- The Tonic
- Posts
- Fear-based diet culture sucks.
Fear-based diet culture sucks.
A deep dive into the power of perception
Good morning! đż Is it just me, or is summer not nearly as relaxing as everyone makes it out to be? If youâve been feeling extra on edge between the hot weather and coordinating travel plans, hereâs some interesting information for you. Researchers analyzed 154 clinical trials with over 10,000 participants and found that relaxing activities like meditation, mindfulness, and yoga are more effective at reducing anger than physically stimulating activities like exercise (Link to study).
Surprisingly, some stimulating activities like jogging actually increased feelings of anger. I knew the ârunnerâs highâ was a total myth. Moving on to the latest and greatest in nutrition research, does our perception of the foods we eat change the impact those foods have on our health? Letâs dive in.
This Weekâs Menu đż
Deep Dive: The Power of Perception
Unlock Radiant, Youthful Skin with OneSkin â¨
What does âwhole grainâ really mean?
Weekly Recipe⌠a spin on sweet potatoes
Read Time: 4 minutes
The Power Of Perception
We are all just doing our best. We try to eat the right foods, avoid processed junk, move our bodies, hydrate throughout the day, and get plenty of quality sleep at night. Unfortunately, the nutrition piece of the puzzle can feel so complicated sometimes. What foods are good for us? What foods are bad? How much is too much?
Now, imagine a world where something like a creamy, decadent milkshake doesnât just taste good but is also considered healthy. Sounds like fake news, doesnât it? Recent research suggests that this scenario might not be as far-fetched as it soundsâall because of the power of perception.
In a fascinating study that blurs the lines between what we eat and how we think about what we eat, scientists uncovered that the way we perceive the healthiness of food can significantly influence how our bodies react to it.
Participants in the study were given one of two drinks: a milkshake labeled as high-fat and high-sugar or another described as low-fat and low-sugar. A third group was given just water. The twist? Both milkshakes were actually the same, loaded with sugar and fat. Yet, the bodies of those who believed they consumed a âhealthierâ milkshake reacted differently, showing better arterial healthâsimilar to the group who just drank water.
This experiment highlights the ânocebo effect,â where negative expectations about something can lead to worse outcomes. In contrast, positive beliefs, even about a high-fat, high-sugar milkshake, can lead to better physiological responses.
To be clear, this doesnât mean we should indulge in unhealthy foods all the time, thinking we can just manifest essential nutrients into a slice of pizza. However, it emphasizes that our bodiesâ reactions to food are not just about the foodâs nutritional content but also about our perceptions and beliefs.
Who knew?
The findings suggest that fearing certain foods because theyâre labeled as âunhealthyâ might do more harm than good. Instead, adopting a balanced view of nutrition is crucial, recognizing that no food is inherently bad. Moderation is essential, and understanding that âthe poison is in the doseâ can help us maintain a healthier relationship with food and better health outcomes in the long term.
This study could have profound implications for how we approach eating and dieting. It supports the idea that enjoying food without the guilt often associated with âcheatingâ on a diet might be beneficial for our health.
Depending on the health circles or TikTik influencers you follow, youâll always hear about âbad foodsâ you should avoid at all costs. Seed oils will make you inflamed, meat gives you cancer, vegetables have âanti-nutrients,â fruit has as much sugar as candy, carbs make you fat, fat makes you fat, protein is bad for your liver, there is plastic in the water, yellow 5 gives you can cancer, rice is full of heavy metals, yadda yadda.
If you follow all the nutrition advice out there, youâll run out of things you can eat. Now, of course, there are foods you should limit your consumption of more than others, but this constant fear that certain foods are going to kill you just isnât helpful. And clearly, our perception of these foods really impacts our health.
The key takeaway? Our thoughts about food can have real, measurable impacts on our health. If you convince yourself that a cheat meal or occasional indulgence will derail your health, you are only making it more likely that it will derail your health. This is why the fear-based diet culture peddled by many nutrition influencers is counterproductive.
There is no such thing as âbad foods.â There are only âbad habits.â By shifting our perceptions that certain foods are good and others are bad and focusing on balanced, mindful eating, we can enjoy our meals and maintain our health, proving that sometimes, perception truly is reality.
Melasma, dry skin, hormonal breakouts⌠Your skin goes through a lot during different stages of life. OneSkin, has a simple skin care routine that all busy parents can handle.
Plus, itâs super easy to use tooâjust cleanse, pat dry, and apply twice daily. Boom. Done.
OneSkin is the world's first skin longevity company. By focusing on the cellular aspects of aging, OneSkin keeps your skin looking and acting younger for longer. Get started today with 15% off using code TONIC at oneskin.co/TONIC. Thatâs 15% off oneskin.co/TONIC with code TONIC.
Why Youâll Love OneSkin:
Science-Backed Goodness: Created by an all-woman team of scientists, OneSkinâs OS-01 peptide is scientifically proven to reverse skin's biological age (01, 02)
Real Results: In lab studies, OS-01 FACE boosted collagen production similar to retinol, without irritation or increasing aging biomarkers. (02) And in a 12-week study, 86% of users saw reduced fine lines and wrinkles using OS-01 FACE. (02) Yep, you read that right.
Easy Peasy Routine: No complicated steps, just straightforward skincare that works.
OneSkin goes beyond just making you look goodâit optimizes your skin's biology to be more resilient to aging. Think of it as skincare 2.0.
Please support our sponsors! đ
The Weekly Recipe
Try to guess: Sweet potatoes turned into a delicious side. This one is a must-try! Curious? Click below to discover the recipe and see if you guessed right.
Would you try it? |
Tonic Shots
𧟠The Best Way To Stay Clean Clean
Stay clean with soap made of only CLEAN ingredients. Try it out.*
đŚ High-Protein Yogurts, Ranked.
17 of the most popular high-protein yogurts, ranked. Get the list.
đŤ What are the benefits of turmeric?
Turmeric has many benefits. You may know some, but do you know them all? Read more.
đŤ Bonus recipes!? What?!
Who doesnât love dark chocolate? Here are some recipes you will love. Get recipes.
đ§ Yoga, please. But make it sustainable.
We love yoga. And we love sustainability. Check out these yoga mats! Learn more.
"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."
How was the email? |
01 Zonari, A., et al, npj Aging, 2023
02 Based on data from clinical studies and/or lab studies conducted on human skin samples, models, and cells in the OneSkin lab. Explore more at oneskin.co/claims.
Reply