The word ‘natural’ is used a lot when it comes to diet, weight loss, health & fitness.  Perhaps it’s an influence of the ‘paleo’ movement – a trend of using evolutionary perspectives to decide how we were ‘designed’ to move and eat.

As we’ve become more health conscious consumers, the food industry has jumped all over the word.  And like the label, ‘organic’, we’ve come to associate ‘natural’ with ‘healthy’ when it comes to our diet.

We also like to use the word in our arguments, “oh, it’s just not natural”.  “Protein shakes aren’t natural”.  “Supplements aren’t natural”.

Basing your decisions solely on whether or not something is ‘natural’ is ridiculous.  Let me explain…

Firstly, I get the romance of the word.  And I’m all for living in congruence with nature.  I’m a proponent of eating a mostly whole food – which could easily be seen as a synonym of ‘natural’.  I’m big on sleep.   On getting out in nature.  And on building health from within where possible, rather than chasing down symptoms with drugs.

But ‘natural’ doesn’t really mean anything.  That something is natural or unnatural doesn’t mean it’s automatically helpful or unhelpful in our lives.

So a food product is made from ‘all natural ingredients’.  Marvellous.  Wasps are natural.  Are you going to eat those?  Arsenic is natural.  Even natural foods can be altered and processed and cooked in ways that may mean they’re perhaps not the most positive addition to your diet.  Then we have substances like coconut oil.  It’s processed (how else do you get the oil?).  Does that still count as being natural?  Does that make it unhealthy?  No.

In fact, is cooking even ‘natural’?  Where do we draw the line?  Is it natural to fly a big hunk of metal across the sky at 500mph?  Better cancel your holiday then.

I heard someone argue recently that intermittent fasting isn’t natural.  Funny.  Extended periods without food was likely very ‘natural’ back in the day.  It’s probably why many paleo diet advocates like fasting.  Does that necessarily mean it’s good for everyone today?  No.

How natural is a gym?  Loads of people lined up on machines running on the spot.

I’m sure you get the point.  Yes, it’s important to remember where we came from, to stay connected with our nature.  But we’re not cave people living in the paleolithic era.  For better or worse, we live in a different environment, a different world.

‘Natural’ is just another label – like organic – that people use to promote their dogma.  Just because someone eats solely ‘organic’ labelled food doesn’t necessarily mean that their diet is one that helps them to look, feel and perform at their best.  And it certainly doesn’t mean that they’ll be happy.

And for what it’s worth, protein shakes might not be natural, but science has demonstrated their benefits.  Of course we still want food sources of protein.  Food is a lot more than the sum of its protein, fat or carb content.  But natural or not, supplementation can play an important role in a healthy diet.

Don’t fall for the ‘natural’ argument.  You’re smarter than that.

BIG IDEA: Basing your health and fitness decisions solely on whether or not something is ‘natural’ is ridiculous.

TAKEAWAY: ‘Natural’ doesn’t really mean anything.  That something is natural or unnatural doesn’t mean it’s automatically helpful or unhelpful in our lives.

ACTION STEP: Want to make smarter food decisions? Get the exact nutrition guidelines I share with my clients.

Always Keep Reaching!

Mike