I've Never Felt Better

I've been doing something different the past few months and I've never felt better. Before I reveal my secret, let me first share with you the results of this change that I've made:

• My skin is soft and smooth. Really soft and smooth.
• When I get up in the morning, I'm up. I don't feel groggy at all.
• Mt stress levels have gone way down. I am just not getting as stressed out over things and, when I do get stressed, I am bouncing back rather quickly.
• I am losing excess weight, without trying.
• I find myself being able to concentrate better without the help of medication. Yesterday I got through 90 minutes of answering emails without getting distracted once.
• For the past two months, I have had extremely little PMS symptoms. I used to get bad enough PMS that Erin would stay clear of me for 7 days a month.
• My mood has improved dramatically. I am much more upbeat and happy. I haven't even been swearing at stupid drivers on the road! I have more "gas in my tank" and thus greater resiliency during the day.

Here's my secret: I'm eating fat.

Now before I go any further, let me just say that I am not on a diet. I don't believe in diets (they don't work and often do more harm than good in the long run) and I am not pushing a new weight loss trend.

I am, quite simply, eating "real food." Real food is natural, traditional food that has been minimally processed (if at all.) And eating real food means eating fat, an essential nutrient.

For the past 25 years, we've had the notion that dietary fat is bad for you pushed down our throats. We were told that it causes heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. However, the actual scientific research on this subject clearly proves that it is not fat that causes these illnesses, but carbohydrates. Specifically, refined carbohydrates in the form of sugar, white flour, and white rice.

So what am I doing differently? I've gone back to basics, concentrating on protein which, in it's natural form includes fat (think milk, cheese, meat, eggs), plus lots of fruits and vegetables, with some whole grains and potatoes to boot. I am making an effort to cut out refined carbs, but I haven't cut them out completely. And the truth is, I don't crave these foods like I used to, anyway.

I'm so excited about this subject, and the myriad of positive effects that I'm enjoying, that I will be posting more about it this week and in the future. For now, if you're interested, here are some resources I recommend:

• Managing ADD With Food, a previous blog post
• What If It's All Been a Big Fat Lie?, a New York Times article by Gary Taubes (you may need to register on the site to read the article)
• The Oiling of America, by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig of the Weston A Price Foundation

How does your diet affect your health, mood, and your ADD? Please post your thoughts and experiences in the comments field!

Comments

[Sandra]

Hi Jen,

A few months ago I was put on a special diet. I was not allowed anything I was intollerant of which happened to be yeas, bread, beer, wine, rye, wheat, white rice, pasta and pop! I was told I would lose weight but I didn't think I would lose 15 pounds! I feel awesome. I have never eaten so many vegtables in my life and I love them! I was used to eating dark meat, french fries and drinking wine & beer, so it was hard to be on this diet the first month, especially when we went camping with friends. Someone once said that if you have a healthy body you will have a healthy mind. I believe it!

Thanks for this great info Jen!