25/11/2022
Here's part 1 of a 3 part blog I've written on what I believe to be the foundations of health. It's a bit long, which is why I split it up.
I hope you find it useful;
With the internet and its constant stream of information it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the conflicting info. Additionally, it seems like every man and his dog is an expert or has a plan to sell you. But it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.
In my nearly 20 years a coach and trainer I have worked with and studied under some amazing experts in their fields and have seen practically every fad diet or latest training craze going. The aim of this article is to sift through it all and dilute it into what I believe the foundational elements of health and wellbeing are. hopefully you can go away after reading this and apply it in your day to day life.
Let's get into it;
1. Quality nutrition focusing on nutrient density and a wide variety of plant based foods.
This is a topic that should and will have an article all of its own, but I will give a quick intro in this crucially important topic.
When talking about nutrient density, I am talking about foods that deliver a big bang for their buck. A lot of fruit and veg fall into this category as they contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, polyphenols and enzymes that are incredibly beneficial to our health, not to mention the fact that a lot of them are anti-inflammatory, alkalizing and contain fibre, which is essential for gut and digestive health.
But beware! Not all foods are created equal. Go for cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage,but also include sweet potatoes, thin skinned fruit like berries, cherries, etc. Nuts and seeds are great additions, chilli, ginger, garlic, herbs and spices not only taste great but also contain loads of beneficial compounds.
If you're thinking about animal products - ie meat, where you can, go for pasture raised grass-fed beef or lamb, free-range chicken and eggs (don't discard the yolk, it's full of good stuff) and wild or line caught fish and seafood.
Organ meat is another one that packs a massive nutritional punch, but most people are not that into it.
Fat is another topic that needs its own article but it's worth touching on here. Don't be scared of fat, it is an essential part of the human diet and critical for hormonal function, cellular health and it's energy dense and delicious.
Go for cold-pressed virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil and the fruit (yes, it's a fruit) itself, grass-fed butter, ghee and also things nuts, seeds and if you can tolerate it, full-fat organic milk.
This is a quick intro to a very in depth topic. I know I've left a lot out - carbs, sugar, Veganism and a lot more. I just wanted to give you a few nuggets to get started with. If you're interested to go more in depth with this or want to get your own healthy eating plan, book a health consultation, I'd love to chat to you.
To read the next couple of points and the rest of the blog, check out my website;
A quick look at what I believe to be the core foundational elements of true, deep health & wellbeing
