How to Benefit More from Nutrition Advice by Joan Kent, PhD
Do you have a persistent health issue – overweight, hypertension, insomnia – that hasn’t responded to your efforts to fix it?
If you’ve had the problem for a while, you’ve probably tried many strategies. But don’t assume you’ve tried everything. People are now successfully using nutrition and fitness for things that used to send them to doctors and pharmacies.
Here are 3 tips to help you maximize your nutritionist’s suggestions.
- Don’t improvise.
Instead: Follow instructions whenever possible.
A recent client had been to doctors, but now wanted to treat her diabetes without meds. She was taking 31 (really!) different supplements. Some of the supplements were for health issues she didn’t even have, like liver and thyroid.
Her fasting glucose was not dropping any lower, but she kept taking every supplement.
Among other things, I suggested she eliminate any supplements that were not designed to lower glucose, just to lighten the stress on her liver and kidneys. One week later, she said her glucose had gone up, not down.
It turned out she had eliminated ALL supplements, including the glucose-lowering ones. Yikes.
- Don’t say “no” for a ridiculous reason.
Instead: Be willing to try something new.
The same client above was in terrible shape physically. Her workouts barely pushed her heart rate to 95 – and she was exercising only 3 times a week. She needed to work out with some serious intent.
Exercising more frequently caused pain in her legs. I suggested she buy a Krankcycle – a brilliant piece of upper-body cardio equipment. I even found a certified, refurbished one for her at a terrific price. She could have worked out extra days each week by using her arms instead of her legs. (Yes, cardio results transfer.)
Alternating the 2 types of cardio would have sensitized both upper- and lower-body muscle to insulin so she could lower her glucose and lose weight.
But she claimed they didn’t have room. Her beautiful home is huge, so that made no sense. She wouldn’t consider putting the Krankcycle in any room but one – and wouldn’t consider putting it in the large garage. Who knows why?
Either way, the answer was “NO,” and the reason seemed ridiculous. The result? Again, her glucose didn’t move.
- Get out of your comfort zone
Self-honesty is key here. Discomfort can be part of one’s comfort zone. Some people even cling to it, possibly thinking that the devil they know is better than the devil they don’t know.
Instead: Decide what it takes to move forward. Do that.
A former client had a sleep issue that was medically diagnosed as a serotonin deficit. This brain chemical promotes relaxation and is the direct precursor of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
The client rejected every suggestion I made to increase her bedtime serotonin levels. And that’s an easy thing to do with food. My suggestions even made her angry.
Our team’s behavioral psychologist told me this client felt “special” because of her sleep problem.
A comfort zone isn’t always the best place to be. For your health, do what it takes to move forward, even if it causes temporary discomfort.
Think of starting to exercise. It’s uncomfortable at first because it’s new. As we continue, we adapt to it – and that’s when the magic happens. Food is the same way.
Want to use food or fitness to improve your health, energy or mood? Perfect. That’s what I do. Just visit www.LastResortNutrition.com and request your FREE Empowered Eating Consult. Find out how easy it is to enjoy high energy and great health.
Brought to you by Dr. Joan Kent, best-selling author of Stronger Than Sugar: 7 Simple Steps to Defeat Sugar Addiction, Lift Your Mood, and Transform Your Health.
