I received my training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I learned about more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. Like many of you, I spent my 20s thinking the answer to what and how I should eat, live and exercise were outside of my mind and body, namely with experts, in books, social media or google.
Given my passion for learning and my education, I was introduced to some different, eye-opening concepts and theories, some of which I want to share with you below:
My food is your poison: This links to the concept of bio-individuality. We are unique beings with different food and lifestyle needs. Furthermore, habits, activity level, state of health, preferences, geographic area, age, body type, culture, season, stress level, sleep, all play a role in what we need on a daily basis. Diets are theories that do not take these crucial elements into account.
We are what we eat: What we eat and drink becomes our blood, hair, cells, nails, thoughts, emotions, tissues, etc. BUT
lifestyle factors are our primary food: We consume more than just nutrition in liquid or solid form. We are nourished by relationships, physical activity, environment, career and everything else we see, hear, feel, breathe and interact with. When our life is in balance, we generally do not feel a need to compensate anything through food, therefore actual food becomes a secondary source of nourishment.
Balance: Disease = “dis”-“ease” = imbalance. Many of our problems and challenges stem from imbalances we create by our own food and lifestyle choices.
Cravings: Cravings are not weaknesses, but important messages from our bodies to let us know what is needed to maintain balance. Have you asked yourself what you are craving and why? A craving is a symptom, the cause of which can be a lack of primary food (relationships, activity, career, etc.), lack of water, yin-yang imbalance (e.g. consuming too much salt, then craving sugar), seasonal, lack of nutrients, associations of food to experiences or emotions, hormonal, or self-sabotage amongst others.
Crowding out: Many nutrition experts give their clients a list of foods to avoid and foods to eat. This might work in the short-term, but eventually our motivation and will-power give in. My approach is to focus on what you can add in, learning how this healthy nourishment makes you feel, and that will naturally create less room and desire for unhealthy foods or habits.
Bad habits are not just bad habits: They have served as our strengths and survival mechanisms, so the key is to find out which need they have fulfilled until now, and to find a suitable, healthy replacement.
Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalized “roadmap to health” that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals. Contact me if you are interested to learn more about how I can support you in setting your foundation for success - Health is Wealth.