When the body is out of balance it can present unwanted symptoms such as weight gain, cravings, mood swings and disease. As a holistic nutritionist, I look for areas of the body that may not be functioning optimally and may be preventing you from reaching your health goals. Sometimes this can mean balancing hormones or blood sugar but other times it’s more in depth and requires measures beyond the food we choose to eat. For many of us healing the body may require a shift in our mental state or attitude or simply taking time to meditate.  For others it can be a combination of many factors. The body works synergistically to find your optimal balance and wellness.

One area I work on with my clients is bringing body weight back to healthy – the weight your body was intended to be not what the scale is telling you. Consuming foods that allow your body to thrive is one area of holistic nutrition. Through my practice I see common mistakes as to why some clients cannot lose weight. Eventually for some it leads to frustration and the stress continues to fuel weight gain.

Bad and Rancid Oils

This includes canola, sunflower, margarine, peanut, safflower, and soybean oil. Do not cut all fat as fat keeps you satiated and will ultimately keep you from eating more. Low fat foods are loaded with higher sugar, higher carbs and lower protein. Eat organic butter, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, olives, nuts and seeds.

Gluten

Gluten found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Oats themselves do not contain gluten but when processed can be cross contaminated with other gluten containing grains. Gluten is found in bread, wheat pasta, beer, packaged foods, fried foods, sauces, salad dressings and some medications and vitamin supplements. Your body has a very hard time digesting gluten. Avoid it whenever possible or limit the intake of gluten if you are not Celiac or suffering from a gluten allergy.

Artificial Sugars

Agave, aspartame, Splenda and Equal send your metabolism into a tailspin hindering your body’s ability to store glycogen that is necessary for metabolism.

Dairy

Like gluten, dairy is very hard for you body to digest. Natural, organic and unsweetened yogurt or raw dairy is the exception. Fermented dairy such as kefir is a good source of probiotics required for healthy digestion.

GMO’S

Genetically modified organisms or GMO foods are engineered foods. The highest sources of GMO foods are corn, soy, sugar beats and canola. Look for organic, GMO free products.

Fructose

This includes agave, high fructose corn syrup and too much fruit. Just because fruit is healthy, it is still sugar (fructose) and eating too much will stall weight loss. I suggest low glycemic fruits such as berries, apples and pears.

Additives and Preservatives

Additives such as MSG and artificial food coloring. MSG has hundreds of names but if you stay away from packaged foods you lessen your chance of consuming it.

Commitment & Compliance

If you’re looking for a quick fix it will not happen. It took time to put the weight on; it’s going to take time to take it off. I do not believe in diet’s, I believe in changing habits and unhealthy lifestyles. Having said that when I work with clients on losing fat, compliance to their individual program equals positive results.

Work For It

Get some form of exercise to increase metabolism and help burn fat. A 30 minute walk with hills, a home workout program, yoga or lift a few weights. It doesn’t have to take up too much of your time, only 30 minutes a day is sufficient. Daily activity increases energy and mood.

Sleep

I cannot stress enough how important this is; sleep should actually be priority. Getting 8 – 9 hours of sleep each night is extremely important for health and weight loss. I recommend the book Lights Out to understand the connection between sleep, sugar and weight gain.

If you have made many of these changes and still do not see the results you are after, there can often be underlying imbalances in the body. As a holistic nutritionist, I review all areas of the body and the 10 body systems which include endocrine, lymphatic, nervous, digestive or skeletal to name a few. If I suspect imbalances outside the realm of nutrition, I refer out to a team of professionals including naturopathic doctors, yoga instructors, massage therapists and physiologists.

However, what you may not know is that mental and spiritual health also have an impact on overall health and wellbeing. Balancing all three areas – body, mind and spirit can be a challenge for many. Holistic nutritionists offer guidance, not only in the food that fuels your body optimally, but also guidance on spiritual outlets, healing the body and perhaps the mind.