5 Ways to Nourish Yourself Through Nutrition
Unsure of exactly how to improve your health? I’ve got you covered. Read on to discover five strategies to keep your heart and your habits strong.
The first step in nourishing our bodies and ourselves is to listen to our inner guide. When we pay attention to the messages that our bodies are sending us, we have a much better understanding of what to consume. Let’s explore the best ways to nourish our bodies for heart health and beyond.
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition; learn your method.
There is so much conflicting information floating around about health that it can be difficult to sort through. What constitutes as healthy? The most crucial thing to remember about general recommendations is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for nutrition and health. Eggs are effective for some people but not for others, less meat is beneficial to some individuals while more meat is beneficial for others, and high-carb diets are advantageous for people who are active but less helpful for people who are more sedentary. Each of us has specific nutritional requirements because we are all bio-individuals. Concentrate on what works for you rather than what may be working for others.
- Quality over quantity; focus on the ingredients.
Your diet’s nutritional value is more significant than its quantity. We are ultimately what we eat because the foods we eat have the power to alter how our cells express themselves. Pay attention to the ingredients of the food you eat. When reading nutrition labels, a few things I look out for are: the fewer ingredients the better; primarily whole food ingredients; little to no added sugar; and no overly processed oils like safflower, canola, and soybean oils.
- Consume more heart-healthy foods.
A diet focused on whole foods is best for preventing heart disease. Simply put, whole foods are those that are cultivated from the land and include lean meats, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Concentrate more on incorporating whole foods rather than processed foods that are made by a food manufacturer.
Your diet has a direct impact on your cardiovascular health, and regularly eating whole foods reduces the risk of heart disease by 31%. A healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease by over 80%, sudden cardiac death by 80%, and premature deaths related to heart disease by 72%.*
(*statistics source: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/disease-prevention/cardiovascular-disease/preventing-cvd/#:~:text=Strong%20studies%20make%20it%20possible,deaths%20related%20to%20heart%20disease.)
- When you eat, focus on your body rather than your mind.
When you eat, pay attention to your body. What physical sensations arise both during and after your meal? When choosing what to eat, we frequently let our minds dominate, which has an impact on how our bodies feel. Our body is responsible for guiding us on when, what, and how much to eat. Observe when your mind gets in the way. Focus on eating more of what makes you feel great and less of what doesn’t.
- Stay consistent with what feels great.
What ties it all together is consistency. Our habits are held together by our ability to maintain consistency. Simply said, habits are behaviors we repeat over and over again. If you generally follow your body’s cues about what foods to eat, your health will inevitably be full of ease. You’ll learn to start trusting in yourself when it comes to eating and realize that every bite you consume has the ability to nourish you.
Nourishing yourself through nutrition is one aspect of wellness that can’t be ignored. Both our physical and emotional health are significantly impacted by the food we eat. The more you practice tuning into what feels great to you, the more you learn to trust your inner guidance. Bring awareness to the area of your health that needs attention, take small daily action steps, stay consistent, and trust yourself because you already have the solutions you are seeking.
If you enjoyed this blog make sure to join me in my upcoming webinar on February 15th @ 12PM EST to dive even deeper into Nourishing Yourself through Nutrition. Sign up here!
Written by Lindsey Kaszuba, Health & Habit Coach
