by Anna R. Dias N.D
Joy, companionship, and connection and all the best parts of life do not only happen when you are young.
Quote by, Cameron Diaz.
How we live our lives, eat, sleep and move is the fundamental threads from which our human experiences are woven, and they are our strength as we age. I believe most people are aware that eating well contribute to a better quality of life, but do not pay enough attention to this realm. Reason being, their busy lives and other prioritization. Well! what if I say, that are no 1 priority should be health/nutrition, so we can live longer happy life.
The good News, today’s generation is surrounded by much healthy apparatus; natural health magazine, eating healthier, natural products, supplements/ vitamins, organic produce, gluten free diet, soy base, vegan, macrobiotic food, Atkins diet, eating for your blood type and the list goes on. IT IS THE new Wave!
Smoking and drinking in bar’s are a thing of the past. The new era is staying fit, juicing in studio bar’s, practicing Yoga, body movement and meditation.
So, how do we balance it all, stay connected, work, stay healthy, take care of family and include pleasure in our lives. It is all interconnected, being in tuned with our body, mind and emotions, should take precedence. If something is off balance, we will feel it in our body (the physical), if our attitude and thoughts is constantly negative instead of positive, this can be a sign that there is something off balance, like wise our emotions.
How well we self-regulate emotions is a healthy choice, feeling angry is natural but how well we process the emotion can make a difference. We all deserve to live a full life!
It has been said that someone who is sedentary is unhealthier than someone who smokes and exercise. I am not suggesting continuing smoking but simply to see how important movement can be. The experiences you have, the places you live, the choices you make can alter the way your genes are expressed. (Dr. Crosswell 2019.)
To upkeep healthy eating can be challenging, not to mention the uncontrollable cravings, sugar rush, that can be experienced in our diets. The Question that most people ask is, what should I eat? I say it is all relative! But before I give out some tips, Know this! It is imperative to combine sleeping well and moving (30 min a day) with the nutrients we will eat.
The First step is to understand that certain foods we ingest in our bodies nourishes our cells and gives us energy. Likewise, some foods can create excess toxin in our bodies which makes us feel sluggish, tired, leads to minor symptoms, general poor health, disease and our state of death.
Holistic Nutrition is having enough molecules /nutrients to run the body properly, help grow, maintain, repair and prevent incorporation of toxic molecule. So, what are the key components to healthier eating.
- Eat clean foods: make sure you get enough vegetables and fruits from the right source. I like to pick up my fruits and vegetables at a local store or at a farmer’s market. I notice the taste is much more authentic. Stay away from processed or artificial ingredients, if you are not familiar with the ingredient, chances it is a not good for you or
- Eat enough protein per day according to your weight: Protein is extremely important at all ages, especially growing older it helps keep our muscles strong, rebuilds muscle after a workout, and helps maintain bone mass. Also, our body can’t store protein over long periods the way it can store fat (or store carbohydrates as fat) Since we can’t rely on protein stores, we must make a point to eat protein at every meal to give our muscles the building blocks they need for repair and
- Get some important supplements such as a good Multi mineral -vitamin, with enough vitamin C, and Magnesium: Eating right might not be enough!! Chances are we need to replenish our bodies to make up for daily life stressors, furthermore the insufficient nutrients in our soil. Unless we are eating organic and farming ourselves, only then our nutrients can be higher and less toxic. Let us not forget all the toxins we ingest in our daily routine, which might have chemicals such as shampoo, soaps, perfumes, makeup, detergent, nail polish, house
- Eat foods that are rich in nutrients: for instance, if we look at the value of nutrients in a slice of white bread vs a sprouted bread. White bread is considered to be refined meaning a complex carb The main difference between simple and complex carbohydrates is that simple carbohydrates are quickly digested and absorbed by the body ex; increase our insulin level in our blood, whereas complex carbohydrates take time to be digested. There is a big difference!
- Cook your food appropriately: the way we cook our foods can make a difference – in how many nutrients are washed out. For instance, minerals are depleted by cooking in water although some nutrients are liberated when cooked such as sweet potato. There are other nutrients that is worth looking at with similar attributes as sweet
- Enjoy the food you are eating: Food is necessary, nourishing, tasty and enjoyable. Tasty, healthy, nutritious food carries us longer and so we can ofteneat less of it. When our mealtimes become about mindfulness, pleasure, and self- care, we are less likely to “act out” and make unhealthy choices, overeat, eat mindlessly, or otherwise sabotage ourselves and our health. Listen to your body – you know what you like, and you typically know when you have had enough.
Learn to stop then. Instead of saying “no” to good food, say no to “too much.”
- Identify with the energy and synergy of how foods, herbs and supplements effect your body:
There is so much more to be said on Holistic nutrition, it is a journey, along with a wonderful experience to create healthier bodies which we can connect through, healthier hearts, moods, brain and most of all fight the diseases of aging. The trinity of Nutrition, movement and sleep, is the most important tool to protect ourselves as we age, it promotes cellular growth, repair and energy production. Yes!! There are struggles, and disappointment on a road less traveled although, we will be better equipped to manage whatever challenges come our way, if strength is on our side at the outset. I hope to continue to inspire my public, community and family to reach their true potential and live a freer life. Much Gratitude!
Wishing Good Health and Good Living Anna R. Dias N.D
You are welcome to visit my website- blog for recent-upcoming health tips and articles.