It's National Nutrition Month, the perfect time to take a look at your relationship with food. Instead of thinking of food choices as what you “should” or “should not” eat, based on the nutrition fad or latest finding of the day, think of food as fuel for your day and medicine for your life.
Our Relationship with Food Can Be Complicated
What do you think about every time you sit down to eat? Are you evaluating the food on your plate as “good” or “bad,” or too high in calories or too full of sugar? Are you eating certain foods that make you feel guilty later? Are you worried about how you will burn off the calories later in the gym? And if so, the most soul-searching question of all … how is this working out for you?
Our relationship with food is a complex one. There are so many reasons we eat certain foods or go on restrictive diets. Often we want to lose weight. Of course we want to reduce our risk of chronic disease, and we understand that a healthy diet is the foundation of a healthy life. Yet all kinds of emotions and misconceptions and pressures come between our plates and mouths.
Instead of thinking of food choices as what you “should” or “should not” eat, based on the nutrition fad or latest finding of the day, think of food as fuel for your day and medicine for your life. Think of food as a way to connect with family and friends. Think of food as a way to nourish your body and your soul.
Eating whole, nutrient-rich foods is one of the best ways we know to optimize our health. We know that certain foods can reverse disease, while others can cause it. But we also know that one size does not fit all. We each have our own genetic factors, environmental factors and lifestyle behaviors that predispose us to certain illnesses and diseases. They affect the way we process different foods as well.
Nutritional deficiencies are often a root cause of disease and dysfunction, from mood swings, depression and anxiety to sleep disturbances and fatigue. As functional medicine practitioners, we recommend specialized micronutrient testing to measure the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other essential micronutrients in your cells. Once you identify your own specific deficiencies, you can determine how to replenish and supplement your body with what it needs to function optimally.
At the end of the day—and the beginning of every meal—you have a choice to make: how to fuel your body with the best foods for your body. You’ll feel better, more energized and less deprived when you choose food that nourishes you from the inside out.
To schedule a consultation, call 609.512.1468.
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