Juicing, gluten-free dieting, and veganism: these are just a few of the “healthy” food trends that students hear about with increasing frequency in the Stacks Room. You can’t walk down a NYC street without passing a juice bar, vegan restaurant or gluten-free bakery. But are these diets good for you?
When it comes to fad diets, there are no clear-cut answers on what is healthy and what is not. For every nutritionist that says doing a juice cleanse is a wonderful experience that will rid your body of evil toxins, another will tell you it could land you in the hospital. Whatever diet you choose, common sense needs to prevail. If you are planning to eliminate all animal products, for example, then you need to get your proteins and fats from other sources.
Here is a summary of these hot trends and some general guidelines you should follow to ensure your good health:
Juicing
Juicing (also called a “juice diet” or a “juice fast”) is based on the idea of creating a day’s balanced dietary intake in a purely liquid form. While it is an efficient way of getting a lot of vitamins in a small volume, there are some caveats. Firstly, if you are doing it to drop pounds, it can backfire. The amount of time you would need to be juicing in order to really lose weight could be dangerous, as you might be missing key nutrients. Also, many of these juices contain a lot of sugar and carbs while lacking sufficient protein. Claims that you can rid your body of toxins may also not necessarily be true; if you eat healthily, your body will take care of the toxins on its own. The bottom line is if you are going to try a juice diet, make sure your juices come from reputable sources. And instead of cutting out chewing completely, you should consider replacing a green juice for one or two meals a day, while still having at least one balanced, solid meal as well.
Gluten-free
The problem with being gluten-free for non-medical reasons is that many gluten-free products are less nutritious than their wheat counterparts. They often have more starch and other genetically modified ingredients that can be harsher on your stomach and even more caloric. There are also many forms of gluten, like seitan, that have nutritional benefits. Cutting back on gluten as part of an overall healthy lifestyle can be beneficial, but be sure to read the fine print.
Veganism
Whether you are eliminating animal products for health reasons or for moral ones, you should be cautious. As with a gluten-free diet, some vegan options are less healthy than non-vegan options. Vegan cheese, for example, often contains ingredients to help it melt that can be very hard on your stomach. However, if you are replacing animal fat with lots of fruits, vegetables, greens, whole grains, and soy products, then good for you!
Whatever diet you choose to follow, remember to do your research and keep your health in mind. Eating restrictively or following a fad as a quick way to drop pounds or “be healthier” is tricky business, and you need to be smart about it. After you’ve done your research and have found a diet that you think will work for you, discuss it with your doctor to make sure that it won’t have any adverse side affects on your body.
Here is a very simple vegan pancake recipe that is healthy, fast, and flexible. You can use any flour you want, including regular, whole wheat, or gluten-free options such as rice or coconut flour. Fresh bananas or blueberries can also be folded in at the end.
Fast & Fluffy Vegan Pancakes
One cup flour
Two tablespoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Two tablespoons canola or other healthy oil
One cup almond, rice, or soy milk
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and add the vanilla, oil, and milk. Stir until blended; don’t over-mix. Pour mixture onto a hot skillet and flip when small bubbles form around the edges. Serve with pure maple syrup and enjoy!