An enlightened diet

[frankshank]

I'm really looking hard at my diet at the moment (choice or no choice or neither) as I believe it has a massive impact on health and the way we are as people. I'm curious what the enlightened among us are eating and whether there are any consistencies there. What do you feel drawn to eat & drink and what do you avoid? Thanks.

[zendancer]

Frank: Everybody has to learn for him/herself what kind of diet is best for the body. Each body is different, so it will depend upon one's genetic inheritance to a large degree. I happen to have inherited some fairly bad blood chemistry (small molecule LDL's, low number HDL numbers, etc), so it took some experimentation over several years to find out what would improve the profile. Grains, veggies, salmon, low carb intake, a glass of red wine, etc. plus regular aerobic exercise keep the numbers in a good range. The biggest problem that most people have is over-eating a high-fat high-carb diet, which tends to reduce attentiveness, load the body down with excess weight, and make one relatively lethargic (not to mention all the other related conditions such as diabetes, etc). Common sense dictates filtered water (most municipal water systems add too much chlorine to kill bacteria), a reduced or moderate intake of stimulants, sugar, and salt, and perhaps some vitamins. This seems to be one area where "the middle way" seems appropriate. I have friends who are fanatics about what they eat, but no matter what the body eats it eventually dies. LOL. The main thing is to keep it in good shape so that it serves you well as long as it lives. Cheers.

[frankshank]

Thanks for the response ZD. I appreciate that our bodies are different but I'm interested to know more about you and your diet. What do you eat on a typical day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, do you drink beer and/or caffeinated drinks and if so how often. On the food front do you eat contectionary? Do you eat organic food and if so how often? Are processed foods a main part of your diet or not? Thanks.

[zendancer]

Frank: Because my wife and I have been interested in heart-healthy diets, a typical day would include:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with raisins, honey, and skim milk. A whole wheat roll with an oleo-like spread called "Benecol lite" (an expensive substitute for butter that is recommended by heart docs and also tastes good). Two turkey sausage patties with low fat and no nitrites. A cup of Mountain-blend coffee with Splenda and skim milk.

Lunch: A veggie sub, or veggie soup, or an Indian "ethnic cuisine" frozen dinner called "Tikka Masala" from Krogers, or some grilled chicken with veggies.

Afternoon treat: A senior coffee from McDonalds with splenda and cream. Yummy and only sixty-five cents! LOL

Before dinner snack: Rice crackers with roasted red pepper hummus.

Dinner: Grilled salmon with salad and baked potato (or brocolli) and a glass of red wine.

It sounds sickeningly healthy doesn't it? Well, it is, but my attitude is much like that of a good friend whose father died early of a heart attack. I can't do anything about my bad blood, but I don't have to do anything to make it worse. If I didn't exercise and eat like this, my triglycerides and cholesterol would go off the charts. By doing what I do, I can keep the triglycerides in the range of 75 and HDL's (the good cholesterol) above 60. I take a small amount of simvastatin to keep the LDL's extremely low (because I have the small-molecule variety that are the worst kind.) I may stroke out tomorrow, but I do what I can to keep the sludge moving through the old veins.

[frankshank]

That's the sort of detail I was after. Thanks ZD. Your diet certainly seems to be working a treat for you. Long may that continue!!

[eputkonen]

Not drawn to eat or drink anything...or avoid anything.

It's summer, so been grilling more burgers and steaks. Made Baked Ziti tonight. I eat pizza fairly regularly. I also like to cook enchiladas and other Tex Mex (at at Chevy's last night). But by and large, meat and potatos...pretty much what I was raised on.

I drink a lot of pop (daily) - Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, etc. But I don't drink coffee or tea...never liked it. I don't drink beer (also don't like it), but I like a good sake (a bottle or two a year).

I like candy...chocolate in particular. French donuts are great things. I make a mean chocolate-almond tort.

I try to drink the horomone free milk (2%)...as the stuff with horomones doesn't taste as good. If I eat the potato skins of my baked potato or fries...I try to get organic potatos...as the pesticides are nasty.

I don't snack too much (rarely potato chips and things like that)...but I really only eat supper. I don't eat in the mornings or afternoons (usually)...but sometimes I will make belgian waffles or grab something for lunch. More often than not...just one big meal a day.

Thats me...I guess.

[frankshank]

Thanks for the info eputkonen. It's interesting to me how different your diet is to ZD's. Do the rest of you drink beer and/or caffeinated drinks inc coke? Thanks.

[robert]

since none of asked to be here. does anyone think that we are going to get to choose when we leave? i think that life is here to be enjoyed, if nothing else, have a good time. both diets sound pretty good to me. but no i don't really care for soda but mainly because it would keep me up at night.

[eputkonen]

You hear stories of health food fanatics who exercise very regularly dropping dead as well...or being hit by a car...or struck by lightning...or of heart attacks as well.

As for me, I feel no need to try to extend my life or stay living longer. I would be just as OK with dropping dead right now than living another 80 years. Doesn't particularly matter.

[frankshank]

I'm not trying to live forever by improving my diet, I'm trying to improve my quality of life. I had four teeth extracted a couple of months ago due to infection and my energy levels are appallingly low. I don't know why. I get where you're coming from eputkonen. If you're happy and healthy that's cool. Eat what you like. I'm pretty happy but for whatever reason I'm not healthy. This guy doesn't need to eat or drink though apparently:

uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100429/twl-man-survives-without-food-for-70-yea-3fd0ae9.html

[klaus]

Hi frank,

I pretty much eat what's out there, don't have the time to really put myself on a healthy diet nowadays.

However, twice a year I put myself on a week long water fast with a very positive effect on all levels.

[Myself]

Eric: your diet is quite unhealthy... If you keep on like this, your weight will increase a lot...
Although you don't worry about it now, you might start worrying when it starts hurting!

[frankshank]

Apr 29, 2010 12:21:23 GMT -5 klaus said:

Hi frank,

I pretty much eat what's out there, don't have the time to really put myself on a healthy diet nowadays.

However, twice a year I put myself on a week long water fast with a very positive effect on all levels.

Hi klaus,

Thanks for the tip. I tried water fasting once but by the end of the second day I felt like death so I stopped. I don't think I helped myself by drinking too much alcohol and eating rubbish leading up to it. It's certainly something I'd like to try again. Next week I'm going to do a colon cleanse which will involve a 5 day apple juice fast. Whilst arguably not as effective as a water fast I'm hoping it'll be beneficial.

[frankshank]

Apr 29, 2010 16:27:36 GMT -5 @Myself said:

Eric: your diet is quite unhealthy... If you keep on like this, your weight will increase a lot...
Although you don't worry about it now, you might start worrying when it starts hurting!

Eating lots of processed food & sweets and drinking carbonated drinks amongst other things has certainly caught up with me. For a long time it didn't matter but now it does. It's easy to fool yourself into thinking that by taking vitamins and other supplements you're filling the gap, but you're not. We're all different body wise though and that has to be factored in.

[karen]

If you wanta cleanse your system, try a fruitarian (just fruit and nuts) diet for a week or two. It's rather easy to do since you still get filled up.