Healthy This, Healthy That!

Ok, so is it just me, or does anyone else feel bombarded to stock your cupboard with quinoa and avocados, as well as head down to the gym and instagram it at the same time?

I thought I would write a post about healthy eating and living. I don't know about anyone else but it seems to the in thing to eat healthy foods and to wear the latest gym fashion. At first I saw this as a positive thing as everyone knows that obesity can have detrimental effects to your health. I felt that this new trend would encourage other people to change their lifestyle for the better. It certainly got me thinking about how I could be healthier.

It wasn't until my whole instagram feed was made up of acai berry bowls (what even is acai?) and gym selfies that I realised it seems to have steered away from actually being healthy, to letting everyone you know about your new lifestyle change.

All the posts about the new diets, like juicing and gluten free, really need to stop focusing on losing weight quickly and focus more on the gradual decline from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthier one. Now it's probably me, but as I study a scientific degree, I 100% do not agree with juice detoxing, and the gluten free fad is a load of rubbish. Your diet should only be gluten free if you have Coeliac disease or an intolerance i.e. it is making you symptomatic. Otherwise cutting it out of your diet is like cutting out carbohydrates, the biggest source of energy and nutrients for your body. It really is a personal choice what you do with your body, but when I feel bombarded with information that gluten is bad for you (which is completely false), that's when I get frustrated.

Another thing is that while most people can afford to eat healthily the normal way, eating all these 'in trend' foods such as quinoa and buckwheat is very expensive. I visited a whole foods specialist supermarket only to be astounded by what people are prepared to pay for this type of food!

I do get that it is a lifestyle decision. I just hate the fact that everywhere I look, people are showcasing it on social networks. Although it is unintentional, it makes me feel pressurised to do the same. Something that as a student, I neither have the money or the time to do! This type of pressure can lead to eating disorders and insecurities for many people. For now, I think I'll stick to my way which is simple. Eat a balanced diet (not cutting anything out, including sugar!) and exercising reguarly. The NHS recommends around 2 hours of physical activity a week (don't quote me on that) which sounds manageable. Simply walking to the shops, or having a little jog in the evening will do. Also, I do indulge in treats because a little bit of something yummy is not bad and will not make any difference to my weight or health.
So next time you see the latest picture of a green, non appetising smoothie, my advice is to keep scrolling and do your own thing!