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.

No people don't really get scurvy, but people do get osteoporosis, cancer, anaemia, goitre, heart disease. Not sure why you skipped over all of those points.

You picked two out of all the ones I said - I think you're resistant to the idea that you may be causing ill effects because you believe you're perfectly fine. And that's OK, maybe you just need to brush off the friends comments and eat an apple or handful of raspberries every few days.

Be careful OP.
I eat terribly despite looking pretty well and not feeling unwell as such and I have osteoporosis now at 35!

You say you feel fine. I used to work with someone who ate similar to you. She always said she was fine. In reality, she looked like death warmed up. Her skin was so pale she looked purple/blue most of the time. She had cancer (can't say this is diet related) and eventually sorted her diet out and looked much, much better.

I know people three who lived off cheese who needed their gall bladders removed. I come from a family with a history of high blood pressure and heart disease so I eat healthy because I don't want to have a heart attack in my 60s like my grand dad. I lost my sister to cancer this year. She was in her 30s and it has scared the shit out of me. No idea if it was diet related, but it can't hurt to be healthy IMO.

Agree totally with Porgy. I dont really mind how I look as such, dont think about it really, but objectively Im very very pale and drawn with thin hair so if things like this bother you then diet likely a culprit. Heed my words re osteoporosis too.

vegetarian here too!

You say you wfh. How about sticking a load of veg into a soup maker while you’re having breakfast. Don’t turn it on til lunchtime. It takes 20 mins and it gives you a healthy veg packed lunch!

Porridge with blueberries and banana for breakfast.

Slow cooker with veg and beans in. Gorgeous bean chilli or casserole for dinner.

Surely it’s not hard??

I feel lethargic and low mood if I eat processed food. I now eat clean eating. I choose not to let myself feel so rubbish. It’s like putting fuel into a car..you wouldn’t put diesel into a petrol car. Our bodies need nutrients. We don’t need sugars or beige food. We need rainbow colours and goodness. We run smoother because of it

@Gwenhwyfar

"Lack of vitamin c - scurvy Lack of vitamin K - haemorragic disease Lack of vitamin A - night blindness Iron - anaemia Calcium - osteoporosis Iodine - goitre Lack of Vit C, fibre and potassium - digestive issues"

These are old diseases though. Hardly anybody gets scurvy these days. I don't see why I'd be deficient in vit A or calcium on my diet anyway.
I don't think you'll find someone like me suffering from scurvy in 21st century Britain - yes, I know there are people, but they are extreme cases.

"But you won't feel it until it hits you - and then it's too late."

That's interesting. Others are saying they can feel it. That's what I was interested in with this thread - those people who say they feel different after just a few days of a good or bad diet.

It’s not true that these are ‘old diseases’ they are actually on the increase again!

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/victorian-disease-gout-rickets-vitamin-d-mumps-scurvy-measles-malnutrition-nhs-hospital-admitted-a8795686.html

Millions of reasons to eat a healthy diet, as per all of the above.

However, I was fascinated recently to learn that some people do feel the effects of fruit and veg more than others. I am absolutely one of those people you mention OP, who start craving fruit and veg after a day or two off - I’ve always been like it. A few weeks ago I had a DNA test that’s designed to help you understand your genetic disposition and plan your lifestyle accordingly. One of my readings was that I am genetically less good at processing toxins that and so need a higher level of antioxidants to feel healthy. The prescription: be religious about the fruit and veg. If totally rallies with how I feel. Maybe you are at the other end of the scale and excellent at processing toxins!

NB Again, am not advocating for an unhealthy diet for all the other reasons given!

My uncle's diet was similar and he lived into his 80s but had type 2 diabetes for the last 5 - 10 years (was never overweight though).

My brother's diet also similar, he is 50 with no health issues so far.

Why not try making one small change at a time, see if you feel any better or not. I'm trying fermented foods at the moment, they get a good press and are easy eg daily Kefir drink.

It sounds like there are several issues here:

• no motivation to spend time preparing food. That’s strange to me as I love doing this. But if you know that you are like this why not buy ready prepared healthier foods. Ready prepared salads, frozen steam veg, stir fry packs etc? Make it as easy and convenient as a cheese sandwich. But make a conscious effort to look for and buy healthier alternatives.

• Bad habits. Try and break just one habit a day. Make a commitment to have fruit with breakfast (something that doesn’t need preparing) and to do it everyday for 2 months. Then add in a new habit - always having a green (Frozen and microwaved?) veg with dinner. Build these up over time and build them into your routine.

• no intrinsic motivation due to impacts being long term. Read into the benefits of good nutrition, reward yourself in other ways to start with (star charts with non-food related rewards), and an end of day self reflection on what you have eaten that day and how that will support your future health. I also like to think with each meal about how it will support my wellbeing - has it improved the bacteria in my gut, the cells in my muscles, the strength of my bones etc or not?

You say you can't be bothered to peel the carrot. Do you use veg peeler?
I bought it so my ds can peel vegs when he was small and wanted to cook with me, but I can't do without it since it's so easy and quick.

For me (probably will be flamed for saying this), it’s the satisfaction of buying clothes in a smaller size, walking into a shop and knowing most things will look nice on me (I have wide hips and big boobs so have to be careful not to look matronly/frumpy). Not feeling embarassed on the beach. Not that anybody shouldn’t feel good regardless of their size/eating habits and I know some people will eat 6 croissants a morning whilst wearing a size 8, but for me how I eat is linked to bloating/waist size.

