the right foods

The Diet Code focuses on getting the most from every single bite you eat. It’s not just about choosing good food, but about eating for optimal nutrition. The right foods - fundamental foods in the service of functional nutrition - provide the richest tastes, the most nutrients per ounce, and the greatest benefit to your metabolism. They are the best foods for reaching and maintaining a healthful weight, and the best choice for overall good health. Nutrient dense foods satisfy the body in a deeper, more fundamental way, which automatically leads to smaller portions and, in turn, to natural weight loss.

Choosing the right food – the fundamental foods – is one of the most important components of The Diet Code. The list of fundamental carbohydrates, for instance, is short -- leafy greens, onions, beans, asparagus, peppers, tomato sauce, orange vegetables; wholemeal sourdough breads, whole and cracked grains, artisanal pasta; fresh and dried fruit; honey, chocolate; and beer and wine. This list isn’t meant to exclude the many other natural, nutritious foods available that you learn more about in the book, but rather to spotlight the common ones you should not do without. Make these the bulk of your carbs and you'll be well on your way to living The Diet Code.
 

Losing our minds over food

It's no secret that the modern Western diet of processed and fast foods is bad for our hearts and our waistlines. But poor nutrition, says a new study, may also be making people insane. In the past half century there's been a sharp increase in the incidence of several mental disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and ADD. One of the reasons for the growing problem, says the British Mental Health Foundation, is that our brains simply aren't getting the nutrients they need to function properly.

"We are only just beginning to understand how the brain as an organ is influenced by the nutrients it derives from the foods we eat," Dr. Andrew McCulloch tells BBC News. Various studies have linked common mental disorders to a lack of fish and vegetables-- we ate 34% less vegetables and 66% less fish than people did in 1955. Those foods are the main source of omega-3 fatty acids which are known to affect mood and brain health. And it's not just the type of food we eat that affects nutrient intake. Mass production, McCulloch says, has reduced the quality of our food, ...removing fiber, phytochemicals, and other natural products.

Excerpted from The Week – February 2006
 

 

 

In this Section

The Right Foods
The Right Proportions
The Three Levels

 

 

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