What is Holistic Nutrition?

The famous line “you are what you eat” always comes to mind when I speak about nutrition! Then it is quickly followed by one of my favorites

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. – Hypocrites. Both quotes are about the statement I am about to make, your nutrition matters and affects so many areas of your life! Health begins in the kitchen.

Nutrition affects our mental and physical state. When you are nourishing your body properly you can feel healthy, energized, and look and feel your best. The food will support your immune system and prevent disease. Proper holistic nutrition will make a difference in how food is digested and utilized by your body. This will allow the body to make optimal use of the food to help you thrive not weigh you down or make you feel sluggish.

There is no specific diet that will accommodate every person. We are all individuals with different genetic make-ups. Our microbiome (gut bacteria) is unique to our bodies, and our bodies will react differently to a variety of foods. One food that I feel great eating might not make you feel the same way. Taking this into consideration is why I ask you to pay attention to what your body is telling you and how you feel after consuming foods.

There are some general guidelines when it comes to nutrition that gives a foundation to the process of beginning to align yourself with holistic nutrition. S.O.U.L. food is a great acronym to remember when you are just beginning. Seasonal, Organic, Unprocessed, Local is what S.O.U.L. food stands for.

Seasonal: Our ancestors ate with the seasons for a reason! This way also helped align with what our bodies need during the different seasons. We get the most nutritional value out of produce when it is ripe and in season. Research your area to find out what seasonal produce is available to you and know you are getting fresh, unprocessed, possibly new foods to try so that you can taste the difference. Here is a sample below.

Spring: broccoli, kale, cucumbers, spinach

Summer: watermelon, berries, green beans

Autumn: mushrooms, apples, pears, lettuce, squash

Winter: potatoes, turnips, leeks, cabbage

Organic: Trying to eat organic foods is essential for our health and allows the body fewer disruptors to be able to use the food our bodies need. Organic foods are produced without the use or minimal use of pesticides, fertilizers, and harmful chemicals. Pesticides and chemicals that we eat in our foods can disrupt the body in many unhealthy ways leading to inflammation and health problems. Looking into the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists by the EWG Healthy Living is a helpful way to know the foods that have a high amount of chemicals used and others that you can buy non-organic if needed.

Unprocessed: Unprocessed means the food is in its natural state. Even cooked food is considered minimally processed food. Reading labels can be very helpful. When you see a list of 15-20 different ingredients which you cannot even pronounce this is a red flag that it may be highly processed with lots of chemical additives. If you are buying something in the store, try to aim for 5-6 ingredients on the label and all words you can pronounce and know what it is. Also, when eating whole unprocessed foods you are gifting yourself every nutrient that food has to offer to your cells. The food was put together that way for a reason and our bodies know exactly what to do with it. How cool is that??

Local: Buying local has some great benefits. You are supporting your community of local farming and your body with fresh local foods that are grown in the local dirt. Yes! This all matters. The food we buy in the grocery store is most likely transported for very long distances therefore the freshness has diminished. By buying locally you have the freshest possible foods filled with the most nutrients to support your body.

Remembering S.O.U.L. when purchasing food can be a nice reminder to yourself and help guide you on the nutrition you are feeding your body.

Our bodies are made up of approximately 55-60% of water. We need clean water to survive. Making water the primary beverage in your life will bring many rewards to your body. To mention a few of the rewards, water helps properly carry nutrients and oxygen to the cells, protects organs and joints, and forms saliva which helps us digest our foods.

Connect with your food. Are you mindful while you are eating or staring at the television? Do you chew your food or are you always in a hurry to eat and go? These are some questions you may want to ask yourself. I am inviting you to play with your food! Look at it, touch the food, notice the textures, close your eyes while you take a bite, and focus on what flavors you are tasting. You can even think of the farmer who grew the food and give gratitude. Be aware of what nutrients you are supplying your body with from the foods you are eating now. These are some ways we become mindful of our food.

So, I invite you to ask yourself this question every time you choose to eat something. Am I feeding disease or am I feeding the health of my body?