YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Rob Hobson a nutritionist and co-author of the Detox Kitchen Bible says you are what you eat – so can you eat yourself well? Absolutely. Food has the ability to heal, nurture and protect your health.
Indeed, diet has been shown to be a major factor in longevity and, more importantly, the number of healthy years lived.
And food surveys show many of us are lacking in certain nutrients – which leads to a host of miserable symptoms such as tiredness and fatigue, poor digestion and poor heart health.
In particular, many of us don’t get enough fibre, or omega-3 (found in oily fish), both of which help protect against heart disease and certain cancers.
Women in particular are often deficient in magnesium and iron (nearly a quarter of women have an inadequate intake of iron) – both of which may impact on energy levels and fatigue.
Meanwhile 20 per cent of us are at risk of severe vitamin D deficiency, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. This is bad news for our bone health and may also be linked to depression and a weak immune system.
At the other end of the scale, removing certain foods from your diet can also help manage or relieve symptoms in a host of conditions such as high cholesterol, digestive issues and women’s health matters such as PMS and the menopause.
There’s no magic ‘superfood’ that will suddenly cure you of disease – and many conditions require medical intervention. But a good diet can certainly complement a treatment and contribute to a more holistic approach.
TIREDNESS AND FATIGUE
ROB’S ADVICE:
· Low intakes of iron put you at risk of anaemia, which can cause tiredness, fatigue and low mood (23 per cent of women have low intakes in the UK).
· Combining foods high in vitamin C (fruits and vegetables) with non-meat sources of iron (pulses, dark green vegetables, nuts, fried fruit, tofu) can help with absorption as can avoiding drinking tea with meals.
· Low intake of magnesium (nuts, seeds and dark green vegetables) and B vitamins may also result in fatigue as they have a key role in the conversion of food into energy.
· Extreme diets can impact on energy levels, especially if partnered with heavy training sessions. It’s important to balance energy in with energy out.
· Migraine sufferers are faced with fatigue. Reducing your intake of tyramine foods (red wine, pickled foods, chocolate) and increasing vitamin B2 (mackerel, eggs, mushrooms) may help with migraines.
· Stress can impact on energy levels and deplete the body of B vitamins, which are essential to convert food into energy.
HEALING FOODS: Brown rice, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, cashew nuts, mushrooms, almonds, mackerel, eggs, vegetables, pulses, beans, whole grains, avocados, almonds, berries, beetroot, edamame, salmon, Edamame beans, miso, pumpkin seeds, lentil sprouts, dried fruit, eggs, turkey, quinoa, kale, butternut squash, mango, dried figs, berries, prawns, seeds, all nuts, chickpeas, mushrooms, mackerel and more.
My book HOW TO LIVE WITH SICKLE CELL is available for purchase on www.told.dehinde.com & www.amazon.com
