Amersham Together January/ February 2020 Issue

HEALTH NEWS
We eat to live and
not live to eat.
Do you find yourself reaching for
‘naughty’ food in the cupboard when
you’re feeling down and depressed?
Wouldn’t it be great if we could eat a balanced
diet all the time, eat our five fruit and veg a
day and regular meals with the right amount
of protein, carbs and fats. But in reality with the
pace of life that’s been set these days and huge
stresses we face, it’s very difficult!
There is no doubt I have a sensitive digestive
system. Maybe it’s due to that trip to Mexico
when I was 21 and suffered terrible salmonella
poisoning. Or it could be the stress I put myself
under. I’ve made the choice to cut out gluten
from my diet because it doesn’t agree with me,
I’ve had the test for coeliac and I am in the clear
on that front.
Watching what I eat all the time is depressing
in itself however, so when I met Laura from LM
nutrition I was delighted when she offered to give
me a comprehensive consultation to address my
eating habits and patterns.
I had to fill out an extensive form. It took
commitment and dedication, but it is worth it
I assure you. She also made me keep a food
diary. She kept it simple: just two days during the
week eating normal food (including the naughty
food) and one day at the weekend.
She gleaned a lot from my eating habits from
those 3 days. I did try and keep what I thought
was a sensible and healthy diet. Well of course
you would wouldn’t you, being assessed by an
expert qualified nutritionist!
But as I found out, my so-called healthy breakfast,
consisting of gf porridge, lots of fruit including
bananas and mixed berries, combined with apple
juice plus coffee was actually so wrong for me.
Stress levels, eating at irregular times, and lack of
sleep were also affecting my gut.
Laura said, “Blood-glucose refers to the amount
of sugar circulating in the blood, and for sustained
energy it’s really important to keep that amount
as level as possible. Symptoms of imbalance
include fatigue, headaches, irritability, food
cravings, anxiety, low mood and poor sleep –
it can also affect gut health.”
I know I am going to have to change a lot of
things in my life, but with small steps and Laura’s
guidance, I hope I can achieve better eating
habits, a less stressful life and more laughs and
enjoyment. If you know you need help with
eating, then get in touch with Laura.
Laura MacDonald DipION
mBANT CNHC is a qualified
Nutritional Therapist offering
support for a wide range of
health issues in Beaconsfield,
Amersham and the surrounding
areas.
To advertise please call 07786 735 711 or email marketing@amershamtogether.co.uk
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