If you are suffering from undesirable symptoms, it may be a sign that the food you are eating needs tweaking.
You experience symptoms when your body is struggling to correct a problem or imbalance within the body’s systems. Think of this as your body yelling at you to give it more support. It wants to feel better, and it only has you to help it do that.
Here are a few signs your body needs more nutrition support:
You pick up every ‘bug’ and illness around you. When your body is not nourished with the food it needs, your immune system takes a hit. One benefit of eating healthy is that it decreases the likelihood you’ll get sick, even if you are exposed to an illness such as cold or flu. Picking up every “bug” going around the office is a sign you’re missing essential vitamins and minerals and your immune system is working overtime. Your energy hits the wall daily between 2 and 4p.m. It’s natural to lose energy during this time of day. However, you shouldn’t need a jolt of caffeine or sugar to pull you through your afternoon. If your energy is extremely low between these hours, this is a sign that your blood sugar rhythm may be out of whack.You wake up at the same time most nights. Many people attribute this to needing to go pee. However, a blood sugar drop is usually the real culprit. When blood sugar drops, cortisol (the stress hormone) spikes, and you wake up. I’ve seen this issue reduced or even eliminated by simply eating more healthy food during the day. You get thirsty, but you don’t reach for water. Water is a vital nutrient, and without it we couldn’t survive. Most people struggle with getting the recommended “half your bodyweight” in ounces of water each day. If you are quenching your thirst with soda, sweetened tea or anything other than just plain water, you are running short on the most vital nutrient to obtain health. Drink more water and reap the benefits of healthier looking skin, regular bowel movements and improved blood circulation (just to name a few).You notice you can’t think as clearly or quickly as usual. Mental clarity is directly related to the food you eat. When your gut is happy, your brain is happy. Lots of research is being done on mental disease and disorders. One common finding is that the food you eat is directly related to your brain health. Not thinking clearly suggests you’re missing important nutrients such as protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals in the food you eat. Listen to your body and what the signs and symptoms you are feeling mean. This is the first step to feeling better, and your body will thank you. Write down any symptoms you are experiencing and share them with your health professional. The healing power of eating healthier food can’t be underestimated.
Fran Sutherlin, RD, MS is a local registered dietitian, digestive health coach, speaker and owner of Sustainable Nutrition. She can be reached at 444-2122 or fran@fransutherlin.com.
