Diet: do you need it?

  We all have come across the word “Dieting” more than once in our lifetime. Whenever it does, the statements are like, “You should start dieting!” or when you are in a social gathering and someone says “Are you dieting?'' or the funny times when you are a bit irritated and someone says, “You must be dieting!”. Have you ever wondered why dieting is not related to a positive attitude? Why don't you hear statements like “Dieting can help you!” or “I feel really good when I am dieting” or “Dieting helped me, you should try too”. This rarely happens, doesn't it? Dieting is always considered as a way to lose weight or when a doctor imposes it on you but is dieting only limited to that aspect? Does it always have to be scary and paint an ugly starving picture of your body in your mind? It is something to ponder about.

         As many of us, including me, have always considered dieting as an unhealthy way to lose weight. We search how to lose those extra inches, what not to eat, what to eat, for how long we should continue? We see, how long others have done it. How long it took for them to reach the desired results? And then there is some content which says how dieting did not have any effect or how it worked for some time and then they reached a plateau and can’t reach their goals which can be very demoralizing for us. I can't think of a person in good health and shape ever searching about dieting. Why is that? I don't think practicing a good diet is only restricted to weight loss.

           The University of Minnesota says “Diet refers to the food and drink a person consumes daily and the mental and physical circumstances connected to eating. Nutrition involves more than simply eating a “good” diet—it is about nourishment on every level. It involves relationships with family, friends, nature (the environment), our bodies, our community, and the world. So as they say Dieting is a practice of eating balanced food,  a plate full of all macro and micronutrients in harmony to cater to your body’s needs. Dieting is all about eating right, not eating less. It definitely helps people suffering from obesity and diabetes and many other diseases. Also a need for people who want to stay healthy. What you eat is what your body is.

      Diet is not just excluding food you like but including a variety of food that detoxifies the body, enriches it with nutrients, and then maintains goodness to reap benefits. It means increasing the intake of food rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and good fats and making sure less consumption of saturated fats, carbohydrates, calories, and highly processed foods. Diet makes you understand what changes or benefits food can do in the body so listening to your body needs is the key to a healthier way of life. We know, in our generation there is a boom of lifestyle disorders and if you look closely a simple change in diet even just for a week can do wonders. Just cutting back a little on calories and carbs leads to decreased levels of glucose and cholesterol which in turn prevents various heart disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic liver disease, and other life-threatening diseases. It strengthens your immunity, boosts your metabolism which in turn affects your overall health, sleep, skin, bones, mind even helps you socially, mentally, and spiritually. 

However, it is hard to stick to healthy choices when there is too much temptation around us. Not even the most stubborn and dedicated person can resist a succulent sundae or a cheezy pizza and not to have it will be another sort of sin. So, despite all that has been said,  it is fine to indulge in some gluttony in life, rewarding yourself with snacks and treats will only encourage you to continue. Eating everything but in moderate amounts and sustaining the good results of a healthy diet along with regular physical exercises is essential. It's important to make healthy and balanced choices, that should be the goal. Dieting and physical activity are key to good nutrition and necessary for a long and healthy life. Don't paint a negative, famished picture when the word diet is mentioned instead think and look at it as a way to heal your body and understand its needs.