March is National Nutrition Month and a time where everyone
should look to their diet and evaluate the quality. Most of my clients
come to me and say that they “know how to eat healthy” and think they “eat
pretty healthy.” However, if you think you have a pretty poor diet, even one
small change can have measurable effects and I can guarantee you will notice
significant improvements. Some people come to me without consuming one
vegetable or fruit on any given day. By just adding half a cup of fruit and
vegetables per day you will see noticeable benefits. Add more, and you will
experience even better results.
If you already think you eat healthy, it’s
time to zone in on what you are missing, or maybe overdoing. When I perform a
diet analysis for a client who believes they eat pretty healthy, there are
always things I point out that they can improve upon. I have never seen anyone
with a “perfect” diet, and I admit, not even myself. With just small tweaks in
your diet, my clients generally notice an increase in energy, better sleep, improved
immune function, and eventually they notice their mid-section getting smaller. Do
not underestimate the power of diet. According to a research article published
in 2008, it is estimated that as many as 30-35% of cancers are linked to diet.
Certainly added sugars and refined grains in the diet have been linked to
obesity and diabetes risk. Now, there is incredible research showing the link
between diet, gut
microflora, and disease risk (including Autism, obesity, Alzheimers, diabetes, and
more). What you eat affects how you feel, how you look (see my blog on attractiveness),
speed and endurance, mental clarity and performance, and so much more! At this
time, I encourage everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables, less processed
foods, more whole foods, and less meat.
Also, look into your health insurance [Independence Blue Cross, Aetna, BCBS, Highmark, AmeriHealth, etc.] and see if nutrition counseling is a covered
benefit as most plans do offer this under the new healthcare law. Even if
you think you eat healthy, you can always learn more and improve something
about your diet. Take this time to invest in yourself and your future!
References:
Anand, Preetha et al. “Cancer Is a Preventable Disease That Requires Major Lifestyle Changes.” Pharmaceutical Research 25.9 (2008): 2097–2116. PMC. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/spotlight-gut-bacteria-brain-connection-autism
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.11.009
Consumption of whole grains and cereal fiber and total and cause-specific mortality: prospective analysis of 367,442 individuals
Tao Huang, Min Xu, Albert Lee, Susan Cho and Lu Qi BMC Medicine 2015 doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0294-7
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2014.11.009
Consumption of whole grains and cereal fiber and total and cause-specific mortality: prospective analysis of 367,442 individuals
Tao Huang, Min Xu, Albert Lee, Susan Cho and Lu Qi BMC Medicine 2015 doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0294-7
