Nutrition as a Cornerstone of Vital Health
Are You Proactive About Your Health?
One of the primary things that prevents us from experiencing a more vibrant state of health is the fact that we as a culture are still taking a more reactive rather than proactive approach to our own health. We typically ignore our body’s whispering cries for help and wait until our body is shouting at us with pain and discomfort before we seek support and guidance from a healthcare provider. Only when our bodies have become dis-eased do we typically seek solutions to help our bodies return to a better state of health.
The truth is that we as a culture are generally undernourished, sleep deprived, overworked, and overstressed. We fail to give our body what it needs on a daily basis, giving priority to the demands of our modern lifestyle over the needs of our body, all the while expecting our body to continue functioning at a level that exceeds its own capacity. When we fall ill, our default tendency is to seek out a solution in the form of a pill, whether it be a prescription or a supplement. This desire for a quick fix evidences our desperation and desire to feel better instantly, and the urgency to which we hope to resume living our lives as “normal”. Yet what if our “normal” way of living isn’t actually supporting vital health in the first place?
The Importance of Healthy Nutrition
As a Naturopathic Doctor it probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise when I say that healthy nutrition is one of the main cornerstones of healthy living. Most of us recognize that we feel better when we eat a diet rich with whole foods in the form of fruits and vegetables. Yet with our fast-paced lifestyles we often find it difficult to keep our nutrition a priority. When we begin experiencing a decline in our level of health, we are often quick to jump to an easy solution in the form of a pill rather than address the real solution.
Let’s be honest. When it comes to taking steps to improving our health, most of us are more apt and willing to take a handful of supplements than we are to making dietary and lifestyle changes. It has become habitual for us to look outside ourselves for the answers and solutions to our problems rather than ask our ourselves the important questions about what we can do differently to better support our health and wellbeing. The use of supplements has become customary and integrated as part of our daily routines and we forget the fact that supplements are intended to be exactly that, a supplemental source of nutrients for when we are not getting enough of these nutrients in our diet. When we rely on supplements to support and provide our bodies with the nutrition it needs for vital healthy living, we are only managing the problem rather than resolving the problem. While taking these may indeed improve our symptoms and help us more quickly resolve our chronic health complaints, these fragmented and isolated vitamins do not and cannot replace the body’s need for a strong foundation of healthy nutrition in the form of fruits and vegetables.
Food as Medicine
We have been hearing since we were children about the importance of eating our fruits and vegetables. But perhaps we have a hard time listening to this sage advice because it was never explained to us WHY we need to eat real food or the benefits that doing so brings to our health.
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of chronic disease is to give your body the right “fuel” that it needs to run better. The type of fuel we put in our bodies matters. Processed foods and refined sugars create inflammation in the body and it is well known now that inflammation is at the root of all chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which help support the body’s vital functions - everything from supporting our metabolism and detoxification pathways to protecting us against infections, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Phytonutrients found in plants maintain proper health within each and every cell. Healthy cells result in healthy tissues and healthy organ function which leads to a healthy body!
Discover Easy Solutions that Optimize Your Health and Nutrition
Yet there is no point in denying that the demands of modern life are real, and consequently it can be difficult to prioritize nutrition despite the best of intentions. Even with a commitment to a diet rich with vital and healthy foods, there are indeed challenges to fulfill this commitment. Our access to produce that is free from pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals is often limited. The amount of time and preparation it takes to consume the amount of these foods that we need to best support our bodies are also limiting factors.
As a naturopathic doctor and transformational coach, I am passionate about providing others with easy and effective solutions to their health problems so that they can begin living happier and healthier lives NOW. If you are looking for easy solutions for how to maximize your nutrition and fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to really thrive, book a 30-minute health and nutrition consultation with me to receive an individualized plan that will get you on track to experiencing a vibrant, healthy body and lifestyle.