Over the years, we have seen fad diets come and go, claiming benefits ranging from detoxification, to weight loss, and increasing your energy levels. However, they are just that – fads. Although a number of them indeed produce their claimed outcomes, their main drawback is that they are only effective during the course that they are taken.
Because a number of them are very restrictive, you may have a hard time adhering to them, and simply revert to your old ways. Hence, it is often a wiser decision to follow a simple yet effective healthy diet plan that is loaded with traditional foodstuffs.
For a diet to be considered healthy, it has to contain the appropriate amount of calories and the right kinds of food items. Experts recommend reducing the total amount of energy from fat in the diet and shift from saturated to unsaturated fats. While carbs do contribute to weight gain, it is unwise to omit it entirely from your diet. Don’t forget that the human brain’s primary food source is glucose which can only be taken from carbs. They also recommend consuming slow burning carbs rather than simple carbs. You should also get essential amino acids from both meat and plant-based sources. Incorporate fruits, vegetables, beans, cereals, and various nuts into your diet too.
As we pointed out in the first paragraph, it is a good idea to add traditional food items into your meals. Maybe you are asking, what are traditional foods? Essentially, traditional food are food which are locally grown and harvested from nature using wholly organic methods, without genetic alterations and have been enjoyed for several generations. Traditional foodstuffs are not prepared using industrial methods and in most cases not distributed or sourced abroad. The best sources for these food items are from your neighborhood market.
To better understand what traditional foods are, let us elaborate on them using examples. Those who follow a traditional diet plan prefer taking in sustainably-raised, organic eggs from pastured hens. They also make use of bones to make flavorful broths instead of using pre-packed ones. They also consume nettle leaves which are organically grown. This herb has several species but the one that is edible is called the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), which have stinging hairs on its leaves and stems, hence the name. These stings can cause local irritation hence you need to wear protective clothing when picking them. Then again, they are worth the effort because nettle is rich in vitamins A and B, minerals, histamine and serotonin. Soaking the leaves in water or cooking will deactivate its stinging chemicals. Although they are a bit cumbersome to get and prepare, nettle plants are loaded in vitamins A, C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium. Nettle leaf is likened in flavor and texture to spinach, and can be prepared as pesto, soup, or paired with polenta.
Taking in traditional foods has a lot of benefits. For starters, they are always nutrient-dense. Secondly, you are assured that they are not genetically altered to look plump, or to yield more, or carry harmful synthetic pesticides or herbicides that are associated with ill-health. Third, they are packed with flavor. Third, buying traditional foods supports smaller, family farms. Finally, being a supporter of traditional food diets is you taking an active role in promoting humane and eco-friendly strategies to food production.
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Traditional food items not only taste better, they are healthier choices as well. nettle leaf, which come from stinging nettle plants, are a great example of a traditional food. Read about the advantages of nettle by clicking here.
