Myths, Choices and the Path to a Healthier You!
It’s not just the season for cold & flu but also the season for reduced sun exposure, decreased physical activity, increased indoor air recirculation, and consumption of more inflammatory foods and drinks. The relationship between food and our emotional well-being is often underestimated, as many people turn to food as a coping mechanism for anxiety and stress. On the other hand, exercise, with its proven mood-boosting benefits, is frequently underappreciated and underutilized as a powerful antidepressant. Making healthier food choices and incorporating regular physical activity into our daily routines can have a significant positive impact on our mental and emotional health, offering a more sustainable and natural approach to managing anxiety and depression. This can also lead to reduced reliance on prescribed drugs, which can potentially disrupt your gut microbiome. Recognizing the potential of these lifestyle factors can help us make more informed choices for our overall well-being.
The food choices we make today hold the power to shape our future health outcomes. Rather than fearing diseases, it’s essential to comprehend the underlying root causes and proactively make mindful choices that promote long-term well-being. Consuming a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods can re-establish the body’s natural hunger cues. Embracing a diet that closely aligns with nature’s offerings can lead to a natural sense of satisfaction, reducing cravings and enhancing overall health.
When you eat real food, prioritize sleep and stress management, get sunlight and move your body, so many amazing things happen. When you change your habits, your lifestyle changes. It’s not about dieting/restriction. It’s about living your best days and feeling great!
Myths about Registered Holistic Nutritionists often revolve around the misconception that we're infallible, never indulging in dessert, alcohol, or ultra-processed foods, but the truth is, we're human too. Just like everyone else, I make occasional poor food choices and grapple with less-than-ideal habits that sneak back into my life. What sets us apart is that our dietary and lifestyle choices are uniquely tailored to our individual needs. For example, stress, whether emotional or physical, affects each of us differently, and how we manage it depends on our lifestyle.
While we all require wholesome natural foods, adequate sleep, movement, stress management, sunlight, and strong relationships for overall well-being, it's important to note that replicating my daily routine may not yield the same results for you. It would be unwise for me to prescribe that you mimic my exact choices. Instead, it's about integrating these essential elements into your life in a way that suits your unique needs and makes you feel your best.
I’ve always been intrigued by the intricate relationship between food, its origins, and how we've evolved into a society dominated by ultra-processed foods. Through my studies, I've delved into the profound societal changes and their impact on our health, leaving me pondering why so many people suffer from persistent daily symptoms like fatigue, lack of feeling well, sleep deprived, hormonal imbalances, depression, anxiety, etc. The alarming surge in cancer and autoimmune diseases has raised questions about our collective well-being.
Through my own experience, exploration, and education, I’ve pinpointed key factors contributing to our overall well-being: sleep quality, stress management, prolonged indoor living, substance use, a detachment from nature, sedentary routines, insufficiency in meaningful human connections, and the absence of wholesome natural foods.
Ultra-processed foods, laden with chemicals, have effectively hijacked our taste preferences, while the disruptive influence of endocrine disruptors (human-made chemicals that can mimic, block, or interfere with hormones), often overlooked, has been substantiated by numerous scientific reports.
I won’t lose faith. As we reduce our support for Big Food and opt for healthier, whole food alternatives, the positive change will persist. Even small steps, like cutting consumption in half, can exert pressure on Big Food corporations to introduce better, more wholesome options. Choosing healthier food options and reducing support for Big Food will lead to ongoing, constructive changes in the food industry and your personal well-being. Always remember, the power to choose is in your hands.