Over the years, I’ve had numerous conversations about nutrition with many personality types….those who follow their health plan to a t, those who continually try different approaches, and countless others. I want to share what I think is the most important factor when trying to achieve better health. And it’s not what you might think…no super-nutrients, exercise or latest therapy. It’s simply…
☆ Find joy. Every day. As much as possible.☆
As a dietitian I will always encourage a nutritious diet and lifestyle. Your diet is the foundation of your health, and each bite you take is a choice towards health or disease. BUT when you start worrying about every bite of food that passes your lips, it can start to have a negative impact on your health. Just like you can’t supplement your way out of a bad diet, you can’t be overstressed about each detail of your health plan and think you will be fine.
Working in the health field, my colleagues and clients are continually striving to find ways to improve their health and the health of their patients. Therapies, super-foods, nutrients, supplements, exercises…you get the picture. Add in the constant connection to social media, and access to all kinds of health information and it can be information overload and can become all-consuming. Hyper-focus and attention on what you can do can make you feel like you are not doing enough, and can lead to a stress response when thinking about food or healthy lifestyle changes.
This is a prescription you can be happy about! Absolutely work with a dietitian to discover what is the best plan for you and your health, but don’t forget to have balance and foster health through your thoughts and actions every day. We can all choose to have joy in our lives – it is free, fun, and easy to find. By consciously allowing yourself to let joy in, you can create more optimal health, and a life that is more joyful and fulfilling.
Joy, laughter, and play stimulate the release of feel good hormones in our body. It shuts down cortisol, adrenaline, and other health deteriorating processes in the body. Our body simply can’t function optimally when it’s in a state of stress. So, it makes sense that if you’re stressing about food, you aren’t healing. The benefits of joy include boosting the immune system, helping to combat stress and pain, and supporting longevity.
Now more than ever, this message rings true. We may not be in control of a lot, but we are in control of allowing joy into our daily lives. Even now, we can remind ourselves of the things that we have to be thankful for, do the things we love, and spend time with those we care about. We may have to modify how we connect or what we do, but I encourage you to fill your days with as much joy as possible. By consciously allowing yourself to let joy in, you can create more optimal health, as well as a life that is more fulfilling.
