Healthy Diets

All healthy diets have four things in common:

  • Very little commercially processed, packaged, high-shelf life foods.
  • Very little 'fast food' (deep fried, highly salted, high-fat).
  • Lots of fresh veggies, and seasonal fruits.
  • Local foods, in season, prepared simply.

Beyond that, dietary rules vary hugely based on the philosophy and science behind them. Fad weight loss diets generally push product lines, and may offer short-term results but ignore the cultural, emotional, environmental, and even health aspects of maintaining a satisfying relationship to eating.

Just about all other dietary systems rule foods in or out based on beliefs about health, the environment, and ethics.

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Ethics Related to Animals 

Vegetarian

The only strictly barred food is meat. Success for health and the environment depends on other related choices, such as localness and organic methods for farming of the produce.

Vegan

Allows no eggs or dairy, in addition to no meat. Health is improved by eliminating all cholesterol; but the other caveats of a vegetarian diet still apply.

Ethical Omnivore
Meat is allowed, but with careful attention to how the animal lives and is killed. Emphasizes the role of animals in natural ecosystems.

Religious or Spiritual Teachings

Kosher
Judaism's rules, notably separation of meat and dairy. Practical application leads many Jews to be vegetarians at home.

Hallal
Islam's rules. 

Ayurveda
A system originating in India, to promote life for the mind, body, and spirit. Offers both health and environmental benefits

Personal and Environmental Health

Locavore
Eats mainly foods raised and processed within a certain geographic range, commonly 100 miles. Can have health benefits from freshness of local foods, while supporting local economies and family farmers. Environmental benefits depend on how well 'food miles' concepts are understood and applied.

High-Fiber
Designed to fight heart-disease, diabetes, and other chronic illness linked to un- healthy diets. Since fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains have the most natural fiber, this way of eating tends to improve fitness while benefitting the environment.

Low-Carbon 
Reduces environmental impacts related to packaging, processing, and shipping foods. Fits well with locavore and vegetarian diets, and can lead to the same health benefits.





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Food-Specific Avoidances within Healthy Diets

Gluten-free
Addresses Celiac disease by eliminating wheat and related ingredients. Requires some education and label-reading, but offers plenty of good food choices. Yields major health improvements for individuals with Celiac or other conditions linked to wheat sensitivities.

Elimination Diets
A system of cutting out all suspected food allergens and re-introducing them one by one, to identify which ingredients create symptoms. Should be done with the help of a doctor, nutritionist, or naturopath.

Lactose intolerance
Commonly mis-diagnosed inability to digest the protein in cow's milk. Some adapt their diet, while others take specific digestive enzymes when eating dairy products.

Raw Food
Food is not heated above a certain temperature, to protect its nutritional value. While there is some controversy in the medical community about this approach, people who practice this method report significant benefits.