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Default Sep 12, 2021 at 09:49 AM
  #1
I don't doubt that eating healthy, and therein reducing unhealthy (junk) food does make a difference and help certain things. But I'm just wondering if it makes a big enough, or noticeable, 'worthwhile' difference/improvement. (I'll explain what I really mean by 'worthwhile')

My main concern is my brain and mental health/function, my cognitive function, memory, focus, thinking ability etc. So I do undoubtedly notice that things like, or at least, sugar in a short time period does affect them. I feel more 'spaced out', unfocused, muggy etc. for the hours after I eat it.

So I'm fairly confident that sugar would definitely be 'worth' reducing or just flat out cutting out - but I just don't know if it would make a recognizable lasting (long term) difference, like how it does short term.

And what I mean when I say 'worthwhile' is really just that eating (not necessarily just unhealthy bad junk food) is something I enjoy, it's a 'distraction', something to do, I don't know, it really seems like these are just bad excuses and they probably are, but I'm just not sure if starting and sticking to a long term (lifestyle) of eating less and healthier is really going to make the difference/improvement I would like, and if I might as well just keep eating what/how I do.

Note: I don't have like a serious eating disorder, or am severely overweight or eat constantly 24/7 or anything like that. I just don't have a - consistently - healthy diet.

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Does eating healthy really make a difference? Is it really 'worth it'?
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Default Sep 12, 2021 at 02:08 PM
  #2
I’ve lost and kept off 22 pounds since Thanksgiving by eating mainly ramen, Goldfish crackers, cereal, and rice cakes. I’ll take out and add in something else every 2 days or so. But those few foods are what I mainly eat. I’m currently eating a lot of Jif extra crunchy peanut butter.

But nope. I don’t eat healthy. I don’t move around much. I’m just on a strict calorie reduction diet. Which is still around 1200 calories. So nothing drastic.

It’s basically just calories in vs calories out. As for how I feel mental health wise, I ate some raw zucchini for lunch and my anxiety is much better. But I’ve also done other non food related things to get my anxiety lowered.

At least for me this is what works. My therapist says I have an ED. My Pdoc says I don’t.

My issue was the 3 full calorie sodas I’d drink a day. Once I switched to diet I had no problems sticking to a low cal diet.

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Default Sep 13, 2021 at 10:29 AM
  #3
As long as calories are equated and you are in a deficit or at maintenance calories you will be in a healthy weight. Does not matter what you eat. With that being said if you do not feed your body the nutrients from nutrient dense food like veggies and fruits you can end up feeling run down or deficit in micronutrients. Let's not forget protein and the important roll that plays in muscle, bone, skin, hair, and virtually every other body part or tissue.

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Default Sep 13, 2021 at 10:54 AM
  #4
To be completely honest, although eating healthier diet is obviously a good thing, I found it hasn't made one iota of difference towards my mental health issues. I still maintain a healthy diet, though, because it was always a goal of mine anyway. But it hasn't changed me psychologically in any noticeable way.

I always felt that the mental health field were basically just grabbing at straws by suggesting healthier diet as a means toward better mental health, and the fact that it hasn't changed me at all, just tells me I was right in my skepticism.

Maybe it's helped other people, I don't know, but I tried it nevertheless because, well, I'm willing to try a lot of things for my mental wellbeing.

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Default Sep 20, 2021 at 01:36 AM
  #5
I live on a farm surrounded by healthy food. Moved here 14 years ago. I found eating healthy has helped my health. I have only been sick twice in the 14 years unlike how unhealthy I was before I moved. For me, healthy food just tastes better & for me who had struggled with anorexia, food that tastes good makes me enjoy eating again.

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Default Sep 20, 2021 at 07:39 AM
  #6
Over the last 2 years I lost 60 pounds by simply eating less (no) sugar and more fruit and veg. Cutting out a lot of the empty calories helped a lot. The pandemic has also helped because it became easier to cook at home and I've just become better at eating healthy. Like mote.of.soul, it hasn't done a great deal for me mentally, with the exception of eliminating most of the sugar and caffeine. Caffeine and sugar will amp up my anxiety like crazy.

