Doesn’t it feel great to say goodbye to 2020? I’m going to focus on what we can do to regain our va-va-voom this year! No crazy fasts or fad diets though; we know they don’t work and I think we have suffered enough of late!
I want to talk about how we can spark a real change in our relationship with food. The start of a year is a great time to instil long term healthy eating patterns which nourish the mind and body. As I made energy bombs with my 6 year old on a recent lazy lockdown Sunday, it reminded me that a good relationship with food begins in the kitchen. We had so much fun mixing, stirring, melting and, of course, tasting! Mindful cooking (by which I mean turning your phone off, being ‘present’ and having fun) is the starting point for a healthy relationship with food. Taking time to sit down and enjoy food with our loved ones is also key.
My approach to Nutrition is to celebrate food, which for me has always been a source of such pleasure. Hopefully we all recently enjoyed some festive cheer and good healthy indulgence although some of us may have been left feeling exhausted from overdoing things a little too much. The key is to look at such fatigue positively – we can see it as a powerful motivator for a detox!
Most of us don’t have the time to follow a strict detox. With this in mind, I always recommend a gradual reining in of any potential excesses. Whilst I generally advocate a gradual approach, this does not apply to processed foods – ditch them now! To avoid headaches and dreadful withdrawal symptoms, start by gradually reducing:
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Sugar and sweeteners
- Meat and dairy
- Wheat
- White carbohydrates such as white rice, potatoes and pasta
At the same time, try to introduce plenty of foods known for their detoxifying properties:
- Citrus fruits
- Green tea
- Beetroot
- Berries
- Nuts and seeds
I also want to mention Vitamin D. Our main source of this crucial vitamin is direct sunlight. During autumn and winter everyone should take vitamin D supplements to keep their bones and muscles healthy and support their general health. Even for the most outdoorsy amongst us, it is hard to get enough Vitamin D in our climate.
Unfortunately Covid-19 is still lurking and in order to be best placed to fight this virus it is important to ensure our immune systems are as strong as possible. Studies have shown that more than 80% of hospital patients with Covid-19 lack vitamin D. People with a Vitamin D deficiency are more likely to be hospitalised and there is an increased mortality rate in patients who lack vitamin D. If you are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ you are entitled to free vitamin D supplements from the NHS. If you do nothing else, be sure to supplement with Vitamin D this winter.
