Health
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Cheers,
Darya
1,842 responses so far
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Hi Darya,
I am a Registered Dietitian in Cochrane Ontario Canada (very north). I just needed to thank you for writting such a wonderful book and blog! I work mostly in Diabetes and am so thankful for the term “intact grain” I must say it 100x per day and it resonates so well with my clients! You rock!
Kim
Woo hoo! Thanks Kim!
Hi Darya,
So I’ve read your book and as I’ve said before, I’m a huge fan. I’m now trying to incorporate more healthy habits into my lifestyle. I am having trouble letting go of the dieter’s mindset, however, but for an odd reason.
I know that in your book that you are against dieting (duh), but I have been diagnosed with allergies to eggs, wheat, and whey that manifest their effects overtime (aka not celiac or anything like that). So I’m supposed to eliminate these foods for health reasons, and it seems like it’s almost forcing me to adopt the dieter’s mindset because the problem foods are ubiquitous and in so many yummy things. If I eat any of the foods I’m sensitive to I don’t feel terrible as one with a more severe allergy would, so there isn’t any immediate deterrent effect from eating it. So, I end up adopting the what the hell effect for the day because I’ve already eaten a food that has screwed up my system.
In short, any words of advice on avoiding the what the hell effect for someone who is forced to avoid some of the typically yummy foods?
Thanks,
Caitlin
I’d recommend keeping in mind that while your brain may like the “what-the-hell” idea, your body doesn’t work that way. More is definitely worse, so your arbitrary “I already screwed up” line only exists in your mind.
I think in your case it would be advisable to try to find substitutes for the things you love if you can. Tofu scrambles can be just as delicious as eggs. There are a zillion gluten/wheat free websites that can help you make breads, pastas and cookies. Dairy substitutes are easy to come by as well. Just make sure these things are JUST AS TASTY and not a half-assed substitute or they won’t work. Good luck!
Hi Darya,
Can you recommend some books on mindfulness?
Thanks,
Caitlin
The ones I’ve seen are pretty terrible across the board, especially when it comes to food.
That said, a nice intro to zen buddhism is called Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Suzuki. Search the web for mindful meditations, walking meditations, breathing exercises, etc. for more how-to stuff.
Hi Darya- can you tell me what farmers market you buy your tamarillos from? I live in berkeley thx!
I got them at McEvoy olive oil inside the ferry building, but that was forever ago.
Hi Darya! I’m brand new here and want your opinion on juicing, for detoxing, rebooting and weight loss. I have just started and prior to juicing, I took many vitamins. I would like to know…is it possible to overdose on vitamins if I continue to take them along with all of the veggies and fruits I use for juicing.
Thank you and I am SO looking forward to your sit now. Changing my lifestyle! Rose
Yes, you can overdose on vitamins, particularly the ones that are fat soluble and hang out in your body. I recommend taking a single multivitamin in addition to a well-balanced diet. If you are vitamin D deficient (get tested), you may need to supplement with that as well (D3), but that should be it unless you’re vegetarian/vegan and need more B vitamins and fish oil.
How do you prevent lentil bloat?
Soak your lentils and throw out soaking liquid before cooking. Eat probiotics (sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, etc.) and chew more.
Hi Darya!
I just read on a website that consuming foods cured with sodium nitrite and/or sodium nitrate pose no health threat, as the amounts of these substances in food are negligible. Is this true?
Cured, processed meats are unhealthy, but it isn’t clear to me why. Some have proposed the nitrate/nitrite hypothesis, but I don’t find the data convincing (they’re also really common in vegetables likes spinach and celery). When eating cured meats I stick with those that use traditional methods as opposed to modern industrial methods, as these seem to contain fewer carcinogens.
Hi Darya,
I’m a huge fan of your blog and your book, and I really agree with your food philosophy. However, I find that the more I focus on healthy eating and cooking, the more I run into two problems:
1) Searching for healthy recipes, cooking techniques (for newbies like me) and the healthiest foods leads me down a rabbit hole that results in hours per week spent sitting at the computer reading blogs & websites when I’m not otherwise very sedentary. Obviously the easiest solution to this is just setting a limit, but I’m curious if this is something people like yourself who do this for a living struggle with.
