10 Things Your Nutritionist Wants You To Know

Whether I’m working with clients, speaking at seminars or just having dinner with friends, there are always a few topics that stand out that I wish people knew the truth about.

Here’s my list of the top things your nutritionist wants you to know:

1. You don’t need to be afraid of fat. Fat is a healthy and vital part of our nutrition, and contrary to some popular beliefs, it does not turn into adipose fat cells in the body. Fat is our body’s natural pain reliever, and without it we can have severe pain, including headaches and joint pain. It’s important for every single cell of our body, and you need a variety of fat types in order to get everything you need - not just Omega 3’s.

2. There is no such thing as a bad food. There are some foods that may not align with your goals, but nothing is inherently bad about them. Keep in mind that food is something that nourishes us and that many of the processed and constructed foods you find in the grocery store aren’t designed to provide nourishment.

3. Nutrition is highly personal. From our genetics to our taste in food, what our body tolerates and dysfunctions on, everyone deserves to have personalized nutrition. There is no one-sized fits all approach, and just because a plan works for one person (or many) doesn’t mean it will work for you.

4. Accepting symptoms are normal for you isn’t okay. These things aren’t normal and can be helped by implementing various nutrition protocols:

• Getting “hangry,” irritable or shaky between meals

• Cramping and bloating after eating a meal

• Acid reflux

• Getting sleepy in the middle of the afternoon

• Having regular diarrhea or constipation

• Unable to eat certain food without having stomach upsets, for example greasy foods

• Allergies - including those you believe to be due to pollen

• Sinus congestion and stuffy head feeling

• Joint swelling and pain

• Headaches and even migraines

• Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up without feeling rested

• Intense muscle soreness or fatigue

• Anxiety, depression and other mood disorders

• Getting dizzy when you stand up too quickly

5. When it comes to nutrition, there’s a lot of work to be done that has nothing to do with putting food in your mouth. It’s often the hardest part to work through, but your mindset around food and its role in your body is vital for success. Having the accountability to take a good hard look at what’s going into your body can bring to light some simple changes to help you reach your goals.

6. Gut heath effects everything from allergies to mental health. Around 70% of our immune system resides in our small intestine. This means that when leaky gut or dysbiosis is present in the small intestine, the cells are broken down and degraded. As a result, we are unable to produce serotonin as the gut is responsible for producing 95% of the body’s serotonin. When it comes to anxiety, depression, allergies, and immunity, we must first look at gut health.

7. You need to slow down. It’s not the sexiest or flashiest advice, but it will drastically change the way your body is able to digest food. When our nervous system is in a sympathetic state, our digestive system is inhibited from performing routine tasks to help break down food. Slowing down looks like taking a few deep breaths before eating, sitting down to eat, and not eating distracted. It may seem too simple, but it’s the easiest thing to implement without changing a single thing about the food you’re eating.

8. There’s no magic pill. No single supplement or fat burning pill is going to solve all your problems without the proper nutrition protocol and looking at things from a scientific perspective. That doesn’t mean you have to feel like you won’t be able to ever enjoy food again though.

9. There is no shame in not knowing how to eat properly. Many of us weren’t taught how to cook, why we need veggies, or anything accurate about how food effects our health. There is always room to grow, learn and thrive starting today.

10. Always be open to asking questions! As health professionals, we eat, sleep and breathe this stuff, and helping others is our life mission. That means that helping with the questions that are specific for YOU is extremely important and gives us an opportunity to provide some guidance.