Holistic nutrition is often described as a multifaceted approach to feeding the body the fuel it needs to enjoy optimal physical and mental health.
However, at its heart is customization—catering one’s diet to one’s individual physical and mental needs.
Although a Mediterranean diet is touted as an ideal heart- and brain-healthy regimen, a person can have allergies, deficiencies, and other issues that can make a bespoke diet necessary.
If you are interested in feeding your body the fuel it really needs, the following strategies may be useful.
As recognized by the American Psychological Association, a large percentage of adults overeat or consume unhealthy foods because of stress. They may also skip meals, binge-eating later in the day because of hunger or cravings.
There’s a quote that gets repeated again and again on the internet: “Health is about more than what you’re eating. It’s what you’re thinking, saying, and believing.” Meaning?
With this in mind, I created my therapist recommended digital course: Stop Emotional Eating – with lots of holistic nutrition tools and psychological techniques to re-pattern your thoughts and habits around food.
As you might already know, I am a bestselling wellness author with about 2 million books sold globally.
I’m passionate about sharing insights and strategies to help people to be happier and healthier – which is why I wrote this article on holistic nutrition.
I believe that once you understand the specific reasons why you overeat, you can start approaching food as the powerful fuel it is.
You can additionally aim to battle stress proactively through holistic, mindful means such as yoga, meditation, and controlled breathing.
If you think you may have moderate or severe depression or anxiety, then a professional therapist can help diagnose and treat your condition. They may recommend one of many gold-standard therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Because holistic eating involves a personalized approach to one’s diet, having a nutritional panel can be useful if you have allergies, intolerances, or deficiencies. In a typical nutritional panel, various tests are conducted, including a complete blood count, Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, and more.
A clinical dietician may also recommend testing for conditions like hypothyroidism, which can make you gain weight and feel tired and depressed owing to an underactive thyroid. A nutritional panel is a vital source of information you can use to create a bespoke nutritional plan.
Some superfoods can help tackle specific health issues and promote a generally healthier state. Depending on your needs, your health provider may recommend foods like chia seeds, blueberries or some types of tea, to boost antioxidant levels in your body.
When it comes to tea, for instance, black tea is known for its high antioxidant quotient. This can potentially help boost heart health, lower LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol, and reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
Another tea that is often recommended is green tea.
It has been found in numerous studies to…
There are various types of tea with specific health benefits. So if you are a tea drinker, aim to prioritize those that can help you achieve your nutritional goals.
As mentioned, a holistic diet is by its very nature, a personalized one. However, it does embrace a number of important concepts.
These include…
These types of foods will help you to manage the need to binge when you experience a glucose slump.
Staying hydrated is also important since water has various important roles to play, including…
Holistic eating additionally involves reducing ingredients like salt and sugar, which can cause a wide range of health issues when consumed regularly or in large amounts.
Finally, holistic nutrition embraces the idea of eating healthy portions of meals to avoid stressing your digestive system, experiencing GERD (or acid reflux) or other painful or uncomfortable diseases. It can also help you enjoy good quality sleep.
Holistic eating is all about feeding your body the diet it needs. If you want to discover if you have any deficiencies, allergies, or intolerances, explore doing nutritional panel. It is also vital to understand the connection between your mind and body.
If you are stressed, anxious, or depressed, try not to turn to food to comfort yourself. After all, emotional eating can potentially do damage to your physical and mental health.
Explore my therapist recommended digital course: Stop Emotional Eating.