In honor of National Nutrition Month, let’s give a shout-out to all the nutritionists helping people make smart lifestyle choices that are suitable, both mentally and physically. If you are looking for tips on how to maintain, restart, or initiate your wellness journey ,continue reading to discover advice from three nutrition experts that have helped transform the lives and health of hundreds of people.
Danielle Pashko, Holistic Nutritionist
Plan Ahead
Danielle suggests planning ahead, this is not always easy but she explains why it’s essential.
“Plan your day when you wake up. That means from the moment you get out of bed, strategize your healthy habits for the next 24 hours. You don’t want to get stuck going hours without eating and then out of starvation or not having healthy options, you end up eating something that’s not good for you because you have no food at home or you didn’t pack something and now you’re in a location that doesn’t have quality food nearby. Planning ahead always keeps you properly fueled and relieves unnecessary stress.”
Katie Bressack. Holistic Nutritionist, CHHC, AADP
Keep your blood sugar levels balanced!
Now this is something you might not always think of but it’s truly something worth considering. Keeping your sugar levels in your target range will help deter health problems down the road like heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease.
“Do you ever feel “hangry” or never quite satiated between meals? Imbalanced blood sugar may be the culprit, as it is the foundation of creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Some signs of imbalanced blood sugar include, you guessed it, increased sugar cravings, irritability, difficulty falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night, brain fog, hormonal imbalances, anxiety, weight gain and low energy. Basically you feel like you are on a roller coaster all day!”
Bressack goes on to say that when your blood sugar levels are balanced the energy levels in your body and your moods become more stable. “Cortisol, otherwise known as “the stress hormone”, is regulated, and we experience a decrease in cravings.” she adds. In order to achieve this balance, Katie says to focus on eating within 45 minutes to an hour of waking up. Try to always have water and food before your morning cup of coffee. Lastly, strive for including high-quality protein, healthy fat and carbs or fiber at every meal and snack.
Christina Towle, Certified Clinical Nutritionist
Founder of Hudson Valley Nutrition
Have a ritual!
Once you have a ritual in place it slowly becomes a part of your lifestyle. Christina shares what her ritual looks like and why she encourages clients to adopt one as well.
I practice wellness rituals throughout the day that include:
- Lemon water upon rising, helps to start my day.
- I then like to partake in a ceremonial, fresh brew coffee infusion cognitive supplement I caffeinate while also indulging in higher being.
- I sip Tea [If I’m feeling anxious, CBD tea to be specific] and Vegan Broth throughout the day. This helps my digestion system rest and still satisfies – intuitive fasting.
- When I’m hungry, I reach for whole-food, plant-based snacks like dried fruit.
- And finally, I allow myself grace at night and usually depend on vegan, food delivery for days when I can’t cook. That way, I end my day relaxed, satisfied…and with a smile on my face! Ritualistic Bliss.”
