Persuade me eating healthily is worth it

[Gwenhwyfar]

Already posted in Health, but I thought I'd try and get additional answers.

I know I should eat healthily and have my 5 a day (currently struggling to get just 1 despite being 90% vegetarian), but even though I know it, I struggle to really understand it if you see what I mean. I know scientists say you should eat fruit and veg and that ideally it should be way more than 5 and I presume that's based on studies of people who've developed certain illnesses, but it's not something I can SEE or FEEL like I can with other things. When I've made an effort myself, I haven't seen any improvement.
I can see that overeating makes you overweight. That's clear.
I can feel that too much sugar rots your teeth. I can feel that happening, but I just can't see the damage I'm doing by eating cheese sandwiches and the like.

I hear people saying things like 'I haven't been eating healthily, I'm craving fruit/veg now' and I'm quite confused by that or 'you may not be overweight, but you'll be really unhealthy inside'. I don't really know what they mean by that.

Can anyone help make it more 'real' for me rather than just something people say.

Thanks in advance.

Yes that really happens! Your scepticism makes me smile, what's the conspiracy theory?! How would you rate your energy, sleep, skin, general health and weight? Are you happy that all are as good as you'd like them to be? All will likely improve with increased fruit and veg consumption. Can't say fairer than that!

And for me, the opposite is true, when I'm not eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, those things all suffer over time.

"What injections and what unhealthy eating?"

Vit B injection. Permanent nerve damage. He mainly lived on beige food. Not much protein and veg, he basically hates them.

You already know the reasons though.

Vitamins and minerals plus trace elements are required by all your body’s systems. Many can only be obtained from a variety of fruit and veg.

Eating more fruit and veg rather than carbs and meat will lessen the calories you consume without you trying too hard.

Anti-oxidants in fruit and veg are thought to be useful in preventing cancer.

Better blood sugar control because of the complex carbs rather than simple ones from sugary / starchy foods.

Clearer skin, better sleep, better gut health.

I’ve got IBS, if I eat too many processed or fatty foods my stomach really lets me know about it. I get the shits, bloating, pain, etc. It’s just not worth it, as much as I love takeaways and huge mountains of cheese, to not eat “healthily” (I don’t think my diet is the healthiest, but I eat a lot of fruit and veg and little ultra-processed food).

I can have a takeaway at the weekend, and generally be less strict, without too much impact (I will feel a bit rubbish the day after a takeaway, but it’s manageable). But I really do need to eat well during the week or I’ll just get horrible digestive symptoms.

This thread made me laugh tbh. I’d say I have an averagely healthy diet - I’m lucky that I don’t put on weight easily, but I can definitely tell when I’ve had a period of not eating as healthily.

For example - too much sugar gives me bad skin, too many carbs make me feel bloated, not enough veg (and therefor vitamins) makes me look grey and susceptible to colds etc. I struggle to believe you don’t feel any difference at all between eating healthy and not? (I’m slightly jealous if so!!)

I would also say it depends on how you feel generally - are you fit? do you sleep well? have enough energy for your day? If yes to all those, maybe it doesn’t matter that much. If no, I would change something

I think that unless you really want to eat well, you won't.

If you already know all the factual scientific information, statistics etc, then there is not much that will make it real to you unless you live it.

So in your shoes I would either accept that you won't do it and make your peace with that decision, which probably will involve some future sacrifices of life expectancy and general health, or try learning to cook in radically new ways as a project and completely changing your diet for a set period of time (say, 3 or 4 months) and see whether you actually feel much different and whether it's worth it to you to keep going. I'm not sure anything outside your own personal experience is going to make it "real", given that you already know all the facts out there.

It might be worth asking yourself questions like: are you overweight? Are you tired? Do you have to have regular and expensive dental treatment? Do you have any other health problems? Are there things about your appearance that you are unhappy about, for example poor hair or skin? Do you have loved ones you would like to be around for as long as possible for, and in good health for? All these are things that you might be able to "make it real" by seeing change in, if you want to make it genuinely real for yourself.

