Nutrition advice for the rest of us
I am not a health or nutrition coach, but I do have a unique perspective of health of someone who had and continues to struggle with their health. Here are the facts, I struggle with obesity, diabetes (type 2), sleep apnea, and overeating. This maybe enough for you to decide that I am not the one to listen to on anything health. But if you are interested, I would love to share with you what I have learned in this area and what I think can be helpful when it comes to health and wellness.
I’m going to start with the lowest hanging fruit for me which is water and protein intake. A general guideline is to drink half your bodyweight in ounces per day. I don’t think I have actually met that goal once. (see I told you I’m not a good role model). But I can tell you what has helped me drink more water, having a water bottle with me at all times, and one with a stainless steel interior so it stays cold and it doesn’t get funky, one with a straw and wide mouth opening so I have options. I love the Owala one. Sometimes I can’t stand to drink plain water so I use hydration packets, I love the lemon-lime Liquid IV and the citrus-lime LMNT which is salty, so I think it’s great for people who love salty things. I do feel a positve difference with adding electrolytes into my drink. The last thing I will say about water, is a little “out there” but actually has scientific basis. This has to do with the structure of water. If you have ever read or heard of the book “The Hidden Messages in Water” it talks about the way energy and thoughts impact the structure of water. On a similar vein there are devices that can restructure water to make it more energizing to the body. I would recommend the one from coMra or Hannah’s Herb Shop.
Next, let’s talk about protein, it is so important for maintaining muscles, bone, and skin, stabilizing blood sugar, hormones, just to name a few. On average, we should have approximately 100 grams of protein each day, making sure to have it with each meal. It can be challenging to consume that much protein each day, especially when you have a busy schedule. I am able to meet this goal by consuming eggs in the morning, and protein bars during the day and the evening is easiest for me because I am able to have the time to prepare a nice piece of protein (the usual, chicken, steak, salmon, lamb). My favorite protein bars at the moment are: Quest Cookies and Cream and Built Puff Brownie Batter (note, the Puff bar is made of collagen protein which should not be the main source of your protein, but it’s delicious and gluten free)
