Whether you’ve been trying to lose weight for a few weeks or a few years, it’s easy to get frustrated and feel down if you’re not seeing any progress. The result is a constant battle with the scale.
The truth is, it’s easy to confuse dieting, or consuming less to lose weight, and good nutrition. Unfortunately, most people don’t understand the importance of nutrition when it comes to losing weight, making it harder to reach wellness goals.
At Monarque Health & Wellness in Ashland, Oregon, we want our patients to know the impact that good nutrition has on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. That’s why we offer integrated weight-loss support and nutrition counseling.
Our team of skilled and compassionate health care providers created this guide to help you understand why nutrition is a crucial component of successful weight loss. Read on to learn more.
Simply put, good nutrition means eating a wide variety of foods to get the nutrients you need to feel healthy and energetic. Nutrients are the chemical compounds your body needs, including macronutrients, like protein, carbohydrates, and fat, and micronutrients, like vitamins and minerals.
Good nutrition means avoiding packaged or processed foods as much as possible. These include foods with high amounts of sodium and long lists of unfamiliar ingredients. Good nutrition also means watching out for added sugar and limiting your sugar intake.
Finally, good nutrition means being mindful of your food and considering balance, variety, and moderation in what you eat. For example, when you eat out, consider foods that are baked, broiled, roasted, seared, poached, or steamed instead of fried.
The benefits of good nutrition aren’t only related to weight loss. Practicing good nutrition helps to:
Good nutrition can help you shed excess pounds — without food cravings or feeling hungry! This is because healthy foods are packed with nutrients, unlike processed foods, which are typically loaded with fat, sugar, and salt. Nutritional deficiencies are what cause cravings for quick-energy-fix foods like candy and chips. Without them, you put an end to your unhealthy cravings.
Whole foods are also higher in fiber. Fiber provides volume, which fills you up and keeps you feeling fuller, longer. What’s more, high-nutrition foods also require more chewing, slowing you down and helping you eat more mindfully. As a result, your body has a chance to send the signals to the brain that let you know when you’re full.
Good nutrition also means you can eat more of the healthy foods you love. Because whole foods have more water than processed foods, you can eat more of them without overeating calories. This means you won’t feel unnecessarily hungry, making it easier to stay on track.
The certified health and nutritional coaches at Monarque Health & Wellness approach your health holistically. We discuss your health conditions and overall wellness, and work with you to determine the nutritional changes needed to optimize your health.
If you’re ready to take the first steps on the journey to better health and wellness with a customized nutrition plan, contact Monarque Health & Wellness today!
