Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo? Which is the Perfect Diet?
The “Perfect” Diet
By Julia Loggins
We are bombarded these days with headlines about “the perfect diet.” Some say the perfect diet is raw food or vegan; others tout the joys of being vegetarian. And, there is a whole new wave of advocates for a high-fat, high-protein, low-carbohydrate, zero-processed-food diet known as Paleo. What is your perfect diet? I am excited to share the story of how I found mine.
A Reformed Food Fanatic Speaks
I will say right up front that I believe certain foods are destructive for everyone, especially in large quantities. Sugar. Wheat. Processed foods. Fake fats. However, in my opinion, there is no one perfect diet for everyone. From over 35 years of experience in the field of regenerative medicine, I have learned that what is “perfect” for one person isn’t right for another. People can be fanatical about food. Along the way of my humbling journey, my righteous and rigid food beliefs were crushed; and I had to let go of my “one way or the highway” thinking. The secret to finding one’s perfect diet is to truly listen to your body and brain tell you what your perfect diet is. And it will, if you listen!
Living Foods As Medicine
As I was healing, I nourished myself with raw foods. Because of my history of bleeding ulcers and colitis, most of my nutrition had to come from juices. It was months before I could digest simple raw foods. I trained at Hippocrates Health Institute, West Palm Beach, FL, where living foods is a primary tool for regeneration. Hippocrates is America’s premiere center for healing catastrophic disease through alternative medical therapies. Their results are extraordinary. People arrive with stage three and four cancers, and through strictly following the principals of the program, heal their bodies and live long, vibrant lives.
Listening to my body and expanding my foods to create the best diet
From Celery to Salmon
I thrived on living foods for three years. After taking up karate, I started to feel weak and undernourished, and didn’t have the stamina to work out. My blood sugar was a roller-coaster. Being someone who doesn’t digest seeds, nuts or beans well, I wasn’t getting enough protein. right this time, Dr. D’Adamo’s Book, “Eat Right For Your Blood Type” caught my attention. He taught me that, as an O blood type, I need an abundance of protein. Yet, I had never imagined eating flesh again. Taking a leap of faith, I tried a piece of wild-caught salmon. My body was so happy! After years of living on a restricted diet, it was time to expand my diet beyond celery and sprouts.
The Happy, Pregnant Belly
When I became pregnant, I added other new foods to my diet. I devoured goat yogurt, and hefty amounts of avocado, rye bread and coconut. Once I stopped nursing, the goat yogurt seemed to create mucus in my lungs. The rye bread felt heavy in my gut. So, I let them go. My body continued to redefine what the perfect diet is.
The Seasons of Our Nutritional Choices
Today, I love my salads, vegetable juices, rice protein smoothies and some animal protein, always mindful of its source. My children, 17 and 22, enjoy a wide variety of fresh foods, although they are mostly gluten, sugar and lactose-free.
I found my perfect diet and I trust that you will, too. Be willing to strip your diet down to the foundation, and re-build again. Always listen and be open to change. Trust that the body knows how to heal. And it does!
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