What do I need to eat?

Between carb cycling, keto, fasting… [insert next diet trend here], it is easy to lose track of how your body actually feels. While there are underlying truths to many diets, disconnection from our bodies keeps us from truly being successful with any step-by-step process that we might find as a generic health plan approach. We are the best doctors for our bodies; we know ourselves better than any medical professional. Why do you think they need to ask us questions to help us? While there is definite science to our bodies, we are given many signs and symptoms naturally to take care of ourselves thanks to the way we were designed. The best way to tackle nutritional health is by noticing the symptoms your body gives you when you need to eat (and after you’ve eaten). 

How do you know if you need carbs?

Because carbs are the main energy source for the body, you definitely feel it when you’re in need. Without carbs you tend to feel weak and uncoordinated. I’ve often heard it described from girls that your arms and legs feel like “cooked noodles” that are disconnected from the rest of you. Besides a feeling of being discombobulated, you’ll experience headaches, low motivation and or depression, dizziness, and an overall feeling of irritability. 

You do feel a physical difference between the carbs you get from fruits and vegetables versus the ones you get from root vegetables and heavier breads/pastas. Besides giving you energy, root vegetables will help you have a solid “full” feeling that lasts more than an hour. If you’re constantly finding yourself hungry and you feel as if you’re eating enough, check on how many potatoes, beets, carrots, and other root vegetables you are consuming. Your breads and pastas will help with the emotional side of how you are feeling. Fruits and vegetables help with a well-rounded feeling, texture, and digestion. 

How do you know if you need fat?

Fats are used to help digest protein. Fats add a satiety factor to our food. Without it, the meal can feel light and airy in our stomachs. Without fats, you might feel sluggish; carbs and fats may feel like they’re sitting in a lump without moving through your digestive tract. Eating fat will not make you fat. Feeling satisfied from eating fats also does not mean that you are fat. 

How do you know if you need protein?

In general, you just feel hungry. Protein is the main builder for our bodies as it builds our organs, tissues, hormones, skin, hair, nails… everything. Your body will cue hunger signals to get more protein. Without it, meals will tend to feel unsatisfying. Without enough protein long term, you’ll get a slew of other symptoms as well: brittle nails, thinning hair, stress fractures, and frequent illness from a weakened immune system to name a few.  

Remember, all food groups are needed to help the others process and break down in our bodies to do what they’re needed to do which means that you need to eat a variety of proteins, fats, and carbs. The timing of your foods are important as well. Pay attention to how your body is feeling. During different phases of your cycle, seasons, training, or periods of stress, the nutritional needs of your body will change and adjust which is why so many people fall off of those fad diets mentioned before. A diet plan given from a distance doesn’t work without considering your very current lifestyle which means it is never a lack of willpower; your fall off of a diet program is your actual survival instincts kicking in because nature knows best.