2) It seems like the more I read about food and think about the food I’m putting in my body, the hungrier I am and the more I eat. It seems to be legit hunger, too- my stomach actually starts to growl. Even if I’m eating healthier food, I tend to gain weight when I’m constantly thinking about what I’m eating vs. just going about my daily life eating whatever I want (I often forget to eat if I’m busy).
My question is: have you noticed this with yourself or others you’ve coached, and are there techniques to find a healthy balance with food/cooking education and “research” without going overboard into full on food obsession?
Thanks!
P.S. I’m happy to do the donation to Charity Water if this question requires a longer response, I just couldn’t figure out how to fit the question in that box to submit. Thanks.
I definitely don’t recommend getting too hung up on all this stuff. Start by cultivating a few home court recipes and work from there. That said, your cooking will improve with time and you won’t find it as necessary to spend time online figuring stuff out, so I don’t think this is a problem you’ll have forever.
Focus your efforts on 1-2 habits at a time and don’t stress so much. If you’re obsessing about food, make one of your new habits 10,000 steps, or mindfulness instead of just veggies and intact grains.
I like it when people get together and share ideas.
Great site, continue the good work!
Hi Darya,
I really really love that this website exists and am very excited to get started on Foodist! Thank you for all your hard work!
This question is quite unrelated to the usual subject matter of the website but you mentioned that you were a literature major. I really enjoyed the post “How fiction can make you a better cook”. I was wondering if you have any other book lists or fiction recommendations on this site or on your personal blog?
Rosa
I love this question! I have a few fiction books in my Shop (link at top), but you can always follow my reading over at Shelfari 🙂
http://www.shelfari.com/daryapino
Hi Darya,
I’ve been reading up on some of the willpower books you referenced in Foodist. Do you think being in some environments can prime people to make poor health decisions?
I have such strong associations with baking and almost binge-eating junk foods w. my sister in our childhood home that it seems like despite my best efforts, I’m still getting sucked in to this deeply ingrained habit.
Any tips on how to alter this kind of habit? I can’t just avoid going home like I would a bakery, obviously. It’s so automatic, it’s kinda scary.
I do this on my own as well as with my sister if I’m being honest with myself. And yes, I have a fulfilling social life and no, I’m not trying to eat to suppress my emotions as far as I’m concerned.
I absolutely think so. The environment and your associations with it trigger behaviors. For two reasons:
1) Habit. Simple association of “When I’m in this place I usually do this or that”
2) Difficulty of making new associations. If you associate watching TV with eating chips based on years of “training”, it takes a radical change in that habit to make you stop craving chips every time you watch TV.
So, I would say you (and your sister) need to change your associations. Find the exact trigger of the “binge” eating moments when you have them, then do something entirely different and do that all the time in those moments.
Basically.
-Patrick
Hi Caitlin,
I actually agree with Patrick. It’s a habit and habits are hard to break. Identify the trigger and the real reward (bingeing itself is likely not what you’re after, but that doesn’t mean it is an emotional thing either–maybe it’s the family bonding of doing something naughty together), then try re-scripting your behavior with something that creates the same reward.
Yay, I have been agreed with!
I do wonder if something more specific can be done. Maybe avoiding such couch sessions altogether for a while and instead making a point to meet outside at a cafe instead, to establish a completely new routine without entering into the environment of the old bad one.
That kind of thing.
What do you make of this article and ones like it?
http://www.pakalertpress.com/2013/06/08/holy-fukushima-radiation-from-japan-is-already-killing-north-americans/
It seems very alarmist to me. One reason is the website itself (top articles are all conspiracy theories), it cites Natural News (one of the biggest quack websites I know of), and they give misleading info (e.g. they say the half life of radioactive isotopes is 30k years, but the article they cite uses iodine-131, which has a half-life of 8 days). I’m not ready to panic quite yet.
I recently received a Fitbit One for my birthday. I love it and really enjoy wearing it daily. Someone recently commented on the fact that I was wearing it clipped to my bra and that there had been some instances of people getting cancer by keeping their phone tucked in their bra. Anyway, it seems far fetched to me, but it did make me think twice about wearing the Fitbit daily. I don’t like to wear it on my waist since I always seem to knock it off with my hands. Any insight?
