Back to Basics: why I stopped eating gluten, soy, refined sugar, and oil

Please read my health disclaimer

Since I stopped eating gluten, soy, refined sugar, and most oils I've been getting one question: why? I'm still trying to figure out how to word it and I'm collecting resources to back me up, but one major reason occurred to me tonight: I want to go back to basics because I want more control over what goes into my body.

After seeing documentaries (like Food Inc. and Forks Over Knives), talking to my friends, and reading about health I became concerned about what I was eating and where it was coming from.

• Sure, the vegan diet is healthy overall, but fried and sugary foods are almost as bad as when they are paired with animal products (aside from the lack of cruelty). 
• I wanted to eat foods in their original and fresh forms, like olives instead of olive oil and fresh chickpeas instead of canned. 
• I noticed that I was eating out and buying prepared food from markets a lot, which resulted in a lot of packaging and traveling - this is not eco-friendly. 
• I was concerned about how my food was being made and where it was coming from: most gluten and soy are highly processed, and a lot of soy is genetically modified. 
• And lastly, several sources warn about the health effects of eating soy, refined sugar, and oil, so I wanted to research that further while taking them out of my diet as an experiment.

Once I took these items out of my diet, I was surprised at how easy it was and how little I missed them.

• I don't miss gluten because there are so many alternatives. I can still have pizza, tortillas, pancakes, desserts, etc. if I want them.
• I don't miss soy because it usually upsets my stomach. It's a lot easier to avoid then you might imagine, but occasionally I'll have something with small amounts of soy in it.
• I don't miss refined sugar because there are so many naturally sweet fruits available, and once I stopped eating sugar I didn't crave it as much: amazing! Occasionally I'll have things with maple syrup or brown rice syrup, which are pretty pure and easier on the system.
• Oil is the toughest of the bunch because so many recipes call for it and it's in so many meals at restaurants. However, cooking foods with a little water and salt works almost as well. I do make occasional exceptions for Daiya Cheese, which contains oil - how could I give that up?!

Going back to basics has also helped me realize how rewarding it is to cook. Making my own food allows me to control what ingredients go into my body (for health and sustainability), prevent packaging waste, and save money. Plus, it's really fun and peaceful to cook and I feel empowered that I'm doing it myself. I will still go out to eat on occasion (or to do reviews) - I'm just cutting back on the frequency.

Another benefit to eating basic is that I've been choosing to purchase local food, with is not only eco-friendly but some believe it's healthier. Much of the macrobiotic diet is based on the belief that we should eat food that is local and in season because it keeps our body in balance with where we live (at least that's my understanding). In fact, my new way of eating has a lot of similarities to macrobiotics, except that soy is a big part of that diet.

I've dabbled with raw food off and on, but have never felt able to keep at it for more than 3 months; for this reason I often felt guilty and emotionally weak. I wanted to completely adapt a raw foods diet because it seemed like the healthiest and most eco-friendly way of life, but I enjoy cooked food. However, after taking gluten, soy, refined sugar, and oil out of my diet, I'm eating incredibly basic and natural foods, which is like a cooked version of the raw foods way of life. Though I'm still open to going raw again at some point, my current diet is a really great balance.

There are a lot of opinions on these four ingredients; please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below. I am open to changing my mind and modifying my diet if there is reason enough. However, I am putting together notes from some serious research to back up my beliefs on how these foods effect our bodies and the planet - stay tuned! ; )