Your diet makes a huge difference in your health and wellness, both positive and negative. Eating the right foods at the right times, after preparing them with healthy cooking techniques, gives your body the energy and nutrients it needs to stay strong and active, and to heal itself from within.
On the other hand, eating other foods can result in harmful consequences for your physical health, from obesity to increased inflammation.
Dr. Nichelle C. Renk focuses on the whole-body health of her patients at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness, including attention to diet and nutrition. She also provides effective dietary supplementation. Here are some of the top nutrition hacks that Dr. Renk wants her patients from around the Anchorage, Alaska, area to know about.
Dietary fiber keeps your digestion regular and healthy, keeps your blood sugar and cholesterol under control, and helps you feel full and satisfied after eating. If you need to address digestive issues or high blood pressure, or need to lose weight, increasing your fiber intake can help.
For more fiber, choose fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, nuts, and seeds. These foods make great on-the-go snacks or quick-access meals. Taking time to cut fruits and vegetables for storage can make it even easier to get your daily fiber.
When your body needs to heal or regenerate from damage, you need plenty of protein in your diet. Try including a source of protein every time you eat a meal or snack to help your body replenish itself after stress, trauma, wear-and-tear, or degeneration.
Lean meat, fish, nuts and legumes, and soy can all provide healthy sources of protein. It’s absolutely possible to get plenty of protein if you’re vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian. And, if you’re healing after a wound or injury, it’s essential that you do so.
Did you know that nutrition plays a significant role in your long-term bone health? Especially as you age, and your risk of osteoporosis increases, it’s important to ensure that you maintain strong, healthy bones.
Calcium is an essential nutrient for bone health, and it’s found in dairy products. You can supplement low-fat dairy with foods fortified with calcium. Bone-in salmon and sardines are other good sources of calcium.
Vitamin D is also important for bone health, as well as for mood regulation and other key aspects of your health and wellness. Exposure to sunlight offers one way to take in vitamin D. But there are many reasons why you might not be able to get enough daylight time to fill your body’s needs.
Vitamin D-fortified orange juice each morning could help your bones for years to come!
It’s not always possible to get all of the vitamins and nutrients you need for optimum health and wellness through the foods you eat. Seasonal issues, food costs, and cooking time can all contribute to poor nutrition.
While dietary supplements shouldn’t be your whole response to nutritional deficiencies, supplementation can definitely help your body get more of the key nutrients it needs. Talk to Dr. Renk about nutritional supplements that could support your health and wellness.
For support with nutrition and wellness, contact Dr. Renk and the team at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness online or over the phone today and schedule your initial consultation.