After having recently started Prozac, I feel hungry a lot more and I've indulged a little in sweets and junk food. I can tell that this is causing me a slight increase in anxiety and depression, so I'm getting back to eating healthier.

Is it worthwhile? My bank account says yes, the rest is still up for debate. I am going to continue to eat healthy as much as possible, but with the occasional treat.
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Default Sep 21, 2021 at 11:54 AM
  #7
There are actually a whole lot of healthful foods out there to eat. In the end, I find them far more satisfying than crappie food. It is a matter of knowing how to prepare them.

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Default Sep 23, 2021 at 10:12 PM
  #8
I am feeling better now that my diet is better.
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Default Sep 25, 2021 at 04:47 PM
  #9
I have been eating allot healthier in the last year and a half and im feeling better.
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Default Sep 26, 2021 at 12:58 AM
  #10
Has anyone used those services like 'hello fresh' ? Its mostly only two here for dinner. It kind of bums me out that I dont need to bake two casseroles to feed hungry growing teenagers.

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Default Sep 27, 2021 at 03:40 AM
  #11
Quote:
Originally Posted by sarahsweets View Post
Has anyone used those services like 'hello fresh' ? Its mostly only two here for dinner. It kind of bums me out that I dont need to bake two casseroles to feed hungry growing teenagers.
I tried four different services of those sorts in the past. Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, Sunbasket, and another I forget the name of. They all had good aspects, including most being at least relatively healthful meals. I think a choice may depend on meal preferences. I liked that Blue Apron had a particularly diet-friendly option that featured meals from various cultures. Hello Fresh meals were fine, but were more dishes that I made on my own, previously. I liked being exposed to new ones.

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Default Sep 27, 2021 at 05:26 AM
  #12
I've just decided I'm not going to completely cut out all the foods I like that are or could be considered unhealthy and never eat them again, (sugar being the only/main exception, I am going to avoid and reduce my sugar intake as much as possible) I'm just going to eat them in moderation and make sure to eat healthy foods at least just as much.

Like I said in my OP I don't feel like just completely cutting out all the unhealthy foods I really like would make a considerable improvement, at least not as much as I would like or feel would be worthwhile, so instead of eating them more or less 10 out of 10 times like I normally would, I'll just try a 50/50 type of idea.

That way I can still enjoy the foods I really like that aren't always 100% health-conscious - just not nothing but them - and at the same still include others that are.

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Default Sep 29, 2021 at 03:54 PM
  #13
I ate actual food today instead of just my usual snacks and I for some reason feel less full then if I had just eaten my usual stuff. But I didn’t have any coffee or Mountain Dew. So maybe my anxiety was caused by the caffeine.

I’ve thought of trying apple cider vinegar. I’ve heard that mixed with honey can help. Although I’m not sure I believe all this new age crap. I pretty much just believe in CICO. People have luck with keto. But I mean what happens when you stop and you just go back to eating regularly? The weight will just come back on. With any fad diet. That’s why just eating less is the best way to go. At least for me.

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Default Oct 01, 2021 at 02:58 PM
  #14
Eating healthy makes a big difference in how I feel and look. I used to be on a fast food and junk food diet. I gained 100 pounds and was unable to function. Now, I eat salad, chicken, fish, vegetables, yogurt, and drink lots of green tea. I also eat chocolate and drink coffee still. These are my only vices. I feel great now since I lost most of the weight. I also look great and am not bragging. I think mentally it helps to eat healthily and be healthy. I sometimes eat high-fructose sugar accidentally without reading the label, it makes me sick. I also at times eat too much sugar and my blood sugar goes haywire making me sick too. I am happier and more stable eating well. I don't like eating red beef nor much fatty food anymore. I feel great now. Unfortunately, healthy food is expensive while junk food is cheap. I don't know the reason for this. I try to eat healthier and am now doing better overall. I used to be pre-diabetic, have high blood pressure and cholesterol. I was a heart attack waiting to happen. I can't tell you the importance of eating healthy. I have no desire to be fat and unhealthy again. Also, some people eat a lot of junk food but don't get fat. So, I can't tell others what to do. But, for me, I need to eat healthily to live well.
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