Is There A “Healthiest” or “Best” Diet?

What’s the healthiest diet to follow? Is there a perfect diet for everyone? Many sources claim to know the “best” diet for humans, so the answer depends on who you ask. Typically, these sources often disagree with each other, which adds to the confusion.

In truth, there is no single, perfect diet for everyone – or no particular way to eat to assure good health. We are all individual and have unique physiological needs. Some can function well on a vegan diet and do poorly on a diet higher in meat. Others may find the opposite is true.

What science can agree on is that we all need macronutrients: protein, fats, carbohydrates, and water. Each of these provide a wide array of the necessary micronutrients (vitamins, mineral, etc.). The ratio of the macronutrients (protein: carbs: fat), however, will differ for each of us. There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation, although it is not advised to go to extremes or completely avoid any of them.

We also know many people function best on a diet that includes plenty of vegetables and few highly processed foods. This seems to be the recurring “health-improvement” factor in every study on the human diet. Research also suggests focusing on quality and variety.

When planned well, a “healthy” diet includes high-quality foods that are whole or minimally processed because the more a food is refined, the fewer nutrients it will offer. Therefore, we need to minimize packaged and convenience foods. Focus mostly on whole vegetables, fresh fruit, high-quality fats (like nuts and seeds, avocados, and fatty fish), complex carbohydrates (cooked whole grains and starchy root vegetables), and your choice of animal or plant-based protein sources (legumes, fish, and sustainably raised meat, eggs, and dairy).

Food variety is equally important because each food has its own unique combination of nutrients. Therefore, variety assures you are getting all the different vitamins, minerals, fibre, and phytochemicals – many yet undiscovered – that you need for optimal health.

Incidentally, don’t be impressed by “superfoods.” These are simply foods that have had certain health-boosting properties identified. Science hasn’t closely examined every food yet, therefore all whole, unrefined foods are really “superfoods.”

Using the above general guidelines, you can plan your diet to suit your own unique nutrient needs. Experiment with the ratios of macronutrients (protein, fat, carb) that improve or maintain your good health. But avoid extreme amounts or complete avoidance of any, as this will limit variety of your foods, and therefore limit the amount of nutrients you get.
Consult a Registered Dietitian (RD) if you need assistance.

Emphasize whole foods over highly refined foods and enjoy plenty of variety in your food choices. Studies continually show this is far more important than focusing on extreme low-fat, low-calorie, low-carb or high-protein diets.

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Eve Lees

Eve Lees has been active in the health & fitness industry since 1979. Currently, she is a Freelance Health Writer for several publication and speaks to business and private groups on various health topics.

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