A balanced, holistic nutrition is the key to good health. The noise, blitz and glitz around protein as a superhero nutrient makes one question, what’s going on? In fact, it paints a distorted picture of healthy eating. Fixating on just protein, or for that matter, any one nutrient or food group can be potentially harmful for the body.
Humans Are Holistic Beings By Nature And A Well Balanced Diet Is Essential
The body needs it all, be it carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals et al to function at its optimum best. It helps support growth, repair, restores and lets one function in a holistic and healthy manner.
You don’t just love your muscles now, do you?
You love every inch of yourself.The overall aspects of one’s health, be it mental, physical, emotional all of it matters.
Overall holistic health matters and not just the muscles or muscle mass.
Focusing on or even neglecting any one nutritional food group can be potentially harmful.
That is not how the beautiful yet complex nutritional system works.
Say Hello To Some Good Old Eastern wisdom!
Our traditions, the celebration of festivals with the change of seasons and even the foods associated and cooked for the occasion,all tell us what’s good to eat and when.
It’s time to put back the local, seasonal and traditional back on the table. Wherever you are, just go with this basic formula.
The Power Of Nature’s Gift vs Supplements
We are beings of nature. And from nature, we must learn. And to nature, we must return.
Every food item that nature offers comes with more than just one gift. The additional nutrients like whole foods play a vital role in digestion, immunity and overall health and even hydration.
Vitamins and minerals contribute to energy production, bone health and a strong immune system.
A regular intake of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables is a basic requirement. Nuts and seeds ranging from sunflower to watermelon seeds or even dry fruits can be eaten the whole year round, all of which are power foods.
Consuming Protein, Nature’s Way
Look for original sources of what’s good to eat and let’s go back to our original, native way of consuming our food.
Man made processed or manufactured food can only cause health issues and deficiencies. All nutrients are amassed for a reason, changing every season and wherever you may be, this formula works.
Legumes and nuts are rich in protein, they are also full of fiber, vitamins and minerals that are not available in manufactured protein powder and bars.
Plus these powders and bars also have added preservatives, chemicals, and sweeteners that do more harm than good to the body.
Do We All Need The Same Amount Of Protein?
Every individual is unique. We aren’t assembly line manufactured products in a factory.
Maybe advertising has convinced you that it’s the only way of being strong and maybe even looking great.
The ugly truth is quite different. Even two decades ago, was there so much talk about protein as if your body is one big bundle of mass surviving solely on protein?
It certainly isn’t. Your body needs all food groups and your regional, local, seasonal will give you that.
So How Much Protein Do You Actually Need?
It has been advised as per research that someone with a moderately active lifestyle doesn’t need the crazy amounts of protein we are being fed both in our minds with marketing and our mouths by actually believing and consuming it.
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It has been scientifically noted that the average adult needs around 1.5 grams of protein a day or around 0. 8 grams of protein per kilogram of your body weight.
Now read that again!!!
Your daily or weekly intake of some vegetables, legumes, fruits and nuts can more than fulfill this need.
Why Do We Now Suddenly Need More Protein?
Has the human body changed? No, it hasn’t. The marketing trends have.
As far as marketing is concerned, something else will be the trend tomorrow and you will be convinced quite the opposite.
Case in point, for years we were told that ghee is bad and fattening, but our ancient eastern wisdom knew better. It has essential fats, the body needs it, it is a superfood, and it is great for gut health. And no wonder, a small dollop of ghee was a must with food, even for something as basic as khichdi.
In fact, it helps keep weight in control and all of Europe is consuming it by calling it clarified butter. Local eastern food science, wisdom and farming practices had a flourishing, healthy agrarian food economy with people who were rich in body, mind and knowledge.
They trusted their traditional wisdom and eastern science even if it wasn’t featured in a science or food journal. We need to probably do the same.
Learning Hard Lessons And Going Back To Eastern Wisdom And Sustainable Lifestyle And Scientific Practice
We were all natural and sustainable in our farming practices, lifestyle and life in general. But we were told our practices are redundant, superstitious, and a whole lot of other things.
It’s time we aren’t fooled anymore by vested interests and research funded by the very same people who want you to buy their products that aren’t always good for us. Same is the case with protein. Our body doesn’t just live on one element.
Research and vested pharmaceutical interests and propaganda pushed chemicals and magic seeds into traditional farming practices. India went from natural and sustainable to chemical and now it’s all back to where it all started, the all natural but more expensive way as now it’s not in practice. It’s natural and comes with the market savvy ‘organic’ tag at a premium.
A long Term Sustainable Lifestyle Approach, Combining Traditional Wisdom With Modern Style Lifestyle Is The key.
Don’t be swayed by fancy marketing which pushes things like protein bars and powders, which have huge amounts of sugar. So in the name of good health, let protein be just one of the things on your plate and don’t be consuming those protein bars, which are more sugar than anything else.
The muscle mass culture is redefining new norms of body image. Just abs or a six pack abs doesn’t mean you are healthy. It also certainly does not mean that you are healthy from within or your organs are functioning properly or your cognitive thinking is absolutely on point.
Following The Good Path
Look for original sources of what’s good to eat. Go back to the roots. If you have the will start a kitchen garden it can even be done in your tiny balcony or maybe the community park by involving the community
Ayurveda and Naturopathy practitioners can suggest a good diet for you which is uniquely yours to fulfill your body needs. And help guide you in getting closer to nature and original food sources. We need vitamins, minerals, fibre and a plethora of nutrients to function well as a body and as a thinking human being.
Rujuta Diwekar, celebrity nutritionist who champions the cause of traditional and local food even after having studied food science abroad often says, just because it’s not in a journal or been published in a paper or not been validated by Western science doesn’t mean it’s not worth its mettle.
Eat for the season, eat with reason and not for cravings but with divine will of the body.
To Sum It All Up, You Are A Holistic Being Not A Bi-Product Of Protein Consumption.
So to grow as a whole. It’s time to go back to listening to Mother Nature and turn your kitchen or community into a pharmacy
And for wisdom as they said in the good old days, “just look to the east” and now you know what I mean!
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