The Inspiration Behind the Jack LaLanne Diet
At the age of 15, Jack LaLanne suffered from a range of debilitating illnesses, to the point where he became a shut-in and stopped attending school. In an attempt to help her son get better, Jack’s mother took him to a lecture held by Paul C. Bragg, a pioneering nutritionist in the late 1920s. Bragg spoke on a new approach to health and wellness that centered around a healthy diet and lifestyle. In effect, what Jack learned during the lecture changed his life. From that point on, Jack LaLanne had a new lease on life. He completely changed his diet (which was predominantly cakes, ice cream, and pies) to healthy foods. Jack also began a consistent exercise regimen as part of a healthy lifestyle. The end result produced yet another pioneer in the health and fitness field, the Jack LaLanne we know today.What’s the Jack LaLanne Diet About?
Healthy Eating
Jack LaLanne’s philosophy on diet can be summed up in one of the many sayings he was known for: “If man made it, don’t eat it.” Man-made foods encompass a wide assortment of items, including processed foods, sugar, and white flour. LaLanne considered these types of food poison to the body’s natural, internal environment. For LaLanne, healthy eating entailed a plant-based diet made up of raw fruits and vegetables. The basis of the LaLanne diet centers on consuming a minimum of five cups of fruits and vegetables a day. This was considered a new, radical approach, back in LaLanne’s time. Today, scientific studies have long proven that people who follow these guidelines experience many health benefits as a result, including:- Stronger immune system
- Lower blood pressure
- Lean body mass
- Lower risk for heart disease
- Lower risk for diabetes
- Lower risk for cancer
No Food Additives and Drugs
The Jack LaLanne diet approach views food additives and drugs as a main cause for mental and physical illness. Additives are designed to alter the physical makeup of food, preserve it, make it taste better, and make it look more appealing. In the process, the nutrient content in food becomes depleted. In turn, the body misses out on the materials it needs to maintain good health. As physical health declines, telltale symptoms, such as aches and pains and depression, start to develop. LaLanne attributes the widespread use of medicinal drugs, recreational drugs, and alcohol to the failing health of the body. When the body receives the nutrients it needs through healthy eating, there’s no longer a need for drugs or alcohol.
Staying Active at All Ages
Jack LaLanne was well known for his muscular physique and overall fitness throughout his life. Not surprisingly, exercise is the other major component of the Jack LaLanne diet. Regardless of whether you’re 30 or 80 years old, fit or disabled, an ongoing exercise regimen that includes strength training and cardiovascular exercise are essential to maintaining good health. The human body’s design craves movement and exercise, which is why an inactive lifestyle breeds so many physical and emotional problems. In other words, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose the ability to use it sooner than you should. Medical studies have shown over and over again that regular exercise helps keep your weight down, lowers blood pressure, and helps keep cholesterol levels in check. Jack LaLanne was an ardent proponent for physical fitness long before it became common knowledge.
