Fueling wellbeing: How nutrition impacts more than just digestion

How nutrition impacts more than just digestion.

Sleep

Sleep patterns can influence the hunger hormone ghrelin. In general, poor sleep causes increased hunger, less satiety, altered blood sugar levels and reduced willpower. Often, one will crave high-energy foods of poor nutritional value when sleep-deprived. Exercise-wise, energy levels will be far lower, and mood will be negatively impacted, so there will be less desire to take part in an exercise regime.

Foods that can assist in better sleep:

• Almonds, walnuts
• Oily fish
• Turkey
• Kiwi, banana
• Chamomile tea, sour cherry juice

Best product for sleep: Sleep Better

Happiness

When feeling depressed, one’s appetite is impacted by many regions of the brain being implicated; thus, one can experience both increased and decreased appetite, both of which can have consequences on nutrient pools in the body, appearance and size. Often, exercise is neglected during episodes of depression, and fatigue is increased, meaning unbalanced energy levels.

Foods that can help with depressive symptoms:

• Milk
• Brazil nuts
• Carrots
• Clams, mussels

Best product for Happiness: Happy Vibes

Menopause

The desire to eat, hunger and prospective food consumption all tend to increase in the menopausal transition due to such alterations to the mood caused by hormonal changes. These traits tend to remain higher during post-menopause as well as how long you feel full. The older each of us gets, the less muscle mass we retain, which underlines the importance of exercise in the ageing population; our product can, therefore, assist in these recommendations.

 Foods that can help with menopause:

• Calcium-rich foods i.e. natural yogurt, kale, broccoli, collard greens
• Whole grains
• High-quality proteins
• Fruit

Best product for Menopause: Restore Balance

Stress

Stress causes the hormone cortisol, which leads to overeating. Addiction is attributed to stress, and this can take various forms: eating, smoking, substance abuse, etc. All of these lead to negative impact on the body and further detrimental effects on the mind. Stress has a big impact on digestion, too; when the body is in a stressful state, absorption of vitamins and minerals is affected, which can lead to discomfort, bloating and a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Exercise is associated with decreased stress levels and should be encouraged to help with hormonal balance and release endorphins, the ‘happy hormones’.

Foods that can help stress:

• matcha powder
• sweet potatoes
• kimchi
• eggs, offal, shellfish

Best product for stress: Total De-Stress

Anxiety

Anxiety is such a common mental health issue and is associated with one losing their appetite. When one is feeling calmer, normal hunger feelings tend to return, and the body can benefit from good nutrition. Again, exercise helps with anxiety symptoms much in the same way as it does for stress.

Foods that can help with anxiety:

• Nuts, seeds, whole grains
• Foods rich in zinc; cashews, beef, egg yolks
• Leafy greens

Best products for anxiety: Total De-Stress, Real Calm or Mind Clear

Energy

Energy is all about the balance of what we eat and how much we use and require each day. There are many factors that can affect our energy levels such as stress, environment, illness, and diet, and It isn’t always easy to balance and cope with all these life elements to maintain the energy you need to continue through the day. It can also be difficult to identify which factor, or combination of factors, is affecting your energy levels, which is where a boost can be used to aid your vitality. Energy boost aromatherapy products can be linked to increasing energy levels quickly for when an uplift is needed anytime throughout the day.

Most commonly, poor energy levels are associated with diet, and food can affect energy levels either positively or negatively. Exampled below are some foods that define each of these:

Foods that increase energy levels:

• Oats
• Bananas
• Legumes and lentils
• Nuts & seeds
• Wholemeal wheat products
• Lean meats
• Responsible use of caffeine

Foods that decrease energy levels:

• Sugar
• Processed/white wheat products
• Overuse of caffeine
• Fried or battered foods
• Low calorie foods
• Breakfast cereals

Best product for Energy: Energy Boost

Brain Health

It is difficult to stay focused and alert when you are hungry, which can lead to headaches, fatigue and brain fog. Eating to suppress hunger is essential, but more importantly, the type of food you eat plays a big part in focus and concentration. When you eat the right type of foods, you are not only supporting the body’s requirements but also your mental health and wellbeing. The term ‘brain food’ is well known, and these include foods rich in omega 3, vitamin K, lutein and beta carotene, which are the same nutrients that protect your heart and blood vessels. Using our find focus products and including the following foods in your diet can help you achieve the alertness and concentration you need to perform at your best each day:

 Foods that help with concentration:

• Green leafy vegetables
• Blueberries
• Oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel)
• Eggs

Best product for brain health: Find Focus
 

Noah Thorogood-Hill

Noah is an experienced nutritionist with 2 professional qualifications and more than 13 years of experience working in and studying nutrition and human health. Over this time, he has visited many areas of nutritional intervention and the effects on wellbeing, with a particular interest in skin nutrition and linking diet with mental health.                                               

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