Having a varied diet is the most important thing.
Eating too much of any food item is bad for your health.
Fat isn't damaging to health (in fact it is vital), but too much to often combined with too little exercise causes the problems.
Same with Sugar/Salt, it when taken in excess the problems occur.
Also, it is how the individuals body deals with the food intake that can effect health. Some people have high cholesterol, and yet eat a healthily diet. While others can eat almost anything and stay healthy.
The biggest problem we face is state controlled food measures.
The push for lower and lower fat/Salt/Sugar levels is making food producers to invent ways of keeping things tasty.
McDonalds burgers have been getting lower and lower in fat content.
So new sauces have been introduced to replace moisture and flavour content.
Same with other foods and drinks.
Quavers used to be incredible. The new low fat version is brittle and tasteless. There was nothing wrong with the original if eaten in moderation. But pressure to lower fat/salt and sugar has resulted in a poor product.
My mate constantly goes on about how poor McDonalds and KFC food is. And how he respects his body, and wouldn't eat such crappy food.
Then happily chugs down sugar free drinks, 20 fags and 5/6 pints!
He also buys low fat/salt food. No realising that to maintain the taste, they are loaded with "alternatives" which are not natural.
He lives at the doctors as he constantly has infections/colds and needs ongoing dental work.
I just keep it simple. I have a massively varied diet.
I try to avoid anything that states reduced fat/salt or sugar.
I eat for the taste and texture of things.
If i want something i either eat it less often or eat half of it. Instant 50% less fat/salt or sugar etc!
I rotate my meals and never eat the same thing twice in one week.
Some weeks that means i may eat food that would be considered healthy, other weeks food that some would frown upon. Some weeks are a mixture of both.
It's a matter of balance and all good things in moderation.
The body is a complex beast, and a wide range of food gives it every chance to take what it needs. You should also listen to your cravings.
If you fancy something salty, it may be because your salt levels are low etc. Same with fat and sugar. If you can avoid binging on all of them, your will be ok.
I only use pure butter. Get as much sugar as i want/need and add as much "LoSalt" Salt as i want/need.
I only eat twice a day. Breakfast is either toast or cereal.
Tea is picked from cooking to getting take away.
So a typical week for me would have some here running for the hills!
McDonalds Monday
KFC Tuesday
Pizza HUT Wednesday
Home cooked meat/Veg Thursday
Chippy Friday
Curry Saturday
Kebab Sunday.
The week after may be fresh home cooked food all week.
Hardly any salt or sugar, and next to no meat. Some weeks are high in fresh fish, others combination of both.
As i said, i eat what i want/need at the time.
I'm 41 and have completely normal blood pressure and actually low cholesterol. I am slightly over weight for my height(stocky), but i am muscular and have no fitness issues.
Some may say "YET", but to be honest, i not living this life to have the longest one, just one of extreme quality and happiness!!!
(having said that, my Grandad had the exact same diet and was slightly overweight and lived to his 90s)
Edit:
I should also add that i have not had/needed any dental work since i had braces at school, and i have only been to the doctors once for a viral infection since 1986. (other than for normal health checks like blood pressure/cholesterol etc)
