The importance of basic nutrition knowledge information in intuitive eating and food freedom
A common misconception around intuitive eating neglects the importance of a healthy diet and nutrition. The reality is intuitive eating framework includes a healthy balanced diet as part of body respect. You may wonder why it is important for overall health. Food is a source of nourishment for physical and mental health. The balance between cravings and a healthy diet is key. Let’s say you have a chocolate cookie craving and you have one cookie. A few hours later you crave it again, you have a satisfying snack or meal with nutrients instead of the cookie. This shows you how you can use the information of a healthy diet when dealing with cravings.
Having basic nutrition knowledge is essential for anyone to understand how to treat yourself. Nutrition is important to know how to fuel your body with nutrients and energy. The energy comes from carbohydrates, nutrients, fats, and proteins. Carbohydrates give you energy by breaking down starch into glucose, which is a fuel source for the brain and body. Complex carbohydrates are linked to higher fullness rates as fiber gives you a sense of fullness. The foods that belong to complex carbs are whole grains, oats, sorghum, millet, and quinoa. The other carbohydrates when enjoyed in moderation like pasta, and white bread are part of the balance. Fats are important for hormones and energy. There are different types of fats to include and some to avoid when possible. Your body needs unsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and saturated fats. Hydrogenated fats being ultra-processed may be linked to long-term health consequences like Cardiovascular diseases and more. Protein is an important building block for muscles and organs as amino acids from plant-based and animal-based sources. Nutrients like vitamins and minerals are important to sustain your health and immunity. Having sugar in moderation can help you maintain healthy habits as high sugar amounts are not healthy. Therefore, a healthy diet is a prevention and investment strategy for overall health. The best way is to focus on nutrient-dense food rather than focusing on calories. I would like to mention that making our health a priority doesn’t mean obsessing over every ingredient or having to be healthy all the time. If you are eating healthy most of the time, give yourself the permission to enjoy foods that you crave. Moderation is key to having a healthy relationship with food and body.
How does this fit in with intuitive eating/food freedom and reaching health goals?
Respecting your needs for proper nourishment
Feeling at ease around food
Trusting yourself around food
Managing cravings and how to deal with it
Feeling in control and in charge of your health
Provides the foundation to a healthy mind and body
If you have any questions, reach out to me at @embracing_wellbeing on Instagram or click on contact me via email at sarah@embracingwellbeing.com
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