Hi Karen,
Good for you for wearing the Fitbit! A couple things to consider. First, cellphone technology is very different from Bluetooth technology that the Fitbit uses. Second, even the data on cellphones and cancer is pretty spotty, and I’m not particularly worried. Third, exercising is one of the best ways to fight cancer. Fourth, if you’re looking for a different place to wear it, I clip mine to my *ahem* underwear elastic near my hip joint. There’s a little dent in the flesh there between the bone and the abdomen that conceals the device well under clothing.
Darya,
What are your thoughts on people that can’t keep certain foods in the house because they know they’ll just eat them if they’re readily available?
I mean, I guess on the one hand it’s good because they’re modifying their environment to be more healthy (having nothing but healthy food in the house will make you more likely to eat it), but at the same time I think it shows a lack of control around food.
Caitlin
Not keeping problematic foods in the house is a proven way to reduce cravings and eat less. I don’t think it shows a weakness. As I explain in chapter 2 of Foodist, The Myth of Willpower, we are all weak when it comes to food and habits. The first step is to get the habit under control, and removing the offending food from your living environment is often the easiest way to do that. Once you develop alternative habits, you might be able to buy the food safely again and keep it at home. But keeping it in the house just reinforces the idea that you don’t need a special occasion to indulge.
Hi Darya,
I have had so much trouble trying to keep my weight under control since my teens and now that I’m in my early twenties, I’m finding myself becoming obsessed with strict dieting. I eliminated dairy as I suffer daily from bloating and this seemed to help a great deal. However, I’ve started eating more veg and fruit and no processed foods and even though I’ve been doing this for weeks now my stomach is still bloating a lot all the time. I’ve cut out added sugars, only getting them from fruit. I limit my carbs and I weigh out everything I eat though it’s impossible to get standard weights for food it seems and I don’t know if my portions are right and I’m worried I’m not eating enough and eating too much at the same time! I’m getting really frustrated as I seem to be eating a lot of food but I have little or no energy and I don’t feel well (light-headed, prone to illness etc.). I have lost weight but in all the wrong places! I exercise everyday too going for an 40-60mins power walk. What am I doing that’s so wrong?! Please help!
Hi Karen,
Have you read Foodist? There are lots of instructions in there to help you troubleshoot issues like this. Right off the bat I’d guess you need to work on your mindful eating habits, particularly chewing more thoroughly. Check out this post to see how powerful it can be.
Thank you so much for the super quick reply. Foodist is on it’s way to me and I can’t wait 🙂
Hi Karen,
I hope you won’t mind me also replying to your post, but I have also suffered from debilitating bloating on an almost daily basis for the past several years. My boyfriend and I both read Foodist, and have been implementing many of Darya’s suggestions into our daily eating habits. I am seeing a great reduction in the amount of pain I experience– I now get stomachaches maybe three times a week instead of every day. I can’t even tell you how amazing it feels to go to bed with a flat stomach some nights!
I am continuing to experiment with different foods to find all my triggers. I don’t know if it will help you as well, but I have identified the following as major trouble makers: alcohol; refined sugar; caffeine; carbonated drinks; fried food; and dairy. But the single most important thing I have found makes a difference in the bloating is not eating too much food in any one meal. Darya’s advice on how to eat mindfully and stop when I am full has been invaluable, in that regard!
I hope you feel better very soon. No one should have to be in so much pain all the time!
Hi Darya,
I have a major problem with the what-the-hell effect.If something goes wrong with my eating or even my day, I will end up using it as an excuse to eat lots of junk. Instead of restricting it in the first place, I’m trying to break myself of this link between screwing up and THEN binge-eating treats by buying myself 1 treat at the start of the day and eating it slowly throughout the day. Then, overtime, I’ll slowly phase the treat out until it’s smaller and smaller and then eventually not an everyday thing. Do you think this will help me get out of the dieter’s mindset, or do you think I’m setting myself up for another poor habit by doing this?
I do hope to lose weight while doing this, so I’m nervous that this isn’t the right tactic.
It’s difficult for me to tell you what will work for you, but the good news is this doesn’t have to be a 6-month experiment. Try it for a week or so, and if it prevents from bingeing you win. If it doesn’t, try something else. No biggie 🙂
Also, maybe check out the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck?
Hey Darya,
You inspired me to purchase a fitbit! It’s a great little device, I love it. I have been aiming for 10,000 steps a day but I am just curious, do you take 10,000 steps every single day? Even when its pouring rain outside?
