Our Nutrition Expert...Tara Marple

Health That Snuffs The Morning Air

by Tara Marple

When you look around the gym, your workplace or at social events (or Disneyland like I did this past weekend), you can usually see what you would call healthy people and unhealthy people.


If you talk to them, though, you will find the habits that just don’t match up with true, wholesome health. In other words, glowing health that is sound of mind and body, and constantly fresh. Specifically defined, being fit and healthy is having superlative physical and mental function. My question has always been…What do I have to do to accomplish this? Who do I have to be? And please let there be a magic key!!! In these days when there is so much disease, I almost feel like we are scrambling to find the right concoction of supplements, fitness and healing food to get to normal, let alone fantastic, health. I’d like to share three things that I have found to work for my own health and when leading others in achieving theirs.


As we have found, nutrition and fitness can be intimidating on our own. I believe in having a “team” of people who help and support us. As we experience various forms of support like trainers, massage therapist, nutritionists, chiropractors, general health docs, Yoga and support groups, we can then decide those things that we cannot function happily without. Whatever it takes! YOLO (You Only Live Once) right?! So sample various forms of support and make a list of those you want to make a routine support system.


Next subject is weight maintenance. Ugh! What a constant struggle. The mistake we make as a society is to believe the marketing labels on our foods. Food companies can make any claims they want to make in their marketing. Yes, they probably aren’t lies, but they always omit truths. If we stick to fresh foods for the most part, we aren’t being bamboozled by “low fat, whole grain or fortified”. When we eat fresh we don’t have to count calories and look for low fat foods. AND, one of my mantras is “Don’t trust anyone else to feed you!” Superlative health is a big lofty goal! Going to a restaurant and trusting exactly what is on the menu is leaving it up to them to feed our precious bodies – will this lead us on the path to optimal health? My suggestion is to ask questions and make requests. If you ask with grace and politeness, it is usually no problem. As well, when you are going to be gone for the day, plan ahead and bring your own food. You don’t know what you will be able to find along the way so be conscious and prepared.


Last, know your health status. Things may look fine and function just fine, but the benefit of modern medicine and traditional medical studies is that they all have tests to define imbalances. For example, combining blood tests for hormone levels with Chinese medicine for signs of low chi in our vital organs is ideal, and we have that access to take advantage of. Out of all the hormones that our pituitary gland releases at various times during the day, one hormone to keep an eye on is cortisol. If you get tested and your thyroid and cortisol levels are just below the abnormal range (in other words the danger zone where you would be medicated), this is a sign that you are not functioning at your “superlative” level of health. For those of you who really want to get things DONE in this life, help loads of people, be a leader or the best grandma there ever was, subclinical levels are a huge red flag. If you are feeling lethargic, having cravings for wine, chocolate, etc. and being often overwhelmed doesn’t mean you are fine in the definition of health, it means “WAKE UP”! Heal yourself with food, stress relief and support.


So in review, the three things to get from this article are: YOLO! Get a team of professionals and friends to support your goals. Next, only trust yourself to feed yourself, do the research and speak up for your needs. And finally, know your health status and be confident that you can heal and balance yourself with the right food choices and stress solutions. Now go on, be the ultimate you and know you’re supported!

 

 

Tara Marple specializes is helping her clients UP THEIR GAME in life. She utilizes expertise in nutrition coaching, meal timing for hormone balance, techniques for gaining mental focus and therapeutic bodywork to maximize their training and recovery for accomplishing ideal body composition, fitness goals and personal and professional growth. You can reach her by visiting www.vitalspiritwellness.com.