Healthy Inspiration- My Year of Healthy week 17
A realistic approach to health and wellness is to add in more healthy foods and habits.
Focusing on what you are adding in is easier than worrying about what you should not be eating.
Fill Up ON Healthy and have less room for the other stuff.
We all know what healthy habits and foods are. No one diet will work for everyone but overall, eating more plants and eating the rainbow is a good place to start.
According to Harvard Medical School at Harvard Health Publishing online...Healthier eating leads to better health. But does it matter what kind of healthy eating plan you follow? Researchers looked at the effect of four healthy eating patterns on more than 120,000 people. The four patterns, all recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, were the Healthy Eating Index 2015, Alternate Mediterranean Diet, Healthful Plant-based Diet, and Alternate Healthy Eating Index. While they differ somewhat, all four encourage high consumption of plant-based foods like grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes.
At the recommendation of a functional medical professional, I have cut out coffee, gluten and dairy for a period of time. Some of my goals, which I was able to achieve, included helping my liver function better, improve my quality of sleep and break through a weight loss plateau.
Some of the positive aspects of this restricted plan is that I am sleeping better and have lost some weight. My clothing is fitting better and I have more energy during the day.( even without the coffee) I love the way I feel starting my day with hot water with lemon.
As someone who loves cheese, I am surprised to see how easy it has been to enjoy dinners out while still remaining mindful and on track. Since it has been relatively easy for me to stay on this program, we discussed sticking with it for at least a month. This past Friday was a month since I started but I I have decided to extend this a little longer until a trip planned the first week of May.
With any elimination diet protocol, you will know more after you add back in the foods you removed to see if they impact how you feel. It may be that eliminating coffee is why I am sleeping better so I am not rushing to add that back. I have been drinking green tea with and without caffeine and really enjoying it.
I have chosen to eat a clean diet and have not added in processed substitutes like gluten free pasta or dairy free cheese. There are many low carb, gluten free, vegetable based pasta options that I do like including hearts of palm pasta, zoodles and spaghetti squash.
It really is all about finding what works for you. Being mindful and eating with intention to improve your health and wellness.
According to VeryWellFit.com… When it comes to nutrition, there is not a "one-size-fits-all" or even a "one-size-fits-most" prescription. This is challenging to keep in mind when you may feel that you are constantly encountering nutrition advice on social media, in your email inbox, and on the news.
"You gotta nourish to flourish! Our body, mind, and gut need regular and consistent nourishment to feel their best and function optimally." — Samina Qureshi, RD, LN
As always, Fill Up On Healthy!
Eat the Rainbow and be mindful how you feel after what you are eating.
Regards,
Paula Gladstone
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*DISCLAIMER: While Paula Gladstone is a certified Health Coach from Precision Nutrition, this website does not provide medical or nutritional advice. The blog and related articles have been developed for informational purposes only. The content on this website and blog does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, nutritionist, dietitian or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding certain dietary needs or restrictions before proceeding with a new diet or health care regimen.