.  I suggest you start by filling your belly with lots of colours and shapes in the form of snacks, soups, salads and shakes and simply not get too bogged down with all the fads.

See you soon.

Josie

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