We've all heard this saying but what does it really mean? You have been hitting the gym, working hard, pushing your body to the limits, yet still not reaching your goals. Why?
Physical activity definitely is very important to a healthy lifestyle. But it is only one piece of the puzzle. Being physically active promotes proper circulation, cardiovascular health, proper motor function, bone development, better sleep, healthier state of mind, improved digestion and much more. Sounds great right? BUT...Physical activity also needs an important synergistic component in order for you to attain all the health benefits that come with it and then some.
We all know what that component is, but do we know how important it truly is for reaching our goals? Quality nutrition contributes to 80% of our overall picture of health and wellness. 80% is a huge number yet even seasoned professional athletes are guilty of ignoring this connection as well as falling for and/or supporting the use of unnecessary sport supplements, drinks and processed proteins.
Continuing to eat the wrong foods can cause weight gain (including inability to lose weight or keep it off), inflammation (one of the leading causes to most chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and autoimmune diseases), digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, mental health issues, decreased immune function even while keeping an active workout schedule. What can eating the right foods do? It can prevent, reduce and even reverse the effects of those conditions, it improves the way our body functions especially how it functions during physical activity. It also impacts your endurance, your ability to build muscle and to burn fat. Healthy nutritious eating impacts your body in very intricate ways. In fact, food has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Yet it is the hardest concept for people to get on board with and continuously overlooked.
So the big question, where do I start? Here are 5 points to help get you started:
90% of what you drink should be water.
Drop the sugar
Don't overeat or undereat. Avoid eating more than your Estimated Energy Requirements or less than 1500 calories. To find out what your EER is see a nutritionist, many apps under calculate and this can lead to malnutrition and damage to metabolism.
Read labels.
Don't use bad food choices as rewards or to make you feel better, only consume them during special events such as seasonal holidays, birthdays (preferably yours only), anniversaries and be sure to only have one small serving.
It is important to include healthy eating in your training program and to get your information from reliable sources. There are a lot of fad diets and 'easy fixes' out there but how you eat is a lifestyle that should be beneficial to your unique needs. My best advice when seeking help, always look for proper credentials when reading articles or seeking professional advice, be sure the person has a background in nutrition and the information they are sharing is legit.
Dana Clark, CNHP, CHN, CHC, CLE
