Are diet and dieting the same? How do we use or confuse these two terms? And does it make any difference?
Diet as a noun has 2 definitions:
- Food and drink as considered in terms of its qualities, composition, and its effects on health.
- A particular selection of food, as designed or prescribed to improve a person’s physical condition or to prevent or treat disease.
Dieting is the action of a diet and here there is also 2 definitions:
- To select or limit the food one eats to improve one’s physical condition or to lose weight.
- To eat or feed according to the requirements of a particular or prescribed selection of food.
I felt it important to put these definitions here to bring attention to the unconscious way we might be perceiving these two words in relationship to our health and those of our loved ones.
When we choose to understand diet as the of quality of the foods and drinks with their effects on our health rather than as the limitation of foods one eats to lose weight or improve our physical condition, we can begin to make a fundamental shift in our mindset about diet and dieting. Focusing on the meaning of diet may aid us to become more selective of how we will choose dieting.
In the article I have chosen to share with you in this month’s newsletter, there are some particularly important basics that offer a simple approach to help you, today, to begin creating a daily practice of making nourishment a part of your healthy lifestyle. By substituting nourishment for dieting, we can let go of the old struggle with dieting.
Understanding the basic nutrients our bodies need to work at optimal level is a first step in creating a diet that will fit not only your body’s unique needs but will be the foundation you build upon to create a plan of nourishment that fits your tastes. Another important consideration when you choose the food that will bring you the most nourishment is the seasons, your geographical location and how the food is grown. Getting to know where and how your food is grown is vitally important to your health. You may already know or have heard of the dirty dozen. Knowing which food are harmful to us because the use of the pesticide creates toxicity in our bodies, which in turn cause us pain and disease. To reduce your exposure, it’s best to buy organic produce or ask at your local farmer how his produce is grown and what methods he uses for controlling pests. (https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/full-list.php) It is also important to know which ones do not need to be organic but can simply be washed in a water/vinegar solution. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php.
In conclusion, whatever step you can take today to begin your journey to better health is a great step forward. While money is an important part of living well in today’s modern world, it doesn’t in any way replace the priceless wealth of having good or even great health. Diet or should I say nourishment is the foundation to living well and creating the life you desire.
Cheers to a healthy and happy you!
Tina