I feel much better when I am eating more fruit and veg, partly I suppose because of the vitamins, but mainly as it means I have less cravings and eat less food of little/no nutritional value. I sleep better, my skin feels better, I have more energy, and less sluggish. I don't particularly just like piles of veg or whatever, but veg in stir frys, into other dishes such as courgette/squash/peppers/ into pasta dishes, in omlettes, sandwiches, wraps, on porridge is an easy way to get enough. I agree that 5 isn't a magic number though and it's not like you feel crap eating 4 bits but wonderful on 5.

I get the feeling it’s less cooking with vegetables and more just cooking in general you can’t be bothered with. What do you eat in an average day?

@Gwenhwyfar, it isn't 5 a day you should be aiming at, but about 9-12 a day.

I can't imagine not eating lots of veg.I would feel ill if I didn't eat veg. I tend to struggle with fruit, but surely you could try starting the day with a glass of orange juice, and if you have cereal or porridge, sprinkle some blueberries or something on it.

Eat an apple or clementine as a snack

Have a bit of salad with your lunch.

You don't have to peel carrots and similar veg.

Chuck some broccoli, spinach or green beans or frozen mixed veg in your pasta in cheese sauce.

Make a rosti or fry-up with leftover veg and potatoes.

Add spring onion, apple or celery to your cheese sandwich.

Eat some dates instead of toffee.

I would feel ill if I didn't eat lots of veg.

Is there a reason why you are vegetarian? What do you eat?

... But it's the same with anything... We know the theory and research behind what makes people live long happy lives.
180 minutes moderate exercise (or whatever it is)
5 portions fruit and veg
No alcohol or smoking
Manage stress levels
Get good sleep
Sun causes skin damage

....It doesn't mean we do all of them. I enjoy a glass of wine I wouldn't want to give that up. But for me eating fruit and veg is easy, I like it I centre my meals around it. For others it's not easy. For me wearing Spf every day is important and easy, other people don't care.

I guess the answer is if in 10 years you had a medical condition and you found out it wouldn't have occurred if you'd eaten better, how would you feel?

Watch this video from Food Unwrapped (it's embedded in an Express article in my link). They show the difference between food transitting the bowel with and without fibre. The bits left behind can cause poor health.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/766927/constipation-remedy-food-unwrapped/amp

@MotherWol

I get the feeling it’s less cooking with vegetables and more just cooking in general you can’t be bothered with. What do you eat in an average day?

Yes, I don't like cooking, but I could eat healthy ready meals if I wanted to (I sort of did today, but didn't finish it). I also just don't like eating healthy food.

I have cheese sandwiches for lunch every day. Enforced wfh so I just want to grab something and don't want to eat into my lunch hour with cooking. Then in the evening, something simple as well. I might get up to 1 or sometimes 2 portions of veg, but whatever it is is likely to be drenched in cheese.
So it's the eating as well as the cooking!

"How would you rate your energy, sleep, skin, general health and weight? "

Energy - Ok at the moment, difficult to lack energy in lockdown where there's no reason to ever be physically tired

Sleep - OK most of the time
Skin - too dry and I get spots around my period. I put the dryness down to my age (early 40s) as I didn't have it when I was younger
General health - good, but with small niggles that I don't put down to malnutrition
Weight - am happy with it

In answer to your OP, yes I do feel better, my digestion is better, I have more energy. I honestly can't imagine a day without fruit or veg. I think I am just in the habit of a piece of fruit 1st thing and after lunch daily. Lunch and dinner are often vegetable based - what can you cook which has no veg at all in it ? Typical dinners here are curry, chilli, stir fry, what about vegetable soups ?

"Vit B injection. Permanent nerve damage. He mainly lived on beige food. Not much protein and veg, he basically hates them."

I'm hoping I get enough protein from cheese and I take supplements (yes, yes, I know it's better to get your vitamins from food).
I was told it was quite difficult to become deficient in B vitamins before being elderly, even if you eat badly - this is when I asked a dr if I could be deficient. Did this come on in old age?

