My Approach to Nutrition

If this statement resonates with you, let’s work together, either as client/coach, or as colleagues.

The nutrition work I do is based in a whole foods diet, emphasizing a balance of proteins, fats and lower-glycemic carbs at every meal, and protective of an overnight fasting window.  Eating an abundance of plants with all colors of the rainbow is a good place to start, and then add in ample protein and fat sources (plant and/or animal, your choice).  I recommend that carbohydrates primarily come from legumes, whole fruit, some starchy vegetables, and intact whole kernel grains. 

We live amid such a debate about “dietary identities” arguing whether it is best to be Paleo or Vegan or Keto or Pescatarian.  This is not my focus.  While I was ovo-lacto vegetarian myself for 37 years because I thought it was best for the planet, I now see it as important to recognize that Homo sapiens are omnivores and we have a wide range of “bio-individuality” in what kinds of diets enable us to thrive.  I am happy to work within the dietary parameters that each client brings me, just so long as we can make it be macronutrient balanced, low-moderate glycemic, diverse, and delicious. 

Processed carbohydrates are the nemesis of modern eating.  Refined grains and potato products and sugar are spun into every imaginable packaged form and sold to us at subsidized prices.  Chips, crackers, cookies, cereal, sodas, caramel lattes, French fries, pastries, pasta, noodles, and even bread need to be brought into question and eaten in mindful small portions at meals, if at all.  This is my focus—to educate about how the over-consumption of these processed foods is having a huge detrimental consequence to health, and to guide those desiring to make a change to form new habits.  (Here’s a 5-minute TED Ed video about how carbohydrates impact your health.)

When we eat food, blood sugar rises.  In response, the pancreas produces insulin to convert any excess blood glucose into fat storage for later use.  When we eat high-glycemic processed carbohydrates, blood sugar rises a lot, and therefore, a lot more glucose needs to be converted into fat storage.  A couple of hours later, blood sugar drops and in the healthy metabolism, the body seamlessly converts fat back into glucose and keeps blood sugar levels stable.  But…if we snack frequently or punctuate our days with sweet drinks, nothing is ever taken back out of fat storage.  It becomes a one-way street.  And, if the body is in such a perpetual state of insulin overproduction (due to eating habits, high stress, lack of movement or sleep deprivation), it can become resistant to insulin doing its job.  This Insulin Resistance is an underlying cause of Type 2 Diabetes and one criterion for diagnosing Metabolic Syndrome. 

The intervention is not complicated, but changing human habits can be elusive.  We have become accustomed to “grab and go” eating on the fly with little regard to content or balance.  And, even the conscientious home cook is often preparing meals too laden with carbohydrate, due to both custom and economics.  Filling our bellies with a plate of potatoes or even a bowl of rice and beans can be part of the problem for the less efficient metabolism.  What worked a decade ago for a given individual may not continue working as the body ages.  Mounting stress is another underlying cause of metabolic imbalance.  Whether it be from the current demands of a busy life or body-held trauma from the past, effective stress management practices implemented for even just minutes per day make a difference.  Our daily choices create the life we live.   

I want to be clear about my role as a Health Coach. I do not diagnose, nor prescribe.  I am not a Registered Dietician. I will not advise you on how to address micronutrient deficiencies that your blood tests might reveal. This is the role of your health care provider. I will support you to implement the recommendations from your provider that might initially seem daunting.  As a Health Coach, I offer the time and attention to assess the full picture of your life and collaborate with you on attaining that which is within reach, yet eludes realization.  An on-going relationship of support and accountability can bridge the gap between good intentions and solid results. 

Lastly, I do not entertain weight loss as a goal, nor a measure of success.  Increased body weight can be a consequence of metabolic imbalance, but not the underlying cause.  A focus on losing pounds is misguided and a set-up for disappointment.  Diet-culture has done so much damage to our collective physical and emotional health.  Do not delay another nanosecond in embracing the one body that you’ve got, inclusive of its current size and function.  My focus is on restoring and protecting metabolic function. While weight loss is often a reported side effect of increased metabolic efficiency, these shifts in weight are to be accepted, not pursued.  I do, however, make recommendations for dietary “do’s and don’ts” so if restricting is of concern to you, perhaps due to struggles with disordered eating, let’s talk to be certain that working together is a wise fit.