I read many articles about health, diet, appropriate amounts of this and that for optimum health. As I read, I am mindful of two things.
One is that the word “moderate” as in moderate amounts of sugar/processed food/sodas/refined flour etc differs depending on the author, and that the word itself is open to interpretation.
The second thing is that these articles address dietary habits of “normal” people or the average person, and makes sweeping statements referring to these categories. In fact, all bodies are different.
What works or not will differ drastically one body to the next. That’s the primary reason why there are so many different diet fads around, (Mediterranean, keto, gluten free, carnivore etc,) because each body responds differently to food and what will be problematic for one won’t for another.
Back to the article. One sugared soda a day, for me, would be waaaay excessive, yet for many this is the norm, their habitual consumption. I know healthy older folks who eat deli meats and cheeses habitually, because they eat sandwiches for lunch, whereas I MAYBE will eat a deli sandwich (processed meat and white bread) once every three months if that and the only time I enjoy a hot dog is when we have folks over for a cookout.
Moderation for me might look very different for someone else. My habitual diet is lots of fruits and veggies, little red meat consumption, meals without any meat at all two or three times a week, little to no processed food, very limited amounts of white flour products (bread, pasta etc) all of which, along with my regular supplements, contribute to my overall health and feeling of well being, keep my energy up, keep me regular, allow me to function at a level of productivity that I want.
You may feel just as well and energetic on a very different diet, because your body has differing nutritional needs than mine!
