Wellness Wednesday : My Wellness Philosophy

I get a lot of questions every week about what kind of diet I follow. People want to know if I eat carbs, what I think about keto, and if they should do a juice cleanse. Since new nutrition findings are emerging daily, I don't like to make blanket statements about any specific diet or food. I do believe that different lifestyles and ways of eating work for different people based on genetics, time, geographical location, and personal preferences. However, there are a few guidelines that I do think can be beneficial for most people. Rules and restriction are not my jam, and I've found that when people try to stick to hard rules (myself included), they are more tempted to break them. So I don't even bring rules to the table but do have a few guidelines that I do my best to stick to for whole living.

Eat real, whole foods.

This is the core of my nutrition philosophy. Diet fads and products come and go but real food has stood the test of time and is the best nourishment for our bodies. I try to eat organic produce as much as possible and stick to a primarily plant based diet. Whole foods are anything that has come directly from the earth. They generally don’t have a nutrition facts label (some do, i.e, nuts) because they weren’t made or packaged in a factory.

Move daily.

Movement is so crucial for our wellbeing - body and mind. The benefits of movement and exercise are countless and include prevention of chronic disease, improved sleep, and maintaining a healthy weight. The people that live the longest and are the happiest get outside and move every single day. Movement doesn’t have to be a workout class or a 15 mile run (although, it totally can be). A simple walk with a friend will get your heart pumping and spark the benefits of exercise.

Sleep 7+ hours.

Sleep is our bodies' natural reset. Our hormones and metabolism are regulated during sleep, but you have to get the appropriate amount. Adequate sleep is directly linked to brain function and emotional well-being.

Get outside.

It can be really easy to spend full days and weeks inside with our fast-paced, high-tech society. Spending time outside, even just 20 minutes, can boost your mood, rest your eyes from ongoing screen time, and give you the vitamin D that you need for the whole day (depending on your location and season). Research has found that people feel happier, healthier, and more alive when they spend time outdoors. Who can argue with that?

Nourish relationships - especially with yourself.

This takes some intentional living. It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day family, career, obligation cycle. Spending intentional time in relationships with friends, family, and partners is directly linked to happiness and longevity. We are social beings and even the most introverted need social interaction. It is also crucial to spend time with yourself and to have a positive internal dialogue. If we don't spend time on ourselves, how can we truly give to others? This can be spending time reading a good book, giving yourself a mini-facial, or journaling. Anything that fills you up will allow you to reset and give of yourself fully to those you love most.