What kind of diet do you follow? Maybe you’re not too fussed about what you eat, and just go with the flow regarding the ingredients in your fridge? Or maybe you like to be more strict with your intake, and take care of the things you prepare for your meals?
Either way, that common saying probably plays in the back of your head: you are what you eat! But what does that really mean, and what does that really make you? Well, it depends how much you subscribe to the theory in the first place! Here are a few details you need to know about.
It Could Mean You’re Not Doing What Your Body Needs
Your body is going to let you know when it’s unhappy. And when you’re not eating quite right, you’re going to be what you eat in the way you react to what you consume. For example, if you’ve got a chronic illness – you could be eating things that lead to flare ups of your symptoms, or make it harder for your medication to work.
Similarly, if you’ve got intolerances or if you eat a lot of junk food and not much else, a lack of variety in your food groups can lead to further health issues. Being careful about what you consume only takes you so far; refining your diet in a much stricter manner might benefit you much more in the long run.
It Can Mean You’re Low on Nutrients
No matter what diet you consume, you could be low on certain nutrients. Of course, one of the benefits of a carnivore diet is that you’ll take in a lot of protein, but you can lose out on the right amount of the other vitamins and minerals you need. And that’s just one type of diet we’re talking about here – they’ve all got their problems.
Think about this when you open your fridge or go through the food cupboard – what’s missing? A few veggies? A bit of healthy fat? Because if you’re not eating these on a regular basis, you might notice a few side effects on your health in both the short and long term.
But Ultimately, it’s Different for Everyone
Yes, you are what you eat means a different thing for everyone. Your body works differently to every other person’s, and there’s no telling just how different until a doctor takes a look for themselves!
And even then, your metabolic rate, your need for hydration and nutrients, and the level of energy you get from your meals are going to be hard to understand. The way we break down foods is very complicated, and trying to work out the calories you’ll gain from the way you diet is never straight cut.
If you are what you eat, make sure you understand what that means personally for you. The more you look into your diet and how it affects you, the easier it’ll be to feel well in yourself.