What I learnt from The Great Health Debate

Posted February 14, 2011

My fellow nutrition nerds will know what I’m talking about when I say that last week was pretty much one of the best, most information dense weeks ever. Not only did we have the chance to see David Wolfe in person, but we were also blessed with eight days of The Great Health Debate hosted by Kevin Gianni from Renegade Health. Each day, two nutrition experts were given about an hour each to present their case as to which diet and eating modality they believe is the best for us to follow. Vegans versus omnivores, high carb versus low carb, high raw versus not so high raw, highly alkaline versus fermented foods, salt is bad versus salt is good, fruit is bad versus fruit is good – oh, it was amazing.

So many myths were dispelled and many controversies were explained. But while some confusion was ironed out, some of the debates left me feeling even more confused than before. I guess that was part of the beauty of the event. Each of the speakers was able to back up their arguments so well that you couldn’t help but agree with them. But then the next speaker would come on, present a slightly different view and you would find yourself agreeing with them also. So, who is right and who is wrong? Maybe they are both right, or maybe they are both wrong. Which brings me to the main lesson I learnt from The Great Health Debate: There is no ideal diet for everyone. It’s called bio-individuality. Each of us is made up so differently and each of our bodies so unique that we simply cannot design a diet that is fit for everyone. There you have it. I feel like this little gem of wisdom could put an end to all the hair pulling and finger pointing among nutrition heavy weights.

These are a few more pearlers I took away from eight days of great health debating …

Eat lots of plants: All of the experts, whether they are omnivores or vegans, agree that eating a lot of plant foods is crucial to good health. Plants contain an array of enzymes, vitamins and minerals that are just not available in meat.

Limit consumption of meat and animal products: Eating meat is a personal choice, but if you do choose to eat meat it should be more of a condiment to a meal rather than the main portion.

Avoid processed foods: Everyone was on the same page with this one. Processed and refined foods do not belong in the body.

Limit or cut out salt: Some experts say to cut salt out completely, some say to consume good quality salt in moderation and some include it in their diet all the time. I have to say I believe that we get all the sodium our bodies need from our plant foods. There are just too many negative associations tied to salt consumption for my liking.

Avoid sugar and artificial sweeteners: I think it is a bit extreme to cut out all natural sugars from your diet, as one expert was suggesting, but avoiding white sugar and artificial sweeteners is a smart move.

Know where your food is coming from: Eating organic local produce is something all experts recommend. Even the meat-eaters said they wouldn’t eat meat from a supermarket or non-organic source. It is important to know exactly where you food comes from and what is in it.

Exercise is crucial to wellness: Move your body often. Exercise promotes detoxification, oxygenates your cells and keeps your body alive. If you’re not moving, you’re dying.

What works for your body now, may not work in the future: Our bodies are always changing and evolving. It’s important to continue to monitor what is working and what isn’t. If something isn’t working, listen to your body and be prepared to experiment and make changes.

Food isn’t everything: Yes, what we eat is crucial to good health. However, we also need to strike a healthy balance in all the other areas of our life. Things like sleep, adequate sunlight, healthy relationships, spirituality, mindfulness and dealing with stress are just as important to our wellbeing as what is on our plates.

If you missed The Great Health Debate, you have until this Friday to purchase the whole set of debates for the discount price of $49.95. Click here for more on that.

Did anyone else tune in for The Great Health Debate? What did you think? Do you have anything to add to the list?

Positive affirmation for the day: I am manifesting the future of my dreams with every positive thought and intention.

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