Maybe “Healthy Food” Isn’t Actually Healthy for Everyone
Maybe “Healthy Food” Isn’t Actually Healthy for Everyone
I used to think nutrition was basically about knowing which foods were healthy and which ones weren't.
Simple, right?
Eat vegetables.
Eat fruits.
Drink water.
Avoid junk food.
Done. 😂
But studying Human Nutrition and Dietetics made me realise that food is way more complicated than that. One thing I wish more people understood is that a food being nutritious doesn't automatically mean it will work perfectly for everybody.
Take beans.
We all know beans are nutritious. They're a good source of plant protein, fibre and several micronutrients.
But give beans to someone who struggles with bloating and you might hear: “Who sent me?” 😭
Does that mean beans are unhealthy? Of course not. It means the person's individual response matters.
The same applies to milk.
Milk can be a nutritious food, but someone who doesn't tolerate lactose may experience bloating, cramps or diarrhoea after drinking it.
So when someone says: “This food is healthy.”
I think we should sometimes ask: “Healthy for whom?”
Because your body isn't necessarily going to respond to food the same way mine does. And this is one reason I'm not a fan of extreme diet advice online.
One person loses weight by cutting out bread and suddenly everybody is told: “BREAD IS BAD!”
Someone else loses weight by doing intermittent fasting and suddenly fasting becomes the solution to every health problem.
Someone drinks a green juice every morning and suddenly we're all supposed to believe our organs need a daily detox. 😂
Please,your body is not a TikTok trend. Nutrition should make sense for you, your health status, your lifestyle, your budget, your culture, your food preferences, your activity level and how your body responds to different foods. You don't necessarily need expensive imported “superfoods” to eat well.
Sometimes good nutrition looks surprisingly ordinary, rice, beans, eggs, fish, vegetables, fruits, milk, groundnuts, and other foods that are actually available and affordable where you live.
The goal shouldn't be to eat the most fashionable diet. The goal should be to build a way of eating that nourishes you and that you can actually maintain.
That's something I wish more people understood before jumping from one diet trend to another.
Now I'm curious 👀
What's one food people always describe as “healthy” but you personally don't enjoy, tolerate well, or simply don't understand the hype about?
Tell me in the comments. 😂
And if you enjoy practical nutrition conversations without all the unnecessary fear around food, follow me.
I'm just getting started here. ❤️
#nutrition #health #food #wellness