Ways To Add Functional Nutrition Into Your Life
Written by Lauren Nicoll | Image by Calum Lewis
If there's one thing the pandemic of a year and a half has taught us, it's that we're all unique. We process stress, sleep, move and eat differently, and each has our own set of genetic and lifestyle factors that influence our overall well-being. Diet fads have been tried and tested and thrown out the window, buzzwords forgotten, and people now realize what works for some doesn't mean it will necessarily work for them. A lean towards going back to one's roots to find answers for individual health concerns in functional nutrition is definitely on the rise, so we unpack what it is and why so many people are trying this wellness route.
Image by Andy Holmes
What Is Functional Nutrition?
As with most food, quality matters when it comes to our health, emphasising being mindful with what we place into our bodies waxed lyrical over time. Contrary to standard nutrition, which focuses on nutritional facts of food and their groups and their ability to enhance or hinder our health - functional nutrition also focuses on that while looking at the bigger picture holistically. It mirrors a functional medicine approach where the food and nutritional supplements we take are our medicine. Functional nutrition emphasises spheres of your lifestyle, environment and genetics along with what you eat, including what your particular body needs. Functional nutrition helps us understand that there is more to our health than what we place onto our plates - literally!
Image by Stephanie Studer
What are Functional Foods?
Functional foods are wholesome foods that provide essential nutrients to help protect our body's. They are rich in antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals floating in our bodies and support cell function to prevent damage which can cause a myriad of chronic conditions or even worse disease. When combining functional foods and practicing functional nutrition, you know your unique health needs are met with a personalized approach to improve your overall health.
Where Do You Need To Focus?
The main focus areas for functional nutrition are to consult with a holistic health practitioner who can focus on a holistic specialized plan targeted especially for you. Beyond this, other important areas of functional nutrition for you to focus on are:
Pump Up The Smart Superfoods: The focus here is on introducing whole-natural foods into your diet. Eliminate processed foods and eat a balanced diet filled with colorful fruits and vegetables. Superfood supplements packed with Vitamin's A, C, and E help stimulate your body's natural healing mechanism and anti-inflammatory leafy green veggies will help increase your immune response.
The Smart Superfoods and Spices To Add Into Your Life
Support Your Gut: The gut flora is our ecosystem of gut microbes (tiny microorganisms consisting of bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that are unique to each of us. They are responsible for digestion, producing Vitamins B & K, and help our brain regulate its physiological and mental state. Ways to support your gut include staying hydrated, eating lots of fiber, and staying physically active.
Be Mindful Of Stress And Sleep: Functional Nutrition helps us understand that there is more to our health than what we place onto our plates - literally! Everything from our stress levels to our sleep routine impacts how our body processes the foods we eat. Lack of sleep in conjunction with stress can cause bad decision-making when it comes to making good choices for our nutrition, and our absorption rate of nutrients can get affected as our bodies are not functioning at their peak. Functional nutrition can help you identify areas in your life where you can make better nutritional choices to fit your needs and intentions.