You’re probably thinking *excuses..excuses* but I’m a student and sometimes I have days when I’m at home and all I’m really doing for the day is studying, when it’s pouring rain outside I wonder if I should just suck it up, put my raincoat on, bring an umbrella and go…
Darya, you inspired me to buy a FitBit, too. It’s fantastic! And it definitely motivates me to move around more.
Emma: I’m a student, too, so I understand. When I want to put in a couple thousand steps here and there, but I don’t want to go outside, I do a lot of chores (such as laundry, which is five floors down). Cardio workout videos are great, too. Or I call a friend or family member to catch up and then I just walk around my apartment during the entire conversation. My apartment isn’t very big, and I probably look nuts pacing around, but it definitely gets those steps in. =]
thanks heaps 🙂
Hi Emma,
Yeah, I usually walk 10,000+ steps at least 6 days a week. Travel (i.e. long car or airplane trips) are usually the only things that derail me.
I don’t much like those rainy days either. I usually just hop on the treadmill if it’s the best option.
thanks darya 🙂
Hi Darya,
I read Foodist not too long ago, and after implementing many of your suggestions into my diet, have been seeing tremendous results both in the way I feel (I have been dealing with major digestive issues and intense stomach pain for years), and in my weight. In fact, in just under 8 weeks, I have lost 19 pounds.
Obviously, I am very happy about this! But I have noticed an interesting trend that I am hoping you may be able to help explain. I seem to be losing the weight in waves… I will see no movement on the scale whatsoever for a week or longer, then will suddenly see a big drop over the course of a few days — usually a pound or more a day for a few days in a row.
My initial research on this phenomenon keeps leading back to an idea referred to as the “whoosh” effect… the idea that fat cells, upon being emptied of fat, will temporarily fill with water until they disappear altogether.
I certainly don’t know enough about all of this to know if that is possible, but am wondering if perhaps you have any ideas on why my loss is so non-linear, when my calorie intake and expenditure of calories are very consistent?
Hi Kelly,
First off, congrats! I’m happy you’re experiencing success. I honestly don’t know why your weight loss isn’t linear, but hopefully it is a reflection of metabolic changes. I’ll ask around and see if anyone else is experiencing it.
Darya,
First of all, thanks for writing the Foodist. After years of doing all the wrong things I finally found something that resonated with me. It’s the best investment I’ve ever made in myself. I’ve been following the foodist healthstyle for a month and am feeling much better and am losing weight with little effort or sacrifice. I have already improved 2 of my meals per day to match the foodist plate. Dinner is more challenging but I am working on that. My question is what type of beans do you make? You talk about them a lot in your book but don’t really specify what kinds? As someone who never gave a second thought to dry beans before I don’t know what kinds to try, what to season them with etc.? I did pick up a mixed bag with 14 different kinds and other than over cooking them they do taste quite good plain.
Thanks for all the good information.
I try to try as many different kinds as I find. Just mix it up and figure out what you like. Cook them in beef broth (the cubes work great) to give them more flavor.
Having lots of success with Foodist but have been eating at home (and cooking!). Now the next test comes with a lot of business trips mainly to San Francisco/Union Square Area. Can you recommend some of your favorite great lunch/dinner options in that area that might help me stay on track please?
Samovar is probably the best choice near there. Here’s my list of fave restaurants:
http://daryapino.com/home/2012/5/16/my-favorite-sf-restaurants.html
Hi Darya,
I’m trying to drink more plain water in my day and less other drinks.
My problem is when I drink plain water I always seem to end up with a stomach ache. Any ideas on what’s going on? Any advice?
Maybe you’re drinking too fast? I really don’t know.
Hi, Darya! What do you think/know about wheatgrass shots?
I know a lot of people make a lot of claims that I’ve never seen substantiated with science. I also know they make me nauseous. And I have a hunch that humans don’t need wheatgrass shots to be healthy.
Another Fitbit question! I just got one for my birthday and I’m wondering if you have any thoughts about Fitbit premium. Worth it or not? Thanks!
Never tried it. Could be interesting if you feel you need extra motivation. I think you’d get more out of it if you have the Aria scale too, no?
Hi Darya! Love the site 🙂
Just quickly wanted to know whether the vitamins and other good minerals in spinach survive the freezing process? Thanks!
