Hooray for everyone who craves only healthy, wholesome foods. As for the rest of us – we are left with the comfort of knowing we aren't alone in our struggle! If only thinking about eating healthy burned as many calories as actually doing it, none of us will ever have to feel guilty for our tabooed food cravings. Unfortunately, an alarming amount of what we eat goes to waist! —pun intended. Most of us are trained now to associate HEALTHY with a slim waistline. Definitely not the case. My definition of healthy means to actually listen to your gut and your body-if your gut health is good then a horde of diet-related conditions are under wraps. Your own body is the expert at keeping you healthy.

One of the main reasons for diseases to run in families is the concept and pattern of dieting or the following of certain food habits. What this means is that we need to pay closer attention to what we eat, when and how we eat as well. That’s right you need to do an allrounder check on your food and drink intake.

For example, we need to consider whether our food is home cooked or store bought, drive-throughs or eat-ins, skipping meals or snacking too often- are some of the areas that we could look into to figure out any excesses or lapses in our eating habits. Also, our mood whilst eating plays a tremendous role in our overall health.

Those who eat healthy have all started their journey by means of such insight.  A clinical trial on 300 adults for over a year was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and led by Queen Mary University of London; is the first randomized evaluation of the 5:2 diet, a popular type of intermittent fasting regime wherein you would eat regularly for 5 days and fast or eat less on 2 days of the week. The goal of the 5:2 diet is to cut caloric intake on fasting days to 25 percent or just one-quarter of a person’s regular intake on the remaining days. For example, a person who regularly eats about 2,000 calories per day would eat 500 calories on fasting days.

This study analyzed the adherence to diet and weight loss regime based on a 20-minute session of standardized mundane verbal advise on diet and exercise vs a more liberal approach using weekly support groups and attractive leaflets on calorie content, menu planning and exercise and behold, the study participants responded better to the 5:2 diet approach as it was more sustainable and the delivery of advice was well received. This proves the individualization of dietary advice.

It is not to propagate on a new trending diet but this study shows that we could follow any form of healthy eating, but the results are apparent for those who truly commit to it and those who practice it for long-term health benefits.

Doctors won’t make you healthy. Dietitians won’t make you slim. Trainers or gyms won’t make you fit. Eventually, only YOU can make all those things happen. So, pay attention to yourself. I believe that the greatest gift you can give to yourself, or your family is a healthier and well-fed YOU. So, get started now and improvise your plate-one meal or snack at a time. Talk yourself into getting healthier and enjoy a newer more robust version of yourself.

Sourced from: Science Daily and Queen Mary University of London.