Do you sometimes feel like a bottomless pit? Like you could just keep on eating?
I've certainly had that feeling. Like, no matter how much I eat, there just always seems to be room for more.
This can be a really frustrating feeling, especially when the effects of overeating begins to set in... most notably, weight gain, but also often discomfort, indigestion, and more.
We constantly hear to follow our intuition and body cues, but sometimes it can feel like those cues are leading us astray! When this happens, a sense of trust is lost between the mind and body.
So, the question becomes... what is the cause of this seemingly endless hunger?
Here's the deal. It's likely not you. It's the food.
The same food today has less nutrients than it did years ago. Even foods that we deem "healthy" and think of as nutritious, such as fruits and veggies, offer a lot less nutrients today. The cause of this is unhealthy soil. Most soil has become fairly barren, causing plants to have to be artificially grown with chemical fertilizers. Set aside the loss of nutrients that takes place when food has to travel across countries and continents to finally arrive in our grocery stores, these fertilizers are over-simplified and cause the plant to have a diminished range of nutrients inherent within them.
The human body is extremely intelligent. It knows what it needs and will drive you to arrive at those needs. This means that even though your stomach may feel like you have been eating plenty and can't understand why you may still fill hunger, your body may simply be requesting more nutrients.
Eating isn't just about getting the right quantity of food, it is about delivering quality of content. Your body knows the difference.
It is more important than ever before to consider the nutrient density of food. If it feels hard to feel sated, check in with the variety of nutrients you've consumed. Here are some guidelines to consider:
Look at your macronutrient intake. Have your meals and snacks had a balance of fats, carbs, and protein?
Check in with the array of color you've consumed. Eating the rainbow isn't just a cute slogan, it is an easy way to make sure you are delivering a multivitamin's worth of nutrients to your body. Each color in a food represents a different nutrient. Get as much color as you can!
Purchase foods that are grown as locally as possible and are organic. Both will ensure increased nutrient load.
Decorate your food with extra nutrients. Think of things you can "sprinkle on" for increased nutrients, such as a variety of seeds, nuts, seaweed, mushrooms, spices, herbs, etc.
Take a good quality multivitamin. There has been a lot of debate about whether they are worth it, but a good quality multivitamin can be a great insurance policy that you are getting your body what it needs to accurately perform.
Minimize foods that are designed to keep you eating them. Chemists work hard for food companies to design foods that are irresistible and defy our instincts. Eating these foods too often will contribute to feelings of distrust in your relationship with your body
These are great places to start, but know that sometimes the work is deeper. It may be about reestablishing trust between the mind and body, or possibly require teaching the mind how to listen to the body's cues again.
Whatever it may be, I am here to help! Schedule a free discovery call today!
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