Yep! They are frozen at peak freshness, which can sometimes mean they’re more nutritious than older veggies that are in the produce aisle. Just one reason I prefer farmers markets to grocery stores.
Wow! Thanks for the quick reply Darya. You’re awesome!
I’ve been slowly losing weight all year … just a couple of pounds a month. This morning I realized that I feel a little sadness over the lost weight. Like my fat cells have been protecting me all these years and now I’m just casting them off as if they haven’t walked this walk with me (a major move, a divorce, a career change, loss of loved ones …) Are you running across anything out there that has to do with the loss of weight and the sadness of … change(?)
Wow, that’s interesting. One thing that is important to keep in mind is that fat is not inert. It’s an endocrine organ that produces hormones like estrogen, and also stores things like vitamin D. Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids are linked to depression, maybe your levels are lowering due to the weight loss? This is a new one for me.
Thank you, Darya! I was a little down this morning, so that may have been it. I also did a some internet research about what actually “happens” to the fat in your body (like … where does it go?) and that helped (and dovetailed beautifully with your answer!)
You mention sardines several times in Foodist. I am ready to take the plunge and at least TRY them but I stand at the Whole Foods counter staring at those little fish and haven’t a clue where to begin. Any tips on preparing sardines please?
I usually eat them just from the can, squeeze some lemon on to cut the oil. Great as a supplement to salads and veggie dishes, to add substance. The boneless, skinless ones are less freaky 🙂
Sardines are my favorite. It’s great to boost your Calcium. The best thing to do with it is cook it in oil, garlic and onions. Then add a bit of tomato catsup.
Hi ,
Would your book – the foodist participate in Amazon’s matchbook program?
Very unlikely I’d be consulted on that decision.
Hi Darya,
I’m underweight by about 2.2lbs, so I try to eat a lot, healthfully as much as possible. My lunch and dinner usually consist of 1 to 2 cups of white rice (sometimes brown) with lots of veggies and with either chicken or fish. My question is since I eat a lot of rice am I in danger of not absorbing nutrients due to the phytic acid in rice?
Should be fine if you’re also eating animal products. Anti-nutrients are only really an issue for those on very limited diets.
Hi Darya,
What is your take on water fasting? Many have touted its effectiveness in improving health, with some even claiming it helps resolve several long-term medical conditions.
Some even claimed they went on 60-day fasts (under medical supervision) without issue!
Can water fasts be considered healthy?
Sounds like crazy talk to me.
I just read this today and it seems alarmist. I love to eat eggs, especially those from the chickens we raise for that purpose. These chickens spend the better part of the day in our yard eating whatever they find — haven’t seen a tick on the dog since we got them!
http://www.forksoverknives.com/whats-wrong-with-eggs
Totally alarmist. Good eye. Forks Over Knives is a vegan propaganda machine.
Hi Darya,
Do you have any books on meditation / mindfulness that could recommend?
Thanks,
Charlotte
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki is a great place to start.
Hi Darya,
I’ve been a fan of your work for a few years now, and I finally got my Foodist delivered recently (I’m Australian).
But I still feel confused and apprehensive about something: I have a familial high cholesterol problem. I totally understand your advice to eat as close to nature as intended, I am just really concerned about jumping into the animal saturated fat camp and what it potentially will do to my cholesterol – is it seriously ok to eat full fat organic yoghurt, butter, and eggs everyday without my LDL level skyrocketing?
My doctor gave me a list with a “Foods to avoid” column…”whole fat dairy / eggs/ egg yolks…” etc.
I’m not on medication and my overall triglyceride level is really good as I exercise regularly. What are your thoughts?
Cheers,
Greta
Hi Greta,
There are some people that are more sensitive to cholesterol and saturated fat, and it seems like you might be one of them. The good news is that since you’re pretty healthy, you can play around a bit with what you eat and see how it affects you. Stay on top of your numbers, optimize your health with what you know works (lower fat). Then if you want to try adding a little more of this or that, you can try and get tested again. You can always undo it if you’re healthy already. I recently spoke to a friend with familial high cholesterol whose numbers dropped 60 points when he cut out processed food and ate more eggs/meat, so you never know.
