But what is the real answer for promoting good health? What is the healthiest diet, if there really is one?
Actually, nothing is an absolute. We need a balanced lifestyle and a balanced diet. Moderation and balance in everything is the key. And a “one size” diet does not fit all! That is the first very important point to understand. There is no perfect diet for everybody or for every health condition! But moderation and balance in everything is a must.
Each person is an individual. Each person has their own genetic make up, their own culture and societal background, and each person has their own physical constitution and health issues. All of that needs to be taken into consideration. A person with a kidney problem needs to limit meat and proteins. A person unable to do much exercise needs to curtail sugar consumption, including fruits etc. A person with a heart condition needs to watch out for over consumption of unhealthy fats , fried foods and sugar.
Why is it that one person can be allergic to eggs and another person has no problem with eggs? Why is it that one person cannot tolerate nuts yet another person can eat almonds all day and feel great? Why is it that one person can eat lots of raw salads but another person finds too much raw food causes indigestion or even diarrhea? Why can one person eat fatty meat and another will end up with gallstones from too much fat? Why can one person eat avocados and another person is allergic? Why can one person eat sugar and not gain an ounce and have clear skin while someone else becomes fat or breaks out in acne from a tsp of sugar (or becomes diabetic from over consumption)?
Today there is actually a new system of medicine which focuses on targeted medicine, designed according to the patient’s genetic make up and so on. And it is actually more effective than just putting all patients through the same protocol. Same with diet: we need to target our diets to suit each person’s particular individual make up. So each person has to develop their own balanced diet.
The Chinese medicine system is actually much more about balance: balancing the person in their physical meridians and energy systems. They do this through food, weather, environment etc. taking everything into consideration when prescribing herbs or foods to heal a particular condition. This is also the concept of yin and yang. And it is worthwhile to note that in today’s society, most people are too yin. Why? Because of improper diet, too many chemicals in the world, air pollution, lack of adequate exercise etc. Therefore, we need to focus on foods that balance our bodies. If we eat too much fruit, balance it with more protein. If we eat too much raw food, balance it with cooked food and soups. We need to learn how to balance our meals and our bodies. That would help a lot with allergies and sneezing. Because allergies indicate a system out of balance somewhere.
But even the Chinese system has flaws and does not work for everyone.
Why? Again, because no one system has all the answers. And every individual is different.
But in reality it boils down to far more than that. It boils down to the fact that there is a Creator of this world and of each and every one of us, and He wants us to pray to Him whenever we need something. If everyone could be healed by simply following one protocol or diet, nobody would pray.
So G-d, in His Infinite wisdom, has assigned different messengers to heal different people. For one person, acupuncture can be the medium through which G-d sends His blessings for health. For another person it can be a vegan diet . For another it can be vitamins. For another it can be a gluten free diet. There is a different solution for each person. Because G-d is the healer: it is not the diet or the doctor. It is G-d Himself. The diets are all a vessel through which a person can be healed….but it is not the diet itself that heals. It is G-d that heals, through that particular means. It is essential to internalize this idea.