When I began thinking about the content I would cover in
writing about such a complex, and sometimes confusing subject- I was having
trouble with finding a focus point from which to write from. I can honestly say
I have read hundreds, yes hundreds, of books over the years on Health/Wellness
& Nutrtion, and the latest ‘this is how you should eat to live forever, not
have wrinkles, lose body fat, have more energy and fix your life ‘fad’ diet
books’. These books ALWAYS have a list so long, of the foods you shouldn't eat; you
can be left wondering what you CAN actually eat, besides lettuce and raw almonds. I have been there so many times- making myself (and probably
everyone around me!) crazy with my latest restrictive ‘diet’ plan. I have tried
so many variations, and combinations- but always found myself feeling deprived, hungry,
cranky and very frustrated.
One thing I always turned away from though, where plans that
included eating large amounts of meats or dairy- because I rarely eat animal
products (unless it is organic chicken on occasion or small amounts of organic
dairy) I could not see myself eating 5 steaks in a day, and never having even a
grain of brown rice or a baked potato- to me THAT is extreme and possibly even
harmful in the long term.
I also realize now that,
in looking for the answers outside of myself, I gave up trusting my body to
tell me, what is good for me, and what is not, because a book told me what was “good”
and what was “bad” for me. The authors of these books, the ‘experts’ are just
like us, with there own perceptions, experiences, beliefs and attitudes-and I
believe we should always take what we read with a grain of salt. Try on what
feels right, leave what doesn't. (and that includes this article!)
So, I have resolved to stop reading all extreme, and ‘fad’
diet books, because in the end, they are all the same- you can’t sustain and
carry out these plans for the long term! Not if you want to live a real life,
without having to worry about what your next meal is going to be every day. It
starts to become like the saying: “Eat to Live, don’t Live to Eat” and for
some, it can actually take over their lives, and become a form of disordered
eating.
The focus of this article is to compile, and summarize my
revelations and experiences I have had, and lessons I have learned on this
journey so far, about what a healthy, balanced approach to Nutrition
really is (for me). I like to avoid the word diet all together, because in my opinion if we can focus on the nutritional
value of what we put into our bodies, it makes eating well a whole lot
simpler.
Please keep in mind, these are just my experiences and
opinions, we all have our own truths and beliefs. My only hope, is that maybe
just one thing I write, might help you in some small way, to find what Balanced
Nutrition means to you.
1)
If it is
Extreme or isn’t sustainable, it’s a waste of time (and may even be harmful):
Most of the ‘fad’ diets ( South Beach, Atkins, Lemon juice/Maple syrup/cayenne
drink diets, No carb diets, and so on) are so restrictive and unbalanced and
missing essential nutrients, that over time our bodies are not getting adequate
nutrition, and could even be causing damage to our bodies. The attraction
and pull toward these books and advertisements, is all of the claims the ‘experts’ make..
“loose 10 pounds in 2 days!” kind of statements and people are all over that,
of course (who wouldn't want that?). Often the weight does initially drop off, but the problem lies in
the inability to sustain the weight
loss over the long term. It’s becoming common knowledge that diets don’t work,
and it is because after being on a restrictive plan for however long, once you
come off of it and get back into old eating habits and patterns, the weight comes back with
a vengeance, often packing a few extra pounds along with it.
2)
Strive for Life -long Nutritional
Habits: Eat as many whole foods and
unprocessed junk foods as possible. For an in-depth and informative documentary
on this subject, I highly recommend 2 movies “Foodmatters” and “Hungry for
Change”- amazing eye opening programs on the subject of nutrition/health. They
say to strive for 50% raw at all meals. I like this guideline; it is simple and
a good one to follow- because it is important to eat lots of raw foods everyday.
3)
Avoid Sugar : white rice/pasta, refined flours, refined
sugars, white potatoes etc) most of the time: These simple carbohydrates and sugars cause a dramatic
spike in your blood sugar. This may give you energy in the short term, but when
it wears off, blood sugar plummets leaving you feeling lethargic, and tired,
and reaching for another sweet sugary snack or refined carbohydrate, only to
crash again in a few hours. If you continue on this cycle all day long- you
will have irregular blood sugar levels, which, over time, can lead to a host of
health related problems, diabetes, weight gain, and mood instability.
4)
Go Organic wherever possible: This needs little explanation.
Pesticides are toxic to our bodies and the environment. Enough said on that!
5)
Drink more purified water: Having a water bottle or glass of
water near you at all times is a great way to remind you to drink! Aim for 6-8
glasses of purified water a day. Ditch the pop, iced teas and sugary energy
drinks.
6) Eat healthy fats/Use healthy oils: If you are up on the latest health news, you have probably
heard that coconut oil is one of the best oils you can use. It has so many
health benefits; it is worth researching to decide if it is right for you. I
use it for all of my cooking and baking. I also use cold pressed Olive, flax, avocado,
and sesame oils in my homemade dressings. Other options are nut/seed oils that
are cold pressed, as well as fish oils (make sure they are certified heavy
metal free!) always read the labels of your fish oil to ensure they have been
tested to be free of mercury etc. Pretty
much any other oil should be avoided in my opinion- especially hydrogenated
oils!
7) Eat Protein throughout the day: Start your day right by eating a good breakfast including
about 15 grams of protein. Also include a serving for al other meals and
snacks. Good sources include: organic eggs, protein shakes- I like Vega One, or
will use a Organic Hemp powder to switch things up (read labels and make sure
there are no artificial sweeteners or preservatives!), nut butters, quinoa, lentils,
beans, nuts and seeds, lean meats, wild salmon, organic dairy products (if you
are not sensitive or allergic). Eating protein throughout the day keeps blood sugar
steady and helps keep your appetite under control.
8) It’s what you do MOST of the time
that counts: To maintain balance in my life, this is one
thing I always try to remember. I heard this once somewhere and it stuck with
me. If you indulge in that glass or two of wine, and have dessert, or order a
pizza once in a while- it’s all good!
In the end, your health is
everything! If you lose your health, you loose a lot of what truly matters in life. Take care of your body and it will take care of what it needs to to keep you happy and well.
If you would like to book a Wellness Coaching session with me, and get some guidance and help with your Nutrition and Wellness goals please feel free to contact me. My website is : www.soulworkcounselling.com
Cheers
to your health and vitality!
