Whilst better health is not all about the food it’s a great place to start.
It is the relationship we have with food that can tell us more about what is going on inside. Deciding which food to put in our body can provide us with a sense of control (especially if we are lacking it elsewhere). However, our choices can be based on mis-information which is working against us and actually preventing us from feeling better.
When you schedule an appointment with me we start with looking at how you currently fuel yourself, how you need your nutrition to fuel the lifestyle you want, and what your goals are. I also include hydration in this area because lack of enough clean water can be the cause of many health issues.
Below are some of my top tips that have stood the test of time and will point you in the right direction, but get in touch if you'd like to know more.
5 Top Tips for Boosting Your Eating & Drinking Habits
1. Get good sleep.
Strange thing to say on a Food & Drink blog? Without good sleep you will make less than optimal food choices so set yourself up for success, not failure. Check out my blog on Sleeping for Better Health.
2. Kick start your digestive system each day with a cup of warm water and lemon.
Whilst studies may not necessarily be able to define full benefits (check out this write up by Examine.com), habitually drinking lemon water instead of coffee first thing is a better way to start the day. There are plenty of anecdotal testimonies to this, and it freshens up your breath too. I also add a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar and a dash of cayenne pepper for a proper wake up call! I have this 30 minutes before breakfast if I can.
3. Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but not for reasons you make think. What you 'break your fast' with can determine how you eat and feel for the rest of the day so choose wisely! I recommend staying away from cereals or toast and switching to something that will satisfy you for longer and keep your blood-sugar levels more even. Do you get the 3pm energy slump and chocolate craving? Then consider what you had for breakfast! I recommend something with more protein and fat than carbohydrates for this time of the day, eggs are perfect. We often blitz eggs and greens together to scramble - simple but delicious.
You can find other good options if you look for Paleo or Primal diet recipes which tend to avoid refined flours, grains and sugars.
You may even want to consider venturing into some Intermittent Fasting where you don't eat for 12-18 hours (including your sleep time) so you may not break your fast until lunchtime. If you feel good on this (like I do) then there is some good evidence that this can reduce inflammation and improve longevity. Check out Dr Dan Pompa or Dr Jason Fung for further information.
4. Eat more wholefoods and healthy fats.
Your body really does need good fats like avocados, nuts, olives, oily fish and olive or coconut oil for super important reasons like making hormones and building your cell walls. These kinds of fats instead of refined and processed vegetables oils also help to reduce inflammation instead of increasing it. Wholefoods are those that have been grown and eaten for generations and which your body recognises. Mother Nature is such a clever woman, she gives us wholefoods with the right mix and balance of macro and micro nutrients that our bodies can optimise the nutrition from them. Stripping the fat out of dairy, the yolk out of an egg or adding sugar fruit simply does not make sense, and the body knows it.
5. Keep hydrated.
So many people are chronically dehydrated and do not realise the knock on effects of this state. I would recommend drinking between 2-3 litres per day depending on your activity levels or the humidity of your environment. Teas, coffees and cordials do not count towards your water intake! But you could add some berries, lemons, limes, pineapple, ginger or mint for some natural flavour.
If you'd like to look more specifically at your diet and daily habits to give them a boost and find some balance, please contact me, I'd love to talk to you.