If you’re trying to improve your health or lose weight, chances are you’re paying more attention to the calories in what you eat. While things like ketogenic diet Y intermittent fasting have gained popularity in recent years, the idea of counting calories and eating within certain daily limits remains a constant in the diet industry. But apparently that’s not the right idea at all: you should be counting colors, not calories.
“Our bodies don’t see food in terms of macros and calories. They see nutrients, and they need lots of nutrient-dense foods to thrive,” he says. Dr Lauren Laxnutrition expert from BreakingMuscle.com (opens in a new tab). “Generally speaking, less color means fewer nutrients and less satisfaction when eating. [those foods]. You may have hit your macro lensesbut your body is still craving the rest of the many nutrients it needs to function at its best.”
“When we consume plenty of colorful vegetables, healthy body-boosting fats, and essential proteins, our metabolism kicks into high gear, drawing in various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep your body revved up.” Foods that work well with this approach, and Lauren recommends working on her diet include:
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Colorful vegetables (aim for 2-3 different colors of vegetables at each meal)
- berries
- Citrus (lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit)
- Organic herbs (parsley, cilantro, rosemary, thyme, sage)
- organ meats
- Fermented foods like sauerkraut
- Grass-fed eggs and poultry, grass-fed beef, fatty wild-caught fish
- Coconut oil, cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil, ghee, and butter from grass-fed cows
- Avocado
- Brazil nuts, walnuts and raw macadamia nuts
Macro- or calorie-based diet plans tend to focus on numbers and measurements, and discount nutrient density, which can have a big effect on how your metabolism responds to food. She uses the example of having a handful of gummy bears after working out, to give your body a hit of fast-digesting carbs. Compare that to the same number of berries or a small sweet potato and the nutrient composition and health benefits will be completely different. The fruit/vegetable should satisfy your body better, leading to a more ideal metabolic outcome.
