Moderation in everything is used to end nutritional discussions before they begin, as if it were a universal law. And in most areas of life, it is pretty good advice. But when it comes to what you put into your body, it is a huge diet trap.

Some substances are harmful, even when taken in moderation. In fact, there are substances and foods of which even a miniscule portion can kill you arsenic, for example. Of course, this is an extreme example, but it demonstrates immediately and emphatically the inaccuracy of the phrase.This trap is particularly effective at snaring the unwary eater because iti s regularly passed off as a principle.

Moderation in everything is not a principle.

This phrase is an untruth (what my mom would call a LIE). It is a rationalization promoted by people who have a vested interest in maintaining the nutritional status quo and our addictions to junk foods.

When you eat everything in moderation, you may experience a number of negative consequences being overweight is just the most immediately visible.

Heres what Nutrient Rich expert advisors Alan Goldhamer, D.C. and Doug Lisle Ph.D. write in their landmark book, The Pleasure Trap:

A little bit of coffee is only a little bit toxic and results in only a little bit of increased blood pressure, and thus is responsible for only a little bit of an increase in stroke probability. A little bit of refined flour is likely to be the cause of only a little bit of excess body fat, and is therefore only a little bit aesthetically displeasing, and is only associated with a little bit of an increase in all-cause mortality. A little bit of alcohol only kills a little bit of the brain with each use, only slightly reducing cognitive capacities, and results in only a small increased risk of death from liver disease or hemorrhagic stroke. You dont need to be some sort of idealist when it comes to food and drink. There will be plenty of times when you will eat some small amounts of nutrient poor food, and enjoy it thoroughly!

Dont sweat the small stuff. Dont major in minor things, as my former colleague Tony Robbins says. Instead, focus on eating a diet that is 80-90% nutrient rich. Consume nutrient poor foods as the exception, not the rule.

If youre eating 50-60%, 60-70%, 70-80% nutrient rich, that is all good for you too. What you will realize is that the more nutrient rich you eat the more nutrient rich you will want to eat, because over time, youll want more of good thing, and only want to eat first class foods.

Unfortunately, here is how we interpret everything in moderation: Its OK if I eat pastry, muffins, bagels, Pepsi and drink coffee all day. Ill just make some attempt to have a salad later to get my vitamins.

Who doesnt know this trick? Your mind remembers the last thing you ate and the vegetable chaser makes you feel better as if your body doesnt still have to deal with the pastry.

When you make these everything in moderation decisions over and over each day, your diet basically consists of junk food.

Of course, moderation in everything is a central tenet of Four Food Groups and Food Pyramid nutrition training and the food marketing practices in which almost all of us have been immersed since kindergarten, or even preschool.

This principle, packaged into the Four Food Groups, is still the basis of how schools are training our children today, and it continues to form the basis of what most Americans believe about nutrition. And this is so, despite the fact that thousands of studies have shown that consumption of a balanced diet based on the Four Food Groups will do nothing for you, except make you fat and more likely to die of heart disease, cancer or stroke.

Moderation in Everything (often called a balanced diet) is not a successful way for you to eat if you arent striving for extra weight, disease or early death. Half of the people who die in America this year will die of a heart attack or stroke. Most of them would not be on this Preparing to Terminate list if they werent basing their diets on the faulty wisdom of the everything in moderation trap.

Look for Diet Trap # 3 Article

The Pills, Powders, Potions and Health Food Trap: Why None of These Things Supports Our Health.