Alta blog

By Rakesh Patel

I did my first detox therapy at 16. It lasted two years and involved 13 glasses of fresh vegetable and fruit juice per day (total about 3 litres), an organic vegetarian diet, and some pretty heavy detoxing (details best left out here!).

Why go through that? At the time, I had ankylosing spondylitis – a rare adolescent spinal arthritis – and was faced with two options: heavy steroids with no available cure, or the Gerson Therapy. Inspired by my mother and supported by my family, I chose the latter. Thankfully, it worked. I fully recovered. The doctors called it “a lucky remission” – maybe they were right. Either way, I got my health back, and life moved forward: university, then a career in finance.

I share this for a few reasons.

Firstly, because your diet really does matter. A healthy, nutritious, balanced diet is central to our overall well-being. Today, that might sound obvious, but decades ago it wasn’t mainstream thinking. Now it’s clear to most people – our doctors included – that what we put into our bodies makes a real difference.

Even the Financial Times has leaned into food and nutrition lately, with articles ranging from “The Rise of Robert F Kennedy Jr and the MAHA Movement”, to “The Death of Veganism”, and the “UPF vs MPF food wars” (more on these below).

Secondly, once you cut through all the food fads of recent years, the fundamentals of a healthy (non-remedial) diet remain constant: balance, moderation, variety, adequacy. A holistic approach that combines these elements is what allows the body to get the daily nutrients it needs to function well, whilst also building a sustainable, nourishing way of eating for the long term.

And lastly, no post on food would be complete without mentioning our award-winning Vikasa Life Cafe in Ko Samui (picture above of their food). Under the creativity of raw food celebrant chef Boris Lauser, it’s proof that healthy food can be delicious too – enjoy!

Below are a few of our recent thoughts posted on LinkedIn. Always good to hear your feedback. You can follow us directly on LinkedIn and go to our website.

Health is an economic trump card

The US food industry, long blamed for fuelling obesity and chronic disease, faces a rare challenge from Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr through their Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) plan. It targets ultra-processed foods, additives, and the industry’s grip on regulators.

Chronic illness falls hardest on poorer citizens, widening health gaps and undermining productivity as populations age. Healthy citizens are vital for sustaining economic growth, as history shows better diets drive prosperity.

MAHA’s success is unclear, as Big Food resists change, but even partial wins could inspire wider reform. Other countries can learn from America’s progress and failures alike, using them to strengthen their own health policies. In the long run, investing in better diets and preventive care is not just a public good but also a competitive economic advantage.

Less processed diet may be more beneficial for weight loss

A University College London study has shown that people lose more weight on minimally processed food (MPF) diets than on ultra-processed food (UPF) diets, even when both follow government guidelines for healthy eating. In an eight-week trial with 55 participants, those on MPF diets lost an average of 2% of their body weight, while UPF participants lost only 1%.

Researchers noted that if scaled over a year, this difference could result in significant weight reductions, with MPF diets potentially leading to triple the weight loss of UPF diets. They argue that food processing itself, not just nutrients, influences health outcomes.

With more than half of the UK diet made up of UPFs, the study adds weight to calls for updated dietary guidelines. In the US, new recommendations may soon advise eating more minimally processed foods, highlighting growing concern over the role of UPFs in obesity and chronic disease.