Holistic Dieting and Top Ten Considerations about it

A holistic diet goes beyond what you eat. It transcends beyond the food on your table or the burning of calories through exercising. It concerns you as a total person and gives you a healthy lifestyle in a package. Its main aim is to nourish your body, arrest chronic health concerns and increase your levels of energy to create an overall sense of well being. World Health Organization has explained health to be “more than the absence of disease; Health is a state of optimal well being”. Amanda Landis, a practicing nutritionist and Principal of Pure Balance Plan LLC has talked about the important considerations of a holistic diet while writing for `Livestrong.com’ and spelt out the ten most important considerations about a holistic diet to understand its objectives. 1. Developing a healthy and balanced diet – One of the basic principles of a holistic diet is the need to balance the macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Neda Smith, the Co-Editor of Holistic Nutrition, talks about the foods that give us nourishment. She talks about how not all carbohydrates are bad and they need not be eliminated from your diet. 2. Maintaining an adequate diet – It is important to eat natural food in a holistic diet and to avoid processed foods. Natural foods include fish, whole grains, vegetables, meats, fresh juices, herbal teas and coffee substitutes. 3. Balancing your diet – You have to balance the macronutrients in your diet with the micronutrients like fiber, minerals and vitamins to help the body in optimizing energy so that it reaches high levels of physical and emotional health. 4. Eating moderately – It is better to eat moderately foods that have high sugar and fat content. 5. Digesting your food properly – It is important for you to digest your food to maintain good health. Cold beverages and cold foods do not help the cause as they are slow to digest. Also, you have to chew the food well before you swallow it. It may come as a surprise to you but foods that contain probiotics or friendly bacteria are strongly recommended as they contribute to your good digestion and your intestinal health. 6. Laying the foundation for good emotional health – Sandra Caton, Editor for the American Holistic Health Association, talks about how you can be consciously aware of your thoughts, behavior and feelings towards your family, friends and the people you interact with. 7. Building up respect for your environment – You can participate in the community and neighborhood projects of cleaning up and respecting the `Go Green’ philosophy. 8. Gathering information to make well informed wellness oriented choices – Making the right kind of food choices can help you to avoid health problems in the future such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cancer. 9. Participating actively in your health decisions and your healing process – This can be done through disciplining yourself to maintain a nutritional diet and following a regular exercise regime. 10. Integrating nourishment for your mental and spiritual health – This can be done through various modes of attaining mental peace and it can come through Yoga, simple meditation and recreation like reading or listening to music. Do you wake up with enough enthusiasm for the day that is ahead?