It’s impossible to talk about the importance of self-love and not talk about nutrition. Cue the groaning, but healthy eating doesn’t have to mean eating grass! Feeding your body with healthy, nutritious food is a form of self-love.
This is one of the more important things to focus on if you want to commit to a life of loving your body, and your whole self by extension. Food is energy, and if you feed your body with unhealthy foods, you’ll feel weighed down and stagnant. All those positive goals you might have cannot be reached if you’re not also fueling your body with whole foods (and lots more water).
I’ll preface all the upcoming advice with a reminder that it’s important to do all things in moderation. It’s more than okay to still indulge in that favorite pasta dish, or a baked good, or even a cocktail. It’s all about finding the healthier balance for you- and trying new ways to switch out those sweet and salty favorites with cleaner choices for your body.
You may be wondering how practicing self-love equates to changing your eating habits.
Our bodies are wonderful things, that can run on pretty much anything for a good amount of time, but over time, if you’re making too many unhealthy choices it starts to affect more than just your physical form. Eating too much sugar, or processed foods, or drinking too much soda or juice affects blood sugar levels, vitamin and mineral levels, and energy levels. The right, or wrong diet, can greatly affect how you sleep and how your body feels and how you can recover on a daily basis as your body regenerates cells night after night.
If you find yourself craving certain foods, it’s usually your body calling out for a vitamin or mineral, or protein or fat. If you struggle with anxiety- add foods rich in magnesium like avocado, nuts, and fish like salmon. High stress depletes the body of all kinds of vitamins- so adding foods rich in vitamins B, C, and E can help your body combat stress. Loving your whole self means feeding your physical body what it needs so that you can spend everyday being your healthiest self. It means fueling your body with more whole foods and less processed foods.
Yes, this means increasing your fruit and veggie intake, and drinking more water and less soda. It means looking at your schedule and your life- and identifying where you can make smarter choices. Do you have time where you can try out meal prepping even a few meals a week- so you have a chance to cook healthier options? If you do take-out for lunch, is there somewhere new you can visit near your home or work that has a menu chock full of whole foods?
I’m a giant believer in the power of incorporating fresh pressed juices, smoothies, and herbs into your routine. If you love to drink teas and tonics, there’s so many great recipes that you can make at home to drink all week long. I frequently post recipes for teas, tonics, and fresh juices on my social media pages. It’s so incredibly fun to try out new recipes!
It helps me to stay on track with making healthier food and beverage choices when I think about what an incredible gift this body of mine is. The things the human body does on a moment-by-moment basis is truly remarkable when you stop to think of it- so celebrate being alive by feeding your body with food it needs- and the nutrients it needs!
Lastly, make sure you also increase your movement! Take a walk, try out some yoga, find a fun exercise routine on YouTube, anything to get your limbs moving helps lead to a healthier body. Find something that works for you, and you’ll be more inclined to stick with it!
Show your body some love, you deserve it!
In Gratitude,
Robin
Robin Lee is a medical intuitive, author, mentor, gratitude advocate, and speaker who has helped thousands of people around the world understand the language of their bodies. Robin believes that our bodies innately know how to balance and heal themselves if given proper care and support. Visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter, where she shares tips, tools, and techniques to honor our bodies and heal our lives!
Image courtesy of Nathan Cowley.
