Positive changes in personal dietary habits are unarguably a challenge. Yet it is the most consistent behavior modification I’ve seen transform people’s health and wellbeing. High quality food gives you the nutrients and energy that put the entire body and mind into action. Poor quality food is a significant source of inflammation and stress on the body. When the body is inflamed, all stress is amplified, and the body becomes a breeding ground for chronic disease. Inflammatory dietary choices can trigger anxiety, headaches, fatigue, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, weight gain, water retention…the list goes on and on. No matter what your life stressors are, increasing nutritious food and decreasing inflammatory food will have a positive impact.

Eating healthily decreases your body’s total stress burden. People will often tell me that changing their diet is stressful. Be clear, it is not the diet that is stressful it is the CHANGE that is stressful. Migrating away from what is familiar requires that we learn how to do something new. Change take work, foresight, and commitment. It also requires a different level of self-awareness in your choices and behavior.

How many times have you picked up an instrument you have never played before and play it flawless? Or been perfectly coordinated when starting a new sport? Instantly know the ins-and-outs of a new software program? Become fluent in a second language–or your first language for that matter? To get past the awkwardness and frustration of learning something new takes time, awareness, practice, tools, and encouragement. Why should changing your diet for the better be any different?

I asked a good friend and colleague of mine recently how she approaches dietary changes for people who don’t enjoy cooking. She replied, “People usually don’t enjoy cooking because they don’t know how to cook.” Food is an important part of our lives, not just for sustenance, but it also provokes pleasure, memories, and social interactions. The joy of cooking involves knowing your ingredients and how they can be combined, ability to navigate the kitchen and kitchen utensils, produce a meal that tastes delicious, and often times having other people around to share food with. As you become more proficient in these areas of meal preparation, cooking becomes more enjoyable. Just like everything else meal prep requires time and practice.

The first hurdle people often have when evaluating dietary change is “But I really like what is not good for me”. The Second hurdle is “If I can’t eat ___(fill in the blank), then what can I eat?”. The third hurdle “Where can I get it, how do I make it?”

That first hurdle requires that you have to actually admit that the reason you don’t feel well is directly related to how you are currently living your life, including the food choices you are making. This is very personal, and can only be overcome with your mind, acceptance, and a willingness to explore new possibilities.

Mountain Sage Medicine can help you clear the second and third hurdles. Based on your symptoms and possible laboratory testing we can discover what foods are likely your biggest contributors to inflammation. From there we can develop a detailed plan to ease you in dietary habits that help you thrive. We can provide you with resources and encouragement to help you de-stress your life.

Things to consider when making dietary changes:

• Focus on the plethora of foods you can eat
• Engage a friend to make changes with you
• Start simple
• You are not alone: recipes, resources, and awesome websites are available to you
• Take note of menu items at your favorite restaurants that fit your needs
• Remove temptations
• Create new (healthy) food rewards
• Be prepared, have resources on hand
• Remember healthy cooking can be flavorful and delicious
• Get creative and have fun

Are you feeling pumped to transform your stress to success? A great place to start is the Vibrant YOU! Cleanse. This cleanse is designed to help you hit the dietary reset button and set you up to feel healthy and vibrant.