Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. The foods we eat should provide our bodies with the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that nourish our body to keep it functioning optimally and disease free.
Unfortunately many people downplay the importance of their diet and just look at it in terms of weight loss, however it is so much more! You are what you eat, literally. Clearly, that's why I am so sweet.
In all seriousness think about this… If you were to build a new house would you want it to be made of the best lumber/supplies/glue/nails etc or the materials left over from a hurricane? No brainer right???? Same with our bodies, do you want your tissues,cells,vessels,organs made from quality or trash? Do you want to look brand new or like a hurricane ( we all know that person, be honest). When you are good to your body, it is good to you. Fuel and nourish your body with good ingredients.
So what are good ingredients? I could go on for hours about this topic but to put it simply think about these 2 phases when making your choices about what foods to eat. 1. “ if you can’t read it don’t eat it” and 2. “ Dirt to earth”. To expand a little on this, only eat things from nature, if it comes in a box,bag or a can don’t eat it. Only eat whole foods from nature not processed. I want my house (body) made from nature because I was, I was not made in a lab so I don't want lab processed food making up my cells. Processed foods cause inflammation which is linked to so many health issues.
Eating a healthy diet has been shown over and over again to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as health disease, diabetes, cancer, gallbladder issues, skin issues, systemic arthritis, diverticulitis. Nutrient disease foods ( real foods/whole food/fruit and veggies) provide our bodies with antioxidants and other amazing things which aid our body in fighting against disease, protect against cellular damage, inflammation and other oxidative stresses.
So again, it's more than weight control.
What about mental health? Yup proper nutrition is crucial in mental health. Consuming diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and protein can improve brain health, improve mood and increase cognitive function. More and more research is coming out correlating poor diets with diagnosis in anxiety and depression. Do you think it is smart to eat a lot of sugar if you have anxiety? Which brings me to my next point….
Energy! Your energy level is dictated by your diet. Have you ever experienced an energy crash after consuming a sugary snack or a greasy meal? That's because the quality of the food ( it's processed) is poor so the output is poor. Good gas in your car’s gas tank gives better performance. A diet rich in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins prove a steady fuel source throughout the day versus the quick sugary rush.
So next time you think about a diet, think about it more than just for weight loss. Think about its effect on you, your body, your tissues organs and cells, Your energy levels, your mental health …. Just maybe if you get that all in check you can then worry about fitting into “ those jeans” !
Join us at OWL Chiropractic for our Wake Up to Wellness: Nutrition 101 talk on Sept 16th, 2023, where we will be going over this in much more detail! Click here to register.
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