A healthy diet is crucial to your overall health and not just for weight loss. In my Ayurveda & Holistic Nutrition practice in Sarnia, I see many clients experimenting with multitudes of diets - Keto, Vegan, Paleo in order to lose weight or get healthy. 

 

But often the crash dieting, yo-yo dieting or eating inaccurately (without considering your bodies requirements) leads to a lot of nutrient deprivation, lowered metabolism, muscle moss, fatigue, water retention and dehydration etc. 

 

Food is the medicine and when used wisely can really support your body. 

According to Ayurveda, Ahara or  the food that you eat is one of the three important pillars on which your health rests. In simple words it means that your food is the very foundation of your health, how harmonious your body systems work together and how happy you are can also be determined through food.

A simple example of disharmony in the body can be understood by the food allergies and food sensitivities we see today. 8 out of 10 clients that see me, suffer from various food allergies and sensitivities to gluten, dairy, wheat, corn, soy, etc and this shows that their body is out of balance and harmony.



Our life revolves as well as evolves according to food that we eat.

Food is essential to our life and since humans can’t make our own food in our body, like plants, we have to eat food to provide us with energy. The food you eat makes each and every cell of your body and also affects your mind. Thus, nutritionally deficient foods will create a body that is weak vs nutritionally dense foods will support your body growth and create a body that is strong and resilient against aging and diseases. The food that you eat impacts your thoughts, behaviours, emotions and mood by influencing your mind - thus the food that you eat can make you calm, centred and balanced or anxious, irritable and depressed.



So how do you understand whether your diet/ nutritional plan is working for you or not?

 

  1.   You are not at a healthy weight

 

If you are struggling with gaining/ losing weight and following a diet/ nutritional plan without any results, this is the biggest indicator or your diet is failing you. Often people fall prey to trendy diets like keto, paleo, vegan or green smoothie diet. While these diets can actually work for you if they are custom tailored by using Ayurvedic principles by an experienced Ayurvedic doctor, following these without understanding your own body can create issues like muscle loss, loss of nutrients or excess fat gain. 

 

 

  1.   You are physical and mental fatigue

 

The food you eat is responsible for providing you with both physical as well as mental energy you require for daily activities. So if you are experiencing body and/or mental fatigue it could be a sign that your diet is deficient in essential nutrients that support your body. Often a restrictive diets aggravate Vata dosha in the long term and can significantly lower your energy levels.

 

  1.   You struggle with focus and concentration

Often food allergies and sensitivities, excess yeast growth aka Candida or a diet deficient in nutrients especially B vitamins can cause you to lack the focus and concentration required in day to day life. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, food additives like food dyes, flavours and preservatives can contribute to hyperactivity and other symptoms of ADHD which can lower your focus and concentration.

 

  1.    Your skin lacks the lustre and tone

Your skin is one of the biggest reflectors of health. If you are struggling with constant breakouts, acne, lacklustre skin that is wrinkly or hyper pigmented, the reason could be a faulty diet.Often poor diets will also make you lose the tone of your muscles as well as skin and cause skin to sag easily.

 

  1. Your hair is dry, brittle or greying prematurely

Healthy, shiny lustrous hair often has more to do with a good diet, than the use of hair care products. And if you are finding your hair to be dry, brittle almost like the witches broom or prematurely grey, the reason is your diet is failing to provide the essential nutrients like Calcium, Phosphorus as well as collagen required for healthy hair.

 

  1. You are struggling with digestive issues bloated and gassy

Constant bloating and gas indicates an inability to digest the foods you are eating. If you follow a fad diet, which could often be full of the foods that you are sensitive to eg- excess dairy consumption in ketogenic diets or excess reliance on wheat gluten in vegan diet could result in signs of digestive distress like diarrhea, constipation, stomach cramps, undigested food in stool

 

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  1. You get sick easily



Are you constantly sick? Suffering from bouts of cold, flu, and recurrent infections? Well a poor diet often lowers your immunity making you prone to catching every cold and flu bug out there. If you have been sick more than 2-3 times a year for over 2 years it's time to get a reality check and sit with an Ayurvedic doctor to discuss what is causing your recurrent health issues.

 

Conclusion: 

 

 

Your body and mind are made from what you eat, so don't be fast, easy, cheap or fake.

 

This is something to be aware of, as in our fast paced life today, fast foods that are cheaper than fresh foods are on the rise.  We eat quickly, foods that are prepared instantly and we find relief in filling the stomach and senses rather than nourishing and energizing the body. Protein shakes are taken as ‘fillers’, granola bars have replaced a well planned lunch and nutrition has become more of a means of calorie counting than actually nourishing our bodies. Often this is what can disconnect you from your body, mind and eventually from your health. So make a conscious choice every time you put something in your mouth or plan a specific diet. 

 

My speciality is combining ancient Ayurveda with modern nutrition, to create a diet and lifestyle plan that is catered to your unique needs keeping in mind your Prakriti (body-mind type), Vikriti (any imbalance in your body), and based on the unique Ayurvedic principles 10 fold examination.

 

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