- What can good nutrition do for you?
- What is the link between nutrition and health?
- What are some symptoms of potential nutritional imbalance?
- What is holistic nutrition?
- What are the concepts that define the philosopy of holistic nutrition?
- Nutritional Symptomatology – what is it?
What can good nutrition do for you?
Eating good quality, fresh and whole foods supports us physically, mentally and emotionally: how we think and feel is directly affected by what we eat.
Better nutrition can help correct potential nutritional imbalances and assist in:
- strengthening the immune system
- gaining more energy, better moods, clearer thinking
- relieving symptoms of inflammatory conditions like allergies, asthma, eczema, sore joints and muscles
- managing type II diabetes and other conditions
- relieving gastrointestinal imbalances that cause gas, bloating, belching, indigestion, constipation and diarrhea
- improving sleepfinding our ideal weight
What is the link between nutrition and health?
We’ve all heard the expression, ‘You are what you eat’. It might be more accurate to say ‘You are what you absorb’. Digestive health is one of several fundamental aspects to our physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing:
Healthy eating promotes effective digestion. A healthy intestine is an immune barrier that protects the body from foreign invaders. Good digestion encourages more complete absorption of nutrients which enables these nutrients to enter the bloodstream. Strong, nutrient-rich blood, coupled with complete circulation (to help transport nutrients and oxygen throughout the body) and efficient elimination (which allows the body to rid itself of toxins and other waste) are important components of optimum health.
What are some symptoms of potential nutritional imbalance?
Nutritional symptomatology is the study of symptoms as they relate to nutrition. It is a way of interpreting bodily signs that indicate that things may not be working as well as they might. An important part of the analysis is the client’s active participation and insight.
Here are just a few symptoms that could suggest nutritional imbalance:
- General fatigue or weakness
- Frequent illness/infections
- Insomnia, restless sleep
- Constipation, diarrhea
- Gas, bloating, belching
- Nervousness, anxiety, tension, worry
- Poor concentration or memory
- Skin/complexion problems
- Headaches/migraines
- Allergies
- Joint pain
- PMS
- Food cravings
What is holistic nutrition?
Holistic nutrition is a practice that considers fresh, good quality and whole foods to be of great importance to building and maintaining health and wellness. By whole foods, we mean natural, unprocessed, unrefined, without preservatives, colourings, additives. We also think it’s important to consider the whole person: body, mind and spirit. We look at things like diet, lifestyle, stress levels, exercise, activities and interests, among others.
What are the concepts that define the philosopy of holistic nutrition?
- We are all biochemically unique. This means that the nutritional and chemical make-up of each person is unique and therefore dietary needs and reactions to foods may vary from person to person.
- Our nutritional needs increase as stress increases. Stress depletes the body of vitamins and minerals, which can affect our physical, mental and emotional health.
- There is no one diet that will be appropriate from birth until death. This means that our nutritional needs will vary at various stages in our lives. For example, pregnant and nursing women will have different nutritional needs from a child or a senior.
- We are not just what we eat, but more importantly, what we absorb.
- Supplementation of a nutritionally inadequate diet may be necessary to achieve wellness. Decreasing soil quality and exposure to toxins can make it more challenging to derive all of our nutrients from food alone.
Nutritional Symptomatology – what is it?
Nutritional symptomatology is the study of symptoms as they relate to nutrition. It includes one of the most important elements of analysis: the client’s active participation and insight.
By looking at nutritional symptomatology, we can help assess potential nutritional imbalances and make dietary and lifestyle recommendations that are in line with the changes you want to make for yourself.
“There is incredible healing power within each of us that knows exactly what and where each of our ailments is and knows exactly what to do to correct them. That healing power is available to you at little cost and in unlimited quantities. It is, unfortunately, often stifled and dormant.”
—Dr. Jonn Matsen, Naturopathic Doctor and author, Eating Alive
