The dietary guidelines first published in 1977, may be the direct cause of some of our faulty ideas about healthy diets. The 2010 guidelines were essentially the same as previous versions, even though in a 2006 report, the Women's Health Initiative, could not demonstrate that this diet was "healthy".
Normal Personal Health
What people think of as "normal" controls how active they are in taking an interest in what's happening. People don't notice very small changes over time, until "suddenly I realise I've become fat."
Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, stopping smoking, and eliminating obesity will add many active years to your life. (My source Prof. David Le Couteur, suggests 10 years.)
Sadly, obesity, loss of mobility, and pain, are too often considered "normal" in our society.
Metabolic Syndrome
There are six or seven "diseases" that together indicate metabolic syndrome. Any three are conclusive. That diagnosis probably applies to more than 60% of all adults. Metabolic syndrome might be common, but it's not necessary, and it's not "normal."
Our task here is to reorganise our own metabolism by changing our diet, as Dr. Tim Noakes suggested. By diet alone we can convert from using glucose as fuel to using ketones as fuel. After a short time homeostasis will reset, to maintain us in nutritional ketosis, provided we follow the dietary rules. The disabilities of metabolic syndrome will disappear.
Obesity
We tend to accept being overweight. All our friends are overweight too. We tell ourselves that it's OK, it's normal. We all get fat together, each giving the other "permission." Our experience of weight loss diets is bad, so we think it's a problem we can't solve.
Poor Energy Levels
How fast do you walk? How eager are you to tackle two or three flights of stairs? Can you run 50 meters? These are simple measures that tell you about your health and fitness. If you shuffle about something is wrong.
Poor Sleep Patterns
Sleep is the opportunity you body takes each day to do extensive repairs and maintenance. You should sleep soundly, sleep long, and you should wake up wide eyed, clear headed, and refreshed.
Lots of Minor Aches and Pains
It's not normal to suffer from pain, although that is a very common experience.
Fear of Cancer
We all have many pre-cancer cells in our bodies. These cells must multiply 40 - 80 times to form a tumour big enough to detect. At each cell-division they are vulnerable to detection and attack. Cancer cells need an energy supply, glucose. They often manage to do without oxygen, so they might also be poisoned by high oxygen concentrations. Your own immune system will eliminate most pre-cancers if you weaken the metabolic pathway of the cancer.
Becoming Frail and Weak
Loss of muscle strength eventually becomes a disability. That disability shows in a shuffling walk, and an increasing number of falls. A serious fall resulting in a broken hip is often a signal of near term mortality.
Fear of Alzheimer's Disease
Like Type 2 Diabetes, Alzheimer's is a metabolic disease. Therefore, a sensible prevention strategy is in your lifestyle and diet. Research is currently being done.