What dietary approach focuses on eating whole foods and minimizing processed foods?

The whole food diet is characterized by an emphasis on consuming natural, unprocessed foods that are as close to their original form as possible. This approach encourages eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins while avoiding processed and refined foods, artificial ingredients, and added sugars. The primary goal of this dietary strategy is to promote overall health and well-being by providing nutrient-dense foods that support the body's functions, enhance energy levels, and reduce the risks of chronic diseases.

While other diets, such as the ketogenic, paleo, and Mediterranean diets, may include whole foods as part of their guidelines, they also have specific restrictions or focuses that differentiate them from the idea of a whole food diet. For instance, the ketogenic diet is centered around high-fat, low-carbohydrate foods to induce ketosis; the paleo diet emphasizes foods believed to have been available during the Paleolithic era, excluding grains and dairy; and the Mediterranean diet highlights the consumption of healthy fats from sources like olive oil and incorporates fish, poultry, and dairy in a balanced manner.

In contrast, the whole food diet does not limit or categorize foods based on strict macronutrient ratios or historical contexts, making it a more inclusive and straightforward approach to