Hi, Darya! I am reading FOODIST and have noticed a lot of the advice about eating relates to the rhythm of the day–like, eating protein at breakfast improves your metabolic response the rest of the day. Well, I work the night shift and it is havoc for my eating–I never know when or what to eat. I can’t just flipflop meals–when I get home I eat and then go immediately to bed. (If I don’t eat enough, hunger wakes me up after a few hours.) Any advice for us night-shift workers? And don’t say “get off the night shift, it’s bad for your body”–it is, but someone has to staff the hospitals at night!
Hi Bonnie,
That’s really tough. I’d just try to get on as regular a schedule as possible and try to eat healthy when you can. You’ll definitely have a harder time, but I’m sure you can figure out a system that works for you.
Hi Darya–
I’ve been reading Foodist and really enjoying it, but as a college student living on campus, I’m not sure how to apply some of the strategies to college life. I exercise regularly, 2-3 hours a week, and try to eat a variety of foods with plenty of vegetables (I eat salad once or twice every day). But I haven’t noticed much change in my weight. Do you have any advice specifically for college, especially eating in a dining hall?
Thanks!
Hi Callan,
If you think you’re already healthy (double check you’re not eating more sugar than you think), focus on mindful eating techniques like chewing more and eating slowly. Bright lights in a dining hall can encourage overeating, for example, so you’ll need to be extra diligent.
Hi Darya,
I love your book. Only 3 chapters in though.
What kind of stove do you use? Gas, electric?
Thanks
Stephan
I prefer gas stoves because it is easier to control heat.
Hi Darya-
I came across this article recently published on Psychology Today, regarding the grains we eat and their negative impact on our brain health. It offers some pretty scary ideas supposedly backed by research linking even whole grains, quinoa, etc w/Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. I’d love to hear your thoughts (and hoping it may be a BS of the week contender?? love my quinoa…haha).
Thanks!
Holly
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-optimalist/201310/your-healthy-diet-could-be-quietly-killing-your-brain
I haven’t read the book, but from the reviews/excerpts I’ve seen he’s using the glycemic index argument again (same as Wheat Belly (my review). We already know elevated blood sugar is bad. We already know a bad diet is bad for your brain, and processed grains are a big part of that. I haven’t seen compelling evidence that specific grains increase brain risk.
Hi Darya!
I am underwieght. please give me a diet plan to increase wieght. ( EXCLUDE vegetables:))
Stay blessed.
Pretty sure you came to the wrong website.
Would unsweetened almond milk be a good dairy alternative for someone prone to acne like myself? I switched from dairy to soy milk for use in my coffee but have heard bad things about that stuff too (even though it tastes pretty good).
Yep, almond milk is a great option. I like unsweetened hemp milk too.
Hi Darya,
When would you say one has found one’s ideal body type?
I’m not sure what you mean? I think you have a certain body type, I don’t think you find an ideal one.
If you mean how do you know when you’re the right weight, it’s when you’re healthy and happy. My guess is you already know this.
Hi Darya,
I was wondering if you’ve ever commented on, or know anything about Juice Plus+? I’ve found some really conflicting information on it, and would really appreciate your views on it. Or maybe you could point me towards a reputable source?
Thanks,
Matty
My general hierarchy is:
real vegetables > fresh vegetable juice > food based supplements > synthetic supplements.
If you want my honest opinion it looks super gimmicky to me and like a great excuse to not do anything real to improve your health.
Thank you for this response. Juice Plus+ has recently had a surge of popularity in my community, and although they cite several research studies, it seems like a glamorous sales pitch. After following you for several years, it bothers me that their reps claim it is the key to a healthy lifestyle.
I’ll stick with my Butcher Box, fresh produce, and whole food multi-vitamin! 🙂 Thank you for being a consistent champion for real healthy living!
Hello,
What are your thoughts on fasting and meal frequency?
Thanks
I think they’re painful and unnecessary. There’s some slightly compelling short term studies on health benefits, but long-term studies are less convincing. Also, I’ve never seen a study comparing real food eaters to fasters. Usually the comparison is “healthy controls” who eat a slightly less bad version of the Standard American Diet.
I guess the real question is: what’s your goal? Mine is to have an awesome life, so fasting seems pointless.
Hey Darya,
Love your website and love your book! I’ve been a long time reader.
