Nutrition

Around this time of year, people get the feeling of renewal and wanting to start the year on a fresh note. However, it’s very easy to make the decision to ‘eat healthier’ but not actually understand what the concept is in full. We can often feel that to become the healthiest version of ourselves, we need to deny ourselves any pleasure in the food we eat, but this is definitely not the case. Eating food that you enjoy, while feeling connected to your body and your experience, can be a powerful motivator to keep nourishing your body in a sustainable way.

With the cold weather, dark days, and ‘Blue Monday’ on the horizon, energy and mindset can be at an all-time low. It is important that during this time, you are fuelling your body with essential nutrients to keep yourself motivated. Focusing on our diets and incorporating nutrient dense foods will provide the energy and balance that our bodies need to start the year off well.

Blood sugar is a hot topic in nutrition, with lots of misinformation available. Contrary to what you might hear, not all blood sugar spikes are a sign that something is wrong, as our body is well equipped to deal with rises in blood sugar. However, sharp sugar highs and lows can result in feelings of fatigue, brain fog or anxiety.

Good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness - it means we are in a state of wellbeing that allows us to feel good and function well in the world. Mental health can be affected by different factors, but the food we eat can have an impact on our state of wellbeing. Our everyday diet can influence our mood and emotional wellbeing, making it an important consideration when trying to look after or improve our mental health.

When it comes to health and wellbeing, optimising our brain power is often high on the list. Whether that looks like improving our cognitive performance, boosting mental clarity or protecting our mental wellbeing, understanding how the food we eat impacts the daily functioning of our brain is vital. Following a healthy dietary pattern is the best strategy for long-term health. However, certain nutrients can help to keep our brain in peak working condition.

It might not be the first thing that we think about when it comes to wellbeing, but keeping our bones strong and healthy is one of the best things we can do for our overall health and mobility. Our bones literally provide the framework for all of the important processes in our body, protecting our organs and providing stability. Join us this month as we dive into some easy strategies to enhance bone density and strength, including calcium, vitamin D, exercise and supplements.