Unit 8
What Is the Healthiest Diet?

Overview

In this unit, we attempt to tie together all of the information presented so far and to formulate an “ideal” diet. We must point out that the conclusions we reach here are general ones. Many factors, such as food allergies, age, or health status, can affect what is considered the “ideal” diet for an individual.

We must also stress that the only rational approach to the question of Western diseases is primary prevention based on a healthy lifestyle, particularly good nutrition. The evidence we have presented suggests that essentially the same diet helps prevent virtually all of the Western diseases. Furthermore, the evidence leads us to conclude that several of the Western diseases are potentially reversible, and that diet can make a major contribution towards this reversal. However, the diet appropriate for disease reversal is stricter than that designed for primary prevention.

Objectives

After completing this unit, you should be able to

1. tie together the information presented in the course so far and use it to “construct” a healthy diet.
2. explain the potential impact of this diet on the incidence and mortality rates of Western diseases.
3. identify the Western diseases that may be amenable to reversal, particularly by dietary means.
4. identify aspects of the diet most appropriate to achieve disease reversal.
5. discuss the role of non-dietary aspects of lifestyle in the incidence and prevention of Western diseases.