A Healthy Guide to Good Nutrition

As someone who had a tumultuous relationship food for nearly 15 years of my life, nutrition is something I am incredibly passionate about helping my clients with. 

Whether you are at your ideal weight or striving to reach your weight goal it is not simply a matter of burning more calories than you take in.

The reality is, there is a lot of conflicting information out there about food, diet and nutrition. One thing is for sure though - food is medicine and the correct nutrition can help to reduce the risk of a myriad of health-related problems.

Proper nutrition, entails eating many different foods, monitoring your consumption of some food and beverage items, and discovering your specific dietary needs. This can be a matter of trial and error - and realising what works well for one person may not necessarily work well for someone else. Certain genetic predispositions, food sensitivities or allergies CAN result in troubles with weight maintenance, long-term health complications, and behavioural problems if they are not catered to. 

Good diets offer balanced nutrition that reduces cholesterol, blood pressure, and helps with weight control. They also consider an individual's unique goals and personal requirements. 

To function properly, your body must have the correct combination of nutrients. These are broadly listed below: 

1. Carbohydrates. They are the primary source of ammunition in your diet. The body uses carbohydrates to build glucose which can be used immediately or stored in your body for later. Too much glucose, however, is stored as fat. There are two types of carbohydrates - simple and complex. Sugars are simple carbohydrates. Starches and fibres are complex carbohydrates. 
2. Proteins. Proteins help your body build and maintain muscles and other tissues. They also function in the creation of hormones. Like carbohydrates, excess protein is stored as fat. Animal and vegetable are the two major types of proteins. Too much animal protein can cause high cholesterol, as it is high in saturated fat. 
3. Fat. Strange as it may seem, is a nutrient your body requires, even when you are trying to lose it or recomposition your body. It comes in both saturated and unsaturated forms. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fats to under 10% of daily calories. Unsaturated fat comes from things like nuts, some oils, fish and avocados. 
4. Vitamins. These are also required nutrients. Different vitamins perform different tasks within the body. They can work with the metabolism to help with energy levels for any task you can think of that you need your body to perform. It has also been noted that certain vitamins can prevent disease. For example, vitamins A, C, and E, also called antioxidants, can assist with the prevention of coronary artery disease by keeping build up from occurring on artery walls. Vitamin B-1 is needed for digestion and proper nervous system function. Vitamin B-2 is needed for normal cell growth. Vitamin B-3 helps to detoxify your body. Folic acid assists with production of red blood cells. Vitamin D assists with the absorption of calcium. Vitamin K helps your blood clot. 
5. Minerals and trace elements. These are other key things your body requires. Both are used in many different body processes. Minerals like chlorine help make your digestive juices. Phosphorus helps build strong bones. Both can be found in the foods we consume, but with a trace element, your body just needs a tiny amount. Salt is one final nutrient your body requires. You should not consume more than 2400 milligrams per day, though, as it might raise your blood pressure. 

You should follow several guidelines to create a well-balanced, nutritious diet. There are specific requirements you need to follow based on your goals and unique make up. For example, the amount of protein, carbohydrate and fat you need to consume if you are aiming to build muscle is different to what you require if you are trying to lose weight. Again, if your goal is weight maintenance or increasing your energy levels/ improving your overall health, you will need to consider this while designing your diet. 

I am able to help you if you require some assistance in this department. My nutrition and diet coaching programs help you set long and short-term health goals, identify your food sensitivities, then designs a nutrition program for you. 

Half the secret, believe it or not, is training your subconscious mind to help you make better food choices when you are in the conscious state. The next big step is learning some new skills, strategies and information that will help you minimise the amount of time you need to spend worrying about meal prep or nutrition and enjoy the most of your life.

Once we have put your specific program together, I will hypnotise you to stick to the plan so you can achieve your health and wellness goals! Reach out today if you would like to learn more!