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That's the burning question, right?

What is the best diet......

To be healthy, vibrant, full of energy?

To live long and free from disease?

To be lean, well and strong?

It seems like everyone has an opinion and extols the virtues of their philosophy.

Mediterranean? Low carb? Paleo? Vegan? Intermittent fasting?

You want to know what I think....

I think we're asking the wrong questions.

And to show you what I mean, rather than dissecting the different merits of every diet out there, we are going to look at the complete opposite;

What have all diets got in common?

Why do some people succeed eating one way whilst others succeed with an apparently completely opposite philosophy?

It's because diets have far more in common than they have differences.

They all tend to accomplish the following:

1) They Raise Nutritional Awareness And Attention

Simply paying attention to what you are eating generally leads to better choices.

2) They Focus On Food Quality

Very few diets recommend you eat highly-processed junk foods!

3) They Help Eliminate Nutritional Deficiencies

Following on from the last point, if those foods are being replaced with foods with a higher nutrient content, that's only going to help us.

4) They Help Control Appetite And Food Intake

Once again awareness is the trump card here. Focusing on improving portion control and understanding your hunger and fullness cues leads to better patterns of eating.

5) They Promote Regular Exercise

Nutrition is arguably more important than exercise, but when you combine the two, you've got some serious power there.

When you really think about it, the main difference between each diet is just the ratio of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fats) and the sources of where you get those macronutrients from.

Historically, populations all around the world had vastly different diets (as can be seen from the graphic below) but their life expectancy and incidents of disease were all similar.

<Image courtesy of Jen Christiansen>

So, instead of asking what's the best diet, let's look at things differently.

My goal is to help people find the approach to eating that works best for them.

Simple. We don't focus on adhering to one nutritional philosophy. Instead, we focus on each individual person with their own unique body, circumstances, lifestyle and values.

In essence, we can sum up the answer to the question "What's the best diet?" like this;

The best diet is one that:

- matches your unique physiology,
- includes foods you enjoy enough to eat consistently, and
- is realistic for you in terms of lifestyle and budget.

Stop looking for the magic bullet and start looking at where you are at, what you need to change and how you can do that.

If you feel you need help with this, that's why I'm here.

Phil Curtis

Be Happy. Feel Beautiful. Live Healthy.