I’m a vegetarian and I find lunch to be the hardest meal of the day. So I usually make myself a homemade Greek salad. I put cucumbers, red pepper (and other colors if I have them around), red onion, black olives, tomatoes and feta cheese.
I’m just wondering if there is anything health wise wrong with eating that everyday for lunch.
I think if it works for you it’s fine. Sounds healthy so long as that’s enough to keep you satisfied. If you find yourself overeating at night, I’d balance it with more protein (e.g. beans/lentils/egg).
Hey Darya, love the site, the book, and the podcasts (which I’m powering through right now – so informative!)
Two really quick questions. You mention that you take a general multivitamin to err on the side of health, rather than not getting enough on a range of vitamins. How do you know whether a multivitamin is a good multivitamin – what do you look for?
And finally, think I’ve found a good supplier of organic (as defined by UK) and free range eggs. What should chickens eat? These ones apparently eat 50% wheat 20% soya/sunflower meal, and the rest oils, minerals, pigments, and the grass they can get whilst roaming. Is this OK?
For multivitamins I look at the label to make sure there isn’t anything that’s way over the RDI (e.g. no 400% vitamin E). Megadoses are never good unless you’re specifically deficient in something (e.g. I discovered I was vitamin D deficient so take an additional supplement—lousy SF fog). Personally I also take a multi that is food-based rather than synthetic, so I’m getting the more natural enantiomers (configuration) of the molecules.
I’m not a chicken expert, but bugs (from grass and cow patties) and feed sounds good. You might like Joel Salatin’s work for more on healthy chickens.
Hi Darya,
In your awesome book, “Foodist”, you say that breakfast should have a “low glycemic load” and “a good amount of protein”. Does your muesli breakfast meet these two requirements? I Googled your 5 grain cereal and can’t find a nutrition label anywhere!
As someone who has tried paleo (and found it too restrictive to be practical) I am surprised to consider that it may meet the above breakfast requirements.
Thanks!
Shannon
You’re way over-thinking this. Remember that this isn’t rocket science. If you think something might work for you, try it for a week or two and see. You can always change again and if things are still not working then you can consider adding additional protein or whatever, but counting grams is almost never the answer.
For what it’s worth, my grain mix contains 6g protein per serving, and the trail mix is another 4g, plus whatever’s in my splash of almond milk. I find it incredibly satisfying and has completely eliminated the craving for carbs I had while LC. It works for me, but only you can determine what works for you.
ok fine. include vegetables 🙂
I agree there is a lot of web site that have miss information about issues and in many cases outright lies. I believe an educated consumer is a wiser consumer and don’t always take stories, emails at face value, be curious, dig deeper, find out more… When I was a child, I was always asking why, how come, how does that work, why does that work. It’s ok to be a little skeptical sometimes, however try voiding to be negative or cynical… Thanks for the post about radioactivity, defiantly more monitoring and testing needs to be done.
Hi Darya,
Do you ever bake at home?
Caitlin
No, I don’t enjoy baking. It reminds me too much of the lab. Maybe if I ever breakdown and have kids I’ll reconsider.
Hey Darya-
If you haven’t heard it enough, foodist is awesome. Just awesome.
I have dark hair, like you and your husband. I’m 28, and I’m starting to see more and more gray hairs popping up on the sides.
Is there any sort of literature, or at least colloquial evidence you trust, to back any sort of treatment to combat it? Natural shampoos, greens powders, multis, etc?
I wish! The biggest correlation I’ve found personally is stress, so meditation, exercise and other stress reduction techniques are my only tools.
Hi Darya, I’m thinking of doing the two week recalibration you recommend in Foodist. Are eggs OK to eat during this period ?
thanks
Mark
Of course.
I know you aren’t a big fan of bars as snack foods, but what are your thoughts between lara bars and kind bars – if you had to choose one? I know the lara bars are made from simple ingredients that you can pronounce, but have more sugar (naturally occurring?) whereas the kind bars have less sugar, but more questionable ingredients.
Alternatively, what are some other quick “on the go” snacks you recommend?
I have a post coming up on this topic soon. I think either bar is fine if it’s only very occasionally. I agree you have to be careful with KIND bars, some choices are much better than others in terms of the styles. Personally I like these new Defender bars I’ve found. Careful though, they’re really filling. I can only eat half of one without feeling a little sluggish. My husband can’t even finish one.