After the Holidays, many people are attracted by the latest diet fad. Whether it’s the keto diet, intermittent fasting, the Mediterranean diet, paleo or FODMAP, these diets are all the rage, particularly when celebrities adopt them. But before you climb on board, it’s crucial to take a step back.

The diet culture can lead to an error in thinking which links a person’s value to their physical appearance, largely thinness and figure or shape. Be very suspicious of these faulty belief systems.

When you picture healthy eating, concentrating on the macronutrients is essential. These nutrients – carbohydrates, proteins, fats, macro minerals and water – provide energy and the body’s essential nutritional elements. Completely banishing one of these groups can negatively impact the functioning of the body. It is fundamentally important to have a balanced distribution of these nutrients, such as a ratio of 35 per cent carbohydrates, 30 per cent fats and 35 per cent proteins, to support healthy weight loss.

Vegetables and fruits should be emphasized rather than starchy foods as a source of carbohydrates. Vegetables have a central place in a healthy diet, as do fruits, which are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Plan for three main meals alternated with two snacks to optimize your energy and your resistance to stress.

Be sure to drink enough water every day to support your liver, pancreas and intestines. Moderate physical activity of 20 to 30 minutes a day, such as rapid walking, biking or swimming, allows reactivation of the digestive system and the gentle elimination of the calories accumulated following excessive food intake.

Restorative sleep of at least eight hours a night is essential, as well, particularly the hours before midnight, which are the most beneficial for weight management.

Appreciating what you eat is the key to making healthy eating a sustainable way of life and not a chore or a duty.

More from this author by clicking on her photo below