In Search of the Sweet Spot for What You Eat

After studying nutrition and exercise for so many years, the one thing I’ve tried to find is the “sweet spot” when it comes to what we should eat. I don’t mean how much sugar or sugary foods can we eat; I mean what do we have to eat to be healthy, reduce our risk of degenerative disease, yet still enjoy all kinds of food. One more thing: it has to be something everyone can do. I think being a vegan is great, but I’m not going to do it and it’s more effort than many people are willing to put into eating—plus I don’t think it’s necessary to be healthy.

What I want to find is the sweet spot: how much good food do I have to eat to balance the food that’s not as good?

Researchers at the University of Michigan may have helped begin the process; although it’s a completely theoretical study, it may give us some guidance. The researchers identified each food’s effect on disease, whether beneficial or detrimental, for over 5,000 foods. They also estimated the same risk-benefit ratio associated with the cost to the environment to grow and manufacture the food. Ultimately, they came up with the number of minutes a serving of a particular food would add or subtract from your life. Needless to say it needed a snappy acronym so they call it HENI, the Healthy Nutritional Index.

Love that hot dog on a bun? You lose about 35 minutes. Eat a dish with seafood? Add 35 minutes. It’s theoretical but it gives us an indication of a sweet spot. I’ll let you know all about that on Saturday.

What are you prepared to do today?