9781422273852

For most of us, diet is right up there with dentist and pop quiz as one of our least favorite words. That’s because the word diet is what you hear every time someone opts not to eat something delicious— I can’t, I’m on a diet . But the bad reputation of diet isn’t really fair. The word simply refers to the sum total of what a person eats and drinks. Could be bad, could be good, could be somewhere in between. A diet is simply what you consume. Lots of people pay attention to their diets for reasons that have nothing to do with denying themselves delicious treats. People who practice certain religions might make specific dietary choices because their faith requires them to do so. Vegetarians and vegans may avoid eating animal products for ethical reasons, or because they’re concerned about climate change. There are lots of reasons to think carefully about the components of your diet. Rather than the word diet, it’s really dieting that deserves our ire, and understandably so. People who aren’t satisfied with the size or shape of their bodies sometimes spend years—even a lifetime—following diets that try to limit their consumption of calories, or fats, or carbohydrates. Some folks find great success with these “restrictive” diets, but for others, an initial burst of weight loss is followed by stagnation, frustration, and ultimately regaining much if not all the weight that was lost.

6

Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker