list of unhealthy fad diets

if you’ve ever been out in the world, you’velikely seen the word unesco and this weird square in a circle all over the place. unesco is tasked with identifying, protectingand preserving human heritage; buildings, landscapes, and monuments -- but in 2013,they added something intangible: the “mediterranean diet.” you may have heard of the “mediterranean”diet, it’s a big fad in the united states as of late, and it’s considered to be oneof the healthiest in the world! but thanks to unesco, it’s not just healthy,it’s also a piece of human heritage. here’s hoping they give love to my sundaypizza tradition next year…

the mediterranean diet includes plant-basedfoods, as well as “healthy” fats and so on. plus, and this is serious, limiting the amountof red meat -- i.e. mammal meats. grilled fish is a popular item, as are otherseafoods. and, which is pretty rare, it offers an alcoholiccomponent -- a bit of red wine. the problem is, if you look at u.s. magazinesand blogs for the “mediterranean diet,” as we see it. you’d find lists of restrictions and requirementsof what to eat, what not to eat, and how to prepare your meals.

that’s how american’s see a “diet.” in the u.s. “diet” doesn’t mean it’sprimary dictionary definition: “the kinds of food that a person, animal, or communityhabitually eats,” most of us think of the tertiary definition, “a special course offood to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons.” the “mediterranean diet” is the formernot the latter. it’s a way of living and eating, not a listof restrictions and requirements. unesco writes, “the mediterranean diet involvesa set of skills, knowledge, rituals, symbols and traditions concerning crops, harvesting,fishing, animal husbandry,” -- holy crap

-- “conservation, processing, cooking, andparticularly the sharing and consumption of food.” the foundation of the diet? eating together. social exchange of communication during ameal, neighborliness, affirmation, intercultural dialog, hospitality.-- whew -- you can’t buy this regional diet at a store-- it’s literally about changing your life. and of course, red wine helps with all thosethings too. better nutrition has been connected to longer,healthier lives and even things like overall

height gains, better eyesight, and preventionof heart disease and alzheimer's -- to name a few. the mediterranean diet adds heart health tothat as well, lowered levels of stress and anxiety. and it’s not just about what you’re eatingor not eating! numerous studies have shown social interactionand support make people physically and mentally more healthy. the concept of ‘social buffering’ is partof this diet -- where people get together and socialize, interact and share.

on top of that, greece -- one of the countriesin the mediterranean for the geographically challenged -- incorporates intermittent fastinginto their lifestyle diet thanks to the number of religiously motivated fasting days in thegreek orthodox tradition. we actually have a whole video about the scienceof fasting. it seems to me, incorporating even a few ofthese things into our lives would likely benefit us all. the “mediterranean diet” doesn’t meangoing to the greek restaurant down the street a lot, but maybe invite your friends overto eat some vegetables you grew (or, like me, found at a farmer’s market)!

talk! use some olive oil! -- and of course, make them bring the redwine. we can't do episodes like these with supportfrom our sponsors. thanks to blue apron for supporting us atseeker. blue apron allows you to create delicious,chef-designed recipes at home using farm-fresh ingredients and exactly the right proportions. you don’t have to remember to pop over tothe grocery store after work, and you grab a bunch of celery to just to take it homeand then cut up one stock and then leave the

rest in the fridge… you get exactly what you need, right to yourdoorstep and shipping is free. blue apron recipes are in the box, along withingredients, which will stay fresh on your porch even if you’re not at home when dinnerarrives. they’re always adding new dishes to theirmenu, and you can try it with no commitment – choosing to skip or cancel the serviceat any time! check out the link in our description andthe first 100 people to create a new account with blue apron will get their first threemeals free! how do you feel about hummus?

it’s just chickpeas, but, damn. i love it. i could drink wine, eat veggies and a littlefish every day -- but what about you? want more on how to learn about your body? amy’s got a video about why you should lookat your poop. really, i know but you should and you shouldcheck it out right here

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