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This is a question I contemplate often. Paleo? The Weston A. Price diet? The GAPS diet? Low-carb? Zero-carb? Well, at least I know one thing: the perfect diet is NOT veganism/plant-based diets, no matter if it’s a ketogenic, raw, or fruitarian version.

Something interesting I recently learned from Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride (author of The GAPS Diet) is that plants are cleansing, whereas animal foods are both nourishing and cleansing. In this article, she even discusses how “patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and severe mental illness do very well on a No-Plant GAPS Diet: not a leaf, not a speck of anything from the plant kingdom is consumed.” I never thought of food this way…and even though I avidly support the consumption of high quality and quantities of animal foods, I LOVE my plant foods, especially my sauteed veggies! Despite my preferences and in the name of health, I’ll happily accept more animal foods into our diet. Please bring on more juicy rare steak.:)

I may be wrong, but I think it’s safe to assume that most people have also contemplated this question at least once. Especially with the questionable vegan deception floating around, and so many positive testimonies following it, people are frequently stumped about what is toxic and what is nutritious. In spite of the confusion, not everyone wants to keep thinking about this over and over again. So, what’s a person to do? What is the perfect diet, really?

Take everything with a grain of salt. With that being said, go ahead and read up on different eating types and styles and figure out what works best for you. As I discussed in the last article, increasing our consumption of animal foods and slightly decreasing our plant foods has done my family good. My babies are full for longer periods of time, as am I, and I don’t have to deal with hypoglycemia nearly as much, if at all. In fact, I can work for hours and feel full all day long, even though I’m pregnant; no cravings except for the occasional rare steak. I’ve got much more energy, my skin is clear (finally! The beef liver, sardines, kefir, and bone broth/collagen/gelatin have made my skin AMAZING), and my hair is filling in. I suspected a slightly receding hairline and confirmed its existence when lots of little hairs started to fill it in…I am grateful it’s going away and not getting worse! Every woman (and man?) loves having a full head of healthy hair! 🙂

My point is this: don’t be afraid to step away from plants a little bit. Maybe even step away from them all the way, if you want (do so with the help of a medical professional, of course). Temporarily or permanently…whatever feels best for you. I never thought I’d say that. If my research proves right, we could all do a lot better with more animal products (high quality, of course!) and less plants. If you’re interested in learning more, please check out Dr. Natasha’s article above and look into it for yourself. If you want even more information, check out Dr. Weston A. Price’s book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Don’t be afraid to go against the grain. What is popular isn’t always what is right. Full speed ahead!

My view of food is that it is functional. I love to cook and make delicious food, however, the most important part about eating–in my opinion–is what each food’s purpose is. I eat things that I don’t like almost every day. A good example of this is beef liver. I really don’t like it, but the benefits outweigh its taste so much that I have made liver an important staple of our diet. On the other hand, this view of food is not necessarily what everyone should have. If you enjoy ice cream, have some. Make it good quality, and don’t go overboard…and please do enjoy your food.:) Eat things to help your body thrive so that eating something “off limits” won’t wreak havoc on your system. Balance and self-control are important, but so is enjoyment and quality of life.

I hope this short blurb of mine has inspired you to check out a new (or ancient!?) area of nutrition and dietary success! Have you already found the perfect diet? If so, what is it? I’d love to know!