Oh, hello there! Oops, I wasn't supposed to greet you. Anyway, let's jump straight into the deep end — the very core of our being: eating. Essentially, we all eat to live, right? Well, some of us occasionally live to eat too. We are what we eat. It's a cliché but it's as true as the sky is blue. More specifically, we are what we digest. If we follow a well-balanced, nourishing diet, odds are our bodies are going get along with us pretty well. So, I'll guide you through the winding, sometimes baffling, world of diets, and hopefully, we'll emerge on the other side with a greater understanding of what it means to lead a healthier, happier you. Brace yourselves, here we go!
Food can be magic. It's like a secret treasure chest filled with things we need to explore and savour, only this chest is nutritional. With each food type offering unique benefits, varying your diet can be an exciting adventure in its own right. I once spent an entire weekend in the vast Kalgoorlie Super Pit — not literally, of course, Perth is my abode — (I had too many carrots and my imagination went wild) and I can assure you, exploring the vast landscape of nutrients in food is just as captivating, albeit less dusty and with zero gold.
Consider proteins the sturdy bricks of our body’s infrastructure, they play an essential role in muscle development, metabolism, and the immune system. How about that chicken curry you love from your favourite Indian joint? Plenty of proteins there! I’ve got an amusing (and slightly embarrassing) anecdote featuring curry; but more on that later. Let's stick to the topic of proteins for now. They are crucial, alright?
Fats, although vilified at times, they're vital, precisely the “good” ones. Don't let the word “fat” scare you. In truth, unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for brain function and heart health. About a year ago, chatting with my friend from South Australia, we realised that omega-3 fats and mobile phone coverage have something in common. Both are significant yet often overlooked until you seriously miss them. Thankfully, healthy fats are much easier to get ahold of! In a world consumed by “low fat” labels, we should, in fact, be embracing the right kind of fats for a healthier life. Trust me on this.
Carbohydrates, popularly known as carbs, are your body's primary source of energy. And no, they aren’t devils in disguise set out to ruin your waistline. Complex carbs, found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, are especially healthy and necessary for energy. On a different note (quite literally), did you know wholemeal bread emits a much lower pitch noise when you tap it compared to white bread? Try it if you don’t believe me! Now back to the topic, you also need dietary fiber, which aids in digestion — and let's be real, we all need that...
You probably need to sip some water now, talking about food makes us thirsty. But hydration is just as important as what you put on your plate. Water plays a significant role in almost every function of our bodies, from digestion to absorption and even circulation. Even your thoughts are essentially facilitated by—you guessed it—water! Just think about that for a minute. Or, if you’re like me, overthink it for an hour or two!
Building the best diet for you is like building a lego toy without the instructions; it's all about finding the perfect blocks that fit together in your own unique structure. I remember when I started adjusting my diet plan, I felt as lost as a chook in a tennis court. Let me tell you, it's not a maze if you understand the basics. Here are some tips to get you started — yes, you guessed it, start small, stick to basics, and focus on balance.
Falling for dieting myths is like believing a kookaburra can also sing Handel's Messiah — it's simply not true. Over the years, so many misconceptions have clouded our view of healthy eating. Carbs are not purely evil, breakfast isn’t necessarily the 'most important meal of the day', and detox diets don’t do what they promise. Let's debunk these diet myths and save ourselves from the confusing and often misleading maze of false information.
So, now that we have touched upon the very crux of nutritious eating, I hope this information helps you make better, more informed choices. Achieving a healthier you is a journey, and I hope this guide helps you map out that journey a little better. Remember, it's not just about extending our lives, but about improving our quality of living, too. Until next time, bon appetit, ladies and gents!
Written by Daisy Hargrave
View all posts by: Daisy Hargrave