Many of my patients ask about healthy eating, and how this might help them to lose weight, help their symptoms and improve their recovery from surgery. There are so many genetic and environmental factors that affect our health which makes it very difficult to generalize, but here’s an excellent summary from Medscape.  I hope that you find it helpful.

Choose foods with a wide variety of colours and textures, in their most natural forms

Foods that are enjoyed in a natural state provide the greatest satiety and nutritional value.

Avoid or dramatically minimize processed foods

Processed foods and beverages, such as packaged snacks, smoked meats, white flour, and sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, should be eschewed.

 Choose realistic, balanced diets for weight loss and weight maintenance

The most successful diet is one that patients can stick to. Plenty of diets have proven effective for weight loss and weight maintenance. When dieters fail, it is because they attempt to follow diets that are too restrictive; are unbalanced; or cause rapid weight loss, which leads to yo-yo dieting.

 Consume healthy oils for heart health: fish, olive, avocado

Fish oils can prevent further illness in those with a history of heart disease. The AHA recommends that everybody eat fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.^[2] Other beneficial fats include olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, walnut oil, flaxseed oil, and chia seed oil.

 Forego red meat and live longer

Although red meat is a principal source of protein and fat, research shows that consumption of red meat is linked to increased risks for cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, all of which decrease longevity.

 Consume fermented foods/probiotics and fibre for gastrointestinal and overall health

Probiotics contain microorganisms that confer gastrointestinal benefit. They are commonly found in yogurt, kefir, and unpasteurized fermented foods and drinks. They can also be taken in supplement form. In order to thrive, probiotics require prebiotics as food, which can be found in fibre.

Avoid alcohol, or limit consumption to one drink per day for women or two for men; and try not to substitute food sources with vitamin supplements. Alcohol has been linked to several conditions and diseases, including seven cancers. And although supplements may not cause harm, they could potentially make patients a bit more lax in terms of trying to eat a healthful diet, and evidence that supplements can replace genuine nutrition is scarce.