"I’ve got IBS, if I eat too many processed or fatty foods my stomach really lets me know about it. I get the shits, bloating, pain, etc. "

My digestion isn't great either, but healthy food set it off more for me. I know some people say you've got to work up gradually to having more fibre, but I suppose I see white bread as quite safe.

I couldn't eat a cheese sandwich without something to provide acid and crunch, either carrot, celery or an apple it just wouldn't taste right. I am intrigued by what you do eat for dinner.

Do you like tomatoes OP, if you have cheese sandwiches, if you have an extra minute or 2 could have cheese and tomato on toast or a toastie! Delicious and an easy way to get some vits.

" I struggle to believe you don’t feel any difference at all between eating healthy and not? (I’m slightly jealous if so!!)"

I suppose because I eat quite unhealthily most of the time. Maybe I'd feel better if I eat healthily, but I don't know as I've never done it consistently for a long time. In the first lockdown, I was better than now as I'd get a bit of a routine, but I live somewhere else now...

"I would also say it depends on how you feel generally - are you fit? do you sleep well? have enough energy for your day? If yes to all those, maybe it doesn’t matter that much. If no, I would change something"

I am unfit - routine was messed up when the gym closed, but am working on it and I have another thread open about what to wear to go jogging very slowly. I have enough energy for my day because my day involves sitting on my arse and barely leaving my kitchen. I sleep OK.
I don't actually feel that I'm an unhealthy person. It was a comment from someone else that made me think maybe I am that bad.

What about a different approach? If you don't feel the benefit in your body then reward the effort in a different way. Make yourself a chart with stickers etc. If you eat say, 2 portions of veg in a day you get a sticker. When you have got, say, 10 stickers buy yourself a treat like a new book or a nail varnish. Maybe a bit silly but no harm in trying.

"or try learning to cook in radically new ways as a project and completely changing your diet for a set period of time (say, 3 or 4 months)"

Yeah, that's not going to happen. There's no way I'd stick to that. That's for the idea though :)

"asking yourself questions like: are you overweight?

no

Are you tired?

no, difficult to do anything tiring in lockdown

Do you have to have regular and expensive dental treatment?

yes, but I did note that I can see and feel the impact of sugar

Do you have any other health problems?

yes, small things

Are there things about your appearance that you are unhappy about, for example poor hair or skin?

I have an ugly face, but not caused by cheese sandwiches
My skin's a bit dry, but I think that's common in middle age
Hair is fine and flyaway, but I think it always was and I may have been born that way

Do you have loved ones you would like to be around for as long as possible for, and in good health for?

With no offence to my family of origin - no, I don't.

Ok so for comparision I am a similar age and have eaten healthily for at least the last 10 years (plant based diet minimum of 5 fruit and veg daily but more frequently 7-9, red meat less than once a month, alcohol 1-2 units a week). I am up between 5:30-6 during the week, 6:30-7 at weekends after 8 hours sleep feeling refreshed. I enjoy running and cycling and try to do a 10k run most weekends (so can run for about an hour continously). My BMI is 21, I don't think all these things would be the case if I didn't eat well.

" it isn't 5 a day you should be aiming at, but about 9-12 a day."

I'm aiming at 1 or 2 at the moment Mike!

I did have a clementine today actually and a fish, spinach and cream ready meal so that's two types, but not necessarily enough to make 2 portions. I also have a feeling clementines give me acid, so not great.

Thanks for listing a whole load of food I don't like lol

I'm vegetarian because I like the ethical side of it when I was much younger. I've given up on those principles now and I do eat a bit of meat, but 28 years without meat put me off it to a large extent. I'll eat some mince is a lasagne, but wouldn't eat a steak or anything and when I'm in lockdown, I'm pretty much 100% vegetarian.

@fruitpastille

What about a different approach? If you don't feel the benefit in your body then reward the effort in a different way. Make yourself a chart with stickers etc. If you eat say, 2 portions of veg in a day you get a sticker. When you have got, say, 10 stickers buy yourself a treat like a new book or a nail varnish. Maybe a bit silly but no harm in trying.

I might actually consider this fruitpastille. I do think it would work better if I actually believed in the benefits though. The internal motivation is missing if you see what I mean.