Where should I start?  Which diet is best?  What supplements should I be taking?

These are all great questions.  I am always happy and excited when someone wants to make positive and healthy changes.  Sometimes we just want a quick fix for our problems. The first thing we tend to reach for are supplements.  Unfortunately, you can’t out supplement poor eating habits. So, what is the answer?  FOCUS ON FOOD FIRST. Now what should I be eating?  The word “DIET” will drive you insane!  So, let’s define the word.  DIET…basically it is the kinds of food a person, animal, or community habitually or usually eat.  It’s what we individually CHOOSE to eat or drink on a daily basis.

Life is not linear…our diet can be determined by so many things for example:  Environmental factors, age, stress, work, exercise, toxin exposure, money, genetics, body type and so much more.  There are so many fad diets out there with so many different labels. Here is my answer. I prefer to share with you how to eat verses what to eat.  Also, it is also better to learn how the body works with what you eat.  It’s all about bio-individuality.  Using good sense when it comes to food and drink choices go a long way to getting started on the right track to better health.

Simple Rules When it comes to sourcing and consuming food!

1. Eat minimally processed, unrefined, whole foods.
2. Drink enough water every day. Half your weight in oz.
3. Eat a diverse range of local, seasonal, organic fruits and vegetables.
4. Choose grass-finished meats, pasture raised poultry and eggs, raw or organic milk products, wild caught seafood.
5. Avoid hydrogenated oils and trans fats.
6. Avoid refined sugar
7. Avoid refined carbs
8. Eat ingredients rather than food-like products with a list of ingredients.
9. Eat slowly and chew your food
10. Limit caffeine and alcohol.

Get a baseline on your body.  What you eat will be determined by your gut health, lifestyle, health, age, body type, activity level, and so much more.  A simple way to start is by keeping a diary of your food intake, symptoms, and lifestyle.  Also, get a Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis. Why blood testing? Blood has a lot to tell us about our state of health and the blood chemistry and CBC / hematology test is the most commonly ordered medical lab test worldwide. We understand and are educated that blood testing is the norm for health assessment. However, many, many people start to feel unwell long before a traditional blood test becomes diagnostic and more often than not, we are told by our physician that “everything on your blood test looks normal.”  If you are still not finding answers because let’s face it blood work doesn’t catch everything you can get Functional Medicine Lab tests.  It can be extremely hard to figure out gut dysfunction, allergies, heavy metals, cortisol, and other hidden imbalances through your blood work alone. Functional testing is a great way to figure out what the underlying root causes are to the wellness, weight loss, or anti-aging issues you may be facing.

Sadly, our food doesn’t have the nutrition we need to stay healthy.  Supplementing can be a great way to support the body as your work on your health goals.  Knowing which ones and when can be tricky but if you focus on food first and get a baseline on your body a knowledgeable practitioner can help weed through all the supplement hype and help you find supplements that will truly benefit you.

What are you waiting for you?? Get started today!

IMPORTANT TIPS:

• Think nutritious food first, and then supplement the gaps. Start by filling your grocery cart with a variety of nourishing, nutrient-rich foods.
• Evaluate what is missing in your diet. Are there entire food groups you avoid? Is iceberg lettuce the only vegetable you eat? If so, learn about the key nutrients in the missing food groups, and choose a supplement to help meet those needs. For example, it makes sense for anyone who does not or is not able to get the recommended three servings of dairy every day to take a calcium and vitamin D supplement.
• Check your junk food and fast-food intake. If your diet pretty much consists of sweetened and other low-nutrient drinks, fries, and burgers, then supplements are not the answer. A healthy diet makeover is in order.
• Respect the limits. Supplements can fill in where your diet leaves off, but they can also build up and potentially cause toxicities if you take more than 100% of the DV.