Unlocking the Secrets of Nutrition: How to Choose the Best Diet for Your Body

utahfoundationalnutrition
Jan 22
3 min read

Choosing the right diet can feel overwhelming. With so many options and conflicting advice, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. The truth is, the best diet is the one that fits your unique body and lifestyle. Understanding how different foods support your body is key to making informed choices that promote health and vitality.

My book, Eat Well, Live Well: A Beginner’s Handbook to Nutrition, offers clear guidance on this journey. It helps you understand the roles of various foods, and how to return to a whole-food diet that truly suits you. Here, I’ll share some insights from the book to help you start unlocking the secrets of nutrition.

Eat Well, Live Well: A Beginner's Handbook to Nutrition

Buy The Book

Understanding Your Body’s Needs

Every person’s body reacts differently to foods. Some thrive for a time on plant-based diets, while others feel stronger with more animal-based foods. The key is to listen to your body and recognize how it responds to different nutrients.

Plant foods provide fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals when prepared appropriately. They can support digestion, immunity, and overall health.
Glandular and animal-based foods provide essential proteins, fats, and nutrients, such as vitamin B12 and iron, which are vital for rebuilding the body, boosting energy, and maintaining hormone balance.

Knowing the benefits of these food groups helps you create a balanced diet tailored to your needs.

The Role of Cleanses and Resets

Many people benefit from phases of cleansing or resetting their diet. This process helps remove toxins, reduce inflammation, and reset your digestive system. It’s not about extreme fasting or deprivation but about giving your body a break from processed foods, sugars, and additives.

A typical reset might include:

Drinking plenty of water and herbal teas
Eating whole, unprocessed foods
Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and refined sugars
Incorporating gentle detoxifying foods like leafy greens, lemon, and ginger

I do a cleanse yearly with patients and those who come to my practice who would like guidance and support through a 21-day cleanse.

After this phase, you can gradually reintroduce foods and observe how your body reacts, helping you identify what works best.

Eye-level view of a colorful plate with fresh vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains — Balanced meal with plant and animal foods

Balanced meals combining plant and animal foods support overall health and energy.

Plant Foods Versus Animal-Based Foods

Many people don’t realize how differently plant and animal foods affect the body. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Plant foods

- Rich in fiber, which aids digestion and supports gut health

- Packed with antioxidants that protect cells from damage

- Typically lower in calories but high in nutrients

- Help reduce inflammation and support heart health

Plant-based foods, however, can be filled with plant chemicals/toxins that can be antinutrient and can cause chaos in the body. This is why it is important to prepare them appropriately.

Animal-based foods

- Provide complete proteins necessary for muscle repair and growth

- Contain essential fatty acids that support brain and hormone function

- Supply nutrients like iron and vitamin B12, which are harder to get from plants alone

- Can be more satiating, helping control appetite

Animals also need to be prepared and sourced correctly. Overcooking can deplete the amino acids the body needs to build.

Balancing these food types based on your body’s signals can improve energy, mood, and overall wellness.

How to Find Your Best Whole Food Diet

After cleansing or resetting, the goal is to return to a whole food diet that fits your lifestyle and body. Here are the steps to guide you:

Start with whole, unprocessed foods
Choose fresh organic vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, free-range meats, and wild-caught fish.
Observe how you feel
Keep a food journal to track energy levels, digestion, mood, and sleep.
Adjust based on your body’s feedback
If you notice bloating or fatigue after certain foods, try reducing or eliminating them. Make sure your digestion is working properly. We can have years of eating things that are imbalanced or create deficiencies in the body, which impacts how we are digesting.
Include variety
Rotate your food choices to ensure you get a wide range of nutrients.
Stay hydrated
Water supports every function in your body, including digestion and detoxification.