So vanity is enough for me

@NoSensei

I don’t have any advice, but I am in a similar boat to you OP.

I hate cooking and food prep, I like convenience. I eat a lot of easy foods because of this and probably only averaging 2 fruit or veg a day and even that’s an effort because I really don’t like most veg, I just force myself to eat it because everyone bangs on about how important it is.

There’s been times in my life where I’ve eaten better and I can honestly say I didn’t feel anything different to how I do now. So following with interest.

We do sound very similar NoSensei. You're doing slightly better than me.

"I don’t think I could do any more than 2 cheese sandwiches on consecutive days without wanting something different."

I sometimes change the type of bread or cheese.

"people do get osteoporosis, cancer, anaemia, goitre, heart disease. Not sure why you skipped over all of those points."

These are not uniquely caused by malnutrition like scurvy, that's why. Not eating well might be a factor, but I've rarely seen it proved e.g. Mrs Y didn't eat 5 fruit and veg and this definitely gaver her x cancer and there". It just doesn't seem so straight forward to me.
Similarly, heart disease seems to mainly be a thing related to high cholesterol and obesity.

"I eat terribly despite looking pretty well and not feeling unwell as such and I have osteoporosis now at 35!"

I get plenty of calcium though.

"It’s not true that these are ‘old diseases’ they are actually on the increase again!

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/victorian-disease-gout-rickets-vitamin-d-mumps-scurvy-measles-malnutrition-nhs-hospital-admitted-a8795686.html"

Your article says almost all the cases were young children.

" Maybe you are at the other end of the scale and excellent at processing toxins!"

Maybe. I always presumed I didn't crave healthy food because I'm not used to them. On the rare occasions I have found myself looking longingly at fuit, usually grapes, I've realised it's because it's thirsty.

"My uncle's diet was similar and he lived into his 80s but had type 2 diabetes for the last 5 - 10 years (was never overweight though)."

Did he eat a lot of sugar though?
I do eat sugary food, but not huge amounts.

"no motivation to spend time preparing food. That’s strange to me as I love doing this. But if you know that you are like this why not buy ready prepared healthier foods."

I do sometimes, but as I don't like them much, they often lie festering in the fridge or freezer.

"- no intrinsic motivation due to impacts being long term. Read into the benefits of good nutrition, reward yourself in other ways to start with (star charts with non-food related rewards), and an end of day self reflection on what you have eaten that day and how that will support your future health. I also like to think with each meal about how it will support my wellbeing - has it improved the bacteria in my gut, the cells in my muscles, the strength of my bones etc or not?"

I think I'm just not ready for this yet as I don't fully 'believe' in the benefits. I know objectively that they are there, but I don't believe inside, if you know what I mean.

@DesperateInTheGulf

For me (probably will be flamed for saying this), it’s the satisfaction of buying clothes in a smaller size, walking into a shop and knowing most things will look nice on me (I have wide hips and big boobs so have to be careful not to look matronly/frumpy). Not feeling embarassed on the beach. Not that anybody shouldn’t feel good regardless of their size/eating habits and I know some people will eat 6 croissants a morning whilst wearing a size 8, but for me how I eat is linked to bloating/waist size.

So vanity is enough for me

You're confusing two totally different things here.

Eating healthily is not the same as eating 'light' or regulating your calories. I'm happy at my size now (BMI around 21). Sure, I'd like smaller thighs and a flatter stomach, but if I lose weight my collar bones will start sticking out like coat hangers. I'm happy with maintaining.

Some healthy food can be high in calories - someone suggested dates and raisins upthread. I feel if I'm going to have food that is high in calories and sugar, it might as well be chocolate.

Gwenhywfar you say

“Similarly, heart disease seems to mainly be a thing related to high cholesterol and obesity.”

haven’t you thought what causes high cholesterol and obesity?!?!!!!!!!!!

I can’t understand that you are this naive

"haven’t you thought what causes high cholesterol and obesity?!?!!!!!!!!!

I can’t understand that you are this naive"

Overeating and eating a lot of fat, not 'not having your 5 a day'. Also a genetic component to cholesterol I think.
Last time I had my cholesterol checked it was fine.

Do you do other things that you can't see an immediate benefit for, e.g. save into a pension?

I'm curious because you say you know the facts but don't believe internally. I don't quite understand that - I know the facts, and I just trained myself to get into the habit of eating fruit and veg (even stuff I don't particularly like) because I know I should. I pay into a pension because I know it will help in the future even though I can't quite imagine the actual feeling of getting it. Eating healthily seems similar if you don't get a immediate benefit about feeling better now - you're investing in your future.

I don't have a private pension, no.
Maybe I find it hard to have a long term view of life.

"I just trained myself to get into the habit of eating fruit and veg (even stuff I don't particularly like) because I know I should."

I suppose I just don't have this self-discipline.

i suppose I just don't have this self-discipline.

Fundamentally it comes down to this in my opinion. The rest of us don't necessarily crave fruit and veg, or feel immediate benefits (some do of course), it's not just you that feels like this. But you just have to decide - either you put in the effort and discipline (it does get easier with practice!) or you don't and you live with whatever comments and side effects and future medical problems you may get.