Finding balance in a crazy world

The diary of an orthorexic. This is a story of one woman’s search for balance above all the noise. How to eat a varied diet without feeling overwhelmed by the myriad of well-meaning advice coming at you from every corner of the internet.

A young woman who recognised her search for health had taken a more troubling turn and despite a burgeoning online wellness influencer, decided to give up her dedicated life as a vegan and began to reintroduce meat and dairy back into her diet.

But before we delve into how she found the balance, a cautionary tale about Orthorexia. What? Yes, I’d never heard of it either.

Orthorexia is defined as an extreme or excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthy.

Orthorexia is defined as an extreme or excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods peceived to be unhealthy.

You may think that is not such an extraordinary story, and there’s nothing remarkable about changing your mind about something. Right? However, in our interconnected world, this young woman had acquired a level of fame and became known as The Blonde Vegan. (I will post a link to her story below).

Announcing to her loyal fan base that she was no longer vegan sent shock waves through her online community. Every gamut of emotion came flying her way, including a fair swag of hate mail from people whose reasons for veganism are for moral or ethical motivations rather than a health choice.

The Blonde Vegan (Jordan), the motivation was her health. But, as with anything that becomes too restrictive or obsessive, there are often unhealthy consequences, and in Jordan’s case, it manifested in both her health and her emotional state.

Jordan has since navigated back to a healthy life that includes meat and dairy. She has successfully relaunched her online business, perhaps with fewer vegans but with a new bunch of followers with a goal of health through balance. Cleverly, Jordan is now known as The Balanced Blonde. I like that.

The perils of a restrictive diet.

This brings me to the now hugely popular Paleo Diet. Although a somewhat restrictive diet, the true believers are undoubtedly just as passionate as those who declare themselves Vegan. Now, I am not about to criticise either.

And while I like the premise behind the paleo diet, such as giving up wheat, eating organic when possible, and thinking more ethically when eating meat, all sounds good.

And, while I believe aspects of paleo are worth adopting, it’s still restrictive.

So, rather than trace our diets back to a zillion years ago, I prefer to trace it back just two generations and choose to follow something a little similar to the diet of my grandparents.

Finding balance and the paleo diet circa 1964.

My grandparents on my father’s side migrated from India to Australia in 1948. A family lineage dating back to 1852 gave our family the rich and beautiful taste of Indian food.

Like many migrants in the late 40s and 50s, my family brought many traditional recipes to their adopted country. We ate natural yoghurt made from the live culture; my grandmother cooked with ghee and Indian sweets so sticky and delicious you only needed one tiny piece. But who am I kidding? We never stopped at one!

As a child, it seemed a rich, colourful and enchanting way of eating.

My Mother very quickly adapted to the tastes of her in-laws. This cultural mix gave us a gastronomical British/Germanic/Indian wonderland of flavours and foods. There was never a dull culinary moment at the family dinner table.

Perhaps you have similar childhood memories? Meals made without the reliance on packaged or processed anything and eaten sitting around a dinner table interspersed with conversation and stories of the day.

What went wrong?

It seems we are living longer, and yet, never have there been so many age-related diseases. Should we accept the last 15 years of our lives as a time burdened with ill health and chronic illness? Is this the kind of longevity we all planned for?

Somewhere, we seemed to have lost our way. Did we get lazy? Did convenience take priority over natural goodness? Whatever the reason, if we are to live not just a long life but a healthy one, then harking back to a time when things were simpler makes sense.

Everything in moderation or just in balance?

When I decided to quit consuming sugar, I realised that avoiding packaged and processed food was equally important. While sugar was the catalyst for change, it highlighted our dependence on processed foods. They all had to go.

My balanced version of paleo.

So, while I embrace the general concept, I’m doing it my way and opt for something closer to the Mediterranean diet. It’s slow food, slow eating and whole food. But it’s not restrictive nor a traditional diet for weight loss.

It’s slow food, slow eating and whole food. But it is not restrictive, nor is it a traditional diet for weight loss.

So now, I’m doing this to achieve a balanced diet.

If I choose to eat meat or poultry, it will be primarily grass-fed and organic.
Eat at least seven servings of fresh vegetables a day, and if this is too hard to do (and it can be), then blend some of it into beautiful blended whole green smoothies.
Choose real, unflavoured, unsweetened, natural ‘live’ yoghurt.
Minimise the consumption of grains. Cut them out if you know they upset your body’s balance.
Swapping wheat-based products like pasta and bread to basmati rice and rice noodles in moderation.
For sweetness, instead of honey, agave or maple syrup, I’ve switched to rice bran syrup or stevia.
Eat home-cooked beetroot. It’s so good for you and loaded with potent antioxidant enzymes.
Find ways to include sauerkraut (not to be mistaken for pickled cabbage) in your diet; with as much, if not more, lactobacillus bacteria as yoghurt, the process of lactic fermentation makes sauerkraut essential for the health of the gut.
Jelly made from grass-fed gelatin products to improve my gut health.

What about dairy?

True Paleo enthusiasts do not drink milk at all. And it’s worth noting we lose the enzymes to digest milk properly by the time we cut our baby teeth. But I can’t do this. I like milk in my tea and coffee. So, if you can’t or don’t want to give up milk like me, you could try lactose-free milk for better digestion.

Coconut milk may be perfect for you with an abundance of medium-chain fatty acids, particularly Lauric acid; it is worth including in the diet for its antiviral and antimicrobial effect. Or, if you prefer, opt for plant and nut-based dairy alternatives.

Let’s talk about dietary fat for a moment.

I am no longer afraid of fat. Healthy fats from Avocado, olive oil, fatty fish, nuts, and flaxseed should get a starring role in your diet. In my opinion and other health experts, moderation rather than elimination is the key; just moderate your consumption to fit with your health objectives.

Your skin, hair, nails, and brain all need healthy fats.

Commercially processed vegetable and seed oils, often heated at very high temperatures, rendering them rancid, should be avoided.

Pass the sugar?

I restrict sugar from my diet, and eliminating sugar rather than moderation is easier for me. There’s no grey area to swing back and forth.

Of course, there have been times when I have partaken for politeness, or it’s an occasion, and honestly, that’s okay; however, once consumed, it reminds me of how sickly sweet, sugar-laden treats can be.

Of course, quitting sugar is not for everyone, and if we’re talking about balance, cutting back a little might be a better alternative for you until you’re ready for that final sugar hit.

I’ve written about sugar modification: 7 ways to give up sugar without really trying and for a bit more over here.

Lessons for our paleo ancestors.

During the Paleolithic Era, they walked many kilometres seeking food. And while walking to the supermarket is hardly comparable, getting in at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted walking and movement is a good idea.

I know, hardly the long walks of our ancient ancestors, but you’ll be surprised how 30 – 40 minutes of walking on a daily basis can improve your outlook.

As hunters and gatherers, our paleo ancestors waited many hours for food. In modern times, some suggest a 12-hour window between the last meal at night and breakfast the next day is a worthy goal. If you think about it, refraining from eating 2 or 3 hours before bed, followed by 8 hours of sleep and then waiting an hour after you rise before you eat breakfast doesn’t seem too much of a stretch. But don’t beat yourself up over it; do what feels right for your body.