A man who lived on an 'all-natural' diet for a week has detailed the incredible transformation it had on his body in just a short period of time.
YouTuber Will Tennyson recently went viral after trying the 'all natural' diet for a week - and the results were certainly surprising, considering he only implemented the diet for a period of seven days.
What is an all-natural diet?
Essentially, an 'all-natural' diet focuses on consuming foods in their most unprocessed state, basically meaning a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
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And Will decided to cut out processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives within his diet during this week-long experiment.
"For this grocery haul I only have one rule, it needs to be one ingredient; it has to be foods that come naturally from the earth," Will said in the video.
"As I was looking for snacks, I started to wonder how often do I truly pay attention to what I’m eating? As society becomes growingly health conscious, food brands have become better at marketing their products as healthy eating.
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"There are so many options that look good at first glance that I probably pick, only to find they are filled with additives. Literally nothing in this aisle that I can eat - I have been looking everywhere for a snack."
Will's foods were varied, including one lunch that included brown beef, cauliflower rice, and some tasty vegetables.
Another favoured meal of Will's was a homemade chipotle bowl consisting of rice, black beans, finished off with steak and some more vegetables.
The surprise for the YouTuber came with how filling the food actually was, meaning the diet could be reliable for a lot of people.
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"The lengths I typically go to find these diet hack foods, make these massive volume meals to keep me full — only for it to keep me hungry," Will added.
"The second I lower the volume and focus on better quality, not only was I fuller, but I also felt better. My energy was better, my gut felt good."
Will acknowledged that he probably wouldn't have been able to stick to the diet long-term, but it's certainly made him evaluate his food options.
How healthy is an all-natural diet?
According to the NHS, while fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals and fibre, they should make up just over a third of the food you eat each day in a typically balanced diet.
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"It's recommended that you eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day", the website continues. "They can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced."
Eating your five-a-day has been linked to 'lower risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers', and it's not as hard as it may seem. One portion can be 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit and vegetables, 30g of dried fruit (which should be kept to mealtimes), or a 150ml glass of fruit juice or smoothie.
"Just 1 apple, banana, pear or similar-sized fruit is 1 portion each", the NHS adds.
Additionally, Harvard Health has warned of the potential dangers of 'clean eating', saying: "Interpretations of clean eating can lead to a rigid diet that bans entire foods or food groups like grains—especially gluten-containing grains— soy, legumes, and dairy. These extremes are not supported by research, and you can develop nutrient deficiencies if your food choices are too limited. In some cases, clean eating, especially in its more rigid forms, can become less of a diet than an identity and could lead to disordered eating.
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"There's real benefit in eating more whole and minimally processed foods, but not in fearing others that are nutritious. Because many consumers perceive that 'clean' foods are safer and higher quality, "certified clean" labels are starting to appear on some processed foods, although there's no standard definition behind them. Even the least extreme version of clean eating typically requires cooking most meals at home, which isn't feasible for everyone."
So, while what Tennyson did (as he included not just fruits and vegetables, but healthy fats such as nuts and carbs like grains), bear in mind that too much restriction might not be all that good for you.
After all, this is just a Youtube video; always speak to your doctor or a recognised nutrition professional before making any drastic changes in your diet.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone, contact National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). You can reach them on their free hotline at 1(888)-375-7767, which is open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm CST.
Topics: Food and Drink, Health, YouTube
Callum Jones