Eat well, be well
ELISABETTA FRANZOSO explains the connection between wellbeing and your eating habits, the fourth focus of the Wellness Inventory Wheel.
Eating is a pleasurable, social activity which rejuvenates your body with the nutrients required for daily activities and your overall wellbeing.
Reality Check We often consume “empty calories” – “junk” and processed items, saturated fats and added-sugar foods. Combining this dietary confusion with a highly-stressful, yet increasingly deskbound, lifestyle is a highly-lethal mix. Many of us have adopted an imbalanced diet, which adversely affects our wellness – often resulting in weight issues and health dilemmas.
Insight High levels of stress undermine your ability to properly digest and utilise food. And a moderate level of physical exercise is insufficient to burn these extra calories and regulate stress. Many of us use food as emotional insulation – protecting ourselves from hurt – or as a drug, dulling the pain of a meaningless existence, broken marriage, or a pressurised job. And when the motivation to be productive wanes – due to physical exhaustion or emotional setbacks – we commonly experience a sense of guilt and attempt to resolve this by overeating.
Result Food is often used to alleviate physical and emotional pain or boredom, as its consumption releases a brain substance called beta-endorphin. Governed by the pituitary gland, this natural opiate produced by our body temporarily relieves pain and stress – creating a biologically comforting effect, which is a major reason for compulsive eating and poor nutrition
Moving Forward Be more aware. Truly listen to your body and its cravings. A craving may be an indication of a metabolic need, or it could be the result of an addiction – a coping mechanism in the presence of pain or stress.
Q. Can I educate myself to eat well?
A. Absolutely! Read more about it and seek professional help. A personal coach specialised in eating behaviours and wellness can motivate you towards change and guide you through good nutrition, exercise and stress management.
Q. How do I start?
A. Don’t expect to make massive changes overnight. First, understand the root of your present eating habits with the support of an expert. Then, to begin, focus on minor changes. Give yourself four to six weeks to get accustomed to your new habits, which by then will be firmly established as part of your lifestyle. Remember to take your time – you’re addressing habits cultivated over a lifetime. Be gentle, but consistent.
Elisabetta Franzoso BA, Dipl.Psych, MSocSc
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Elisabetta Franzoso is a highly self-driven coach and motivator who focuses on communication, self-expression and wellbeing. Her passion is to empower people to achieve excellence and transformation from the inside out. To complete your Well-Being Inventory Index and get your detailed personal Health and Wellness Assessment, contact Elisabetta and her team of professional Life Coaches, Psychological Counsellors, Fitness Trainers, Nutritionists, Physicians and Body Therapists.
