Trying to find the best one can be overwhelming.
For years I tried different diets.
I was a vegetarian.
Then I went paleo.
But eventually, I got fed up.
The obvious fact is that they all have advantages and disadvantages.
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The vegan diet, for example, ideally incorporates plenty of whole, plant-based foods.
But even a perfect vegan diet wont provide enough DHA and EPA, which are important omega-3 fatty acids.
Its possible to find sufficient amounts in non-animal sources, but it is incredibly challenging.
But theyre definitely not getting B12 because it only comes from animal foods.
you could live on Oreos, potato chips, and root beer and still call yourself a strict vegan.
And thats about it.
Meat wasnt nearly as abundant as it is now.
Our healthy plant fiber intake doesnt come anywhere close.
Introducing the pegan diet.
Now thousands of people all over the world are following the pegan diet.
This is not a quick fix that you follow for 10 or 30 days and then quit.
After you reset your body, I recommend eating this way every single day.
Here’s how to eat a pegan diet:
1.
Stay away from sugar.
I tell people to think of it as a recreational drug.
You use it for fun occasionally, but it is not a dietary staple.
As we learned earlier, more than half your plate should be covered with veggies.
The deeper the color, the better.
The more variety, the healthier.
Stick with mostly nonstarchy veggies.
Winter squashes and sweet potatoes are fine in moderation (12 cup a day).
Not a ton of potatoes!
French fries dont count even though they are the No.
1 vegetable in America.
This is where there could be a little bit of confusion.
Some paleo champions recommend eating mostly low-sugar fruits like berries, while some vegan advocates recommend all fruit equally.
Stick with berries, and watch the grapes, melons, and so on.
Think of dried fruit as candy, and keep it to a minimum.
Stay away from pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and GMO foods.
Also, no chemicals, additives, preservatives, dyes, artificial sweeteners, or other junk ingredients.
If you dont have that ingredient in your kitchen for cooking, you shouldnt eat it.
Eat foods containing healthy fats.
Stay away from most vegetable, nut, and seed oils.
Avocado oil is great for higher-temperature cooking.
Avoid or limit dairy.
Try goat or sheep products instead of cow dairy.
And always go organic and grass-fed.
Vegetables should take center stage, and meat should be the side dish.
Servings should be 4 to 6 ounces, tops, per meal.
I often make three or four vegetable side dishes.
Eat sustainably raised or harvested low-mercury fish.
And they should be sustainably harvested or farmed.
Check outwww.cleanfish.comandwww.foodthebook.comto learn more about your fish options.
Most gluten comes from Frankenwheat, so look for heirloom varieties of wheat like einkorn.
Eat wheat only if you are not gluten-sensitive, and even then, only occasionally.
Eat gluten-free whole grains sparingly.
They still raise blood sugar and can trigger autoimmunity.
All grains can increase your blood sugar.
Eat beans only once in a while.
Stay away from big starchy beans.
Beans can be a great source of fiber, protein, and minerals.
But they cause digestive problems for some, and the lectins and phytates they contain may impair mineral absorption.
If you are diabetic, a high-bean diet can trigger spikes in your blood sugar.
Again, moderate amounts (up to 1 cup a day) are OK.
13.
Get tested to personalize your approach.
What works for one person may not work for another.
If youre interested in getting tested and coached by one of my nutritionists, visitwww.foodthebook.com/dietfor more information.
