"Put the power of your health back in your hands."
According to the World Health Organization, the so-called chronic diseases – like heart diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer or diabetes – kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Autoimmune disorders, like multiple sclerosis or inflammatory bowel disease, are also on the rise. Prevention is the right way to go, and diet and lifestyle play a major role. Based on the Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching philosophy from IIN, here are some of the concepts that we will explore during our work together:
Secondary Food
The food we put on our plate is essential to our health. If we choose the right food, we have more energy, vitality, we look better, and we also do our job in preventing a whole spectrum of diseases. Instead of limiting ourselves within a specific diet, we will emphasize the importance of local and organic produce, whole grains, high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and a good liquid consumption. We will discuss proportions and portion sizes, but you won’t have to count grams or weight your food. I’ll introduce you to some of the healthiest foods and we will find out which ones fit better to you, and the ones that make you sick.
Primary food
t’s easy to overlook all of the things that contribute to our sense of wellbeing, health and happiness. The food we eat is an important part of the health equation, but even more important is the so-called “primary food”. Healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, regular physical activity, and a spiritual awareness are essential forms of nourishment. When these primary foods are balanced, what you eat often becomes secondary. And when these primary foods are out of balance, it’s even more difficult to make the right eating choices. As your Health Coach, we will work on those areas and understand how they affect our habits and our relationship with food.
Bio-individuality
The concept of Bio-Individuality is the idea that each of us has unique food and lifestyle needs. One person’s food is another person’s poison, and that’s why fad diets tend to fail in the long run. Working under the principle of bio-individuality, we will identify which changes you should make, always based on your unique needs, lifestyle, preferences, and health condition.
Crowding out
Many nutrition experts give their clients a list of foods to avoid and foods to eat, an approach often limiting and inadequate to our daily routines and modern lifestyle. A Health Coach’s approach is based on a “crowding out” principle: by eating and drinking foods that are good for you, you will naturally have less room and desire for unhealthy foods. You will crowd out the unhealthy food in your diet, without starving and with delicious meals. This road may take longer, but it’s more sustainable in the long run.
Emotional eating
We all have an emotional relationship with food. Our cravings for certain foods or types of food often become a major enemy when we try to go on a diet or to eat healthier. But ignoring them is the wrong way to go. Cravings play a critical role in understanding what your body needs and what’s on balance or not. My role as a Health Coach is to make you aware of your emotional eating patterns, helping you to deconstruct your cravings, understand what they are telling you and create strategies to minimize its impact.