Issue No. 6: Food, Nutrition, and Access in Our Communities
Words - Talia B. Vilaplana, FNTP

Feeling our best has become devalued, as we have grown used to exhaustion, mental fog, bloating, irritability, and more. Improving our well-being shouldn’t feel impossible, but it is often hard to choose between various wellness fads. No matter how alluring this month’s wellness trend is, it may not be the sustaining north star for your body.

What we put into our body directly influences us in our daily life. Convenience is important, and access to certain foods can be determined by both where you live and how much money you have. Paying attention to where we have power in our nutritional decision-making is the first step towards taking control of our health. If we become more in-tune with ourselves, we can practice healthy behaviors.

Witnessing my mother battle and lose the fight to colon cancer sparked my interest in digestive health and uncovering how the food I ate could be used for healing. In life there is little we have control over, both in our environment and in how our bodies respond to it, which is why the work of Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (FNTPs) attempts to gain back some of that control.

The foundational work of FNTPs is understanding each person’s “innate wisdom,” the instincts we are all born with that guide our survival. However, what feels right for one person can be different to another, because no two humans are the same. So what does “feeling our best” really mean, and how does nutrition fit into this picture? We need vitamins, minerals, water, proteins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids. Our body absorbs and utilizes each of these nutrients in different ways for energy to sustain us (thank you, digestion!) Since our cells use the food we consume throughout the day, every single thing that enters our body creates a response in some way.

Our body’s goal is achieving the best performance for the longest amount of time, while we as individuals just want to feel good and energized while this occurs. Both goals can be either supported or hindered by the food we eat. Nutrition is what helps us to understand this balancing act that our body does with these nutrients.

The first step towards choosing the best and most sustainable nutrition for your individual body is looking inward to create a system that works for your needs, one that will inevitably continue evolving with time. To understand how your body responds to certain things, it’s beneficial to first take note of what it is responding to. Food journaling is an accessible way to bring awareness (dare I say, mindfulness?) to the reactions your body has to different foods. Food journaling can be as simple as keeping a Notes entry in your phone or writing in a notebook, where you track how much water you drink, what food you eat, shifts in mood or energy, bowel movements, sleep patterns, and physical exercise if that feels relevant to you. What it is not meant for, however, is calorie tracking or shame of any kind. Food journaling can help you identify how choices you’re making are impacting you in ways that may have gone unnoticed and unchecked.

Some questions to consider while food journaling: 

• Did you have a bowel movement today? (Ideally you should poop once per day. Slow transit time could imply the need for more water)

• Did that meal make you sleepy 30 minutes later? (Sleepiness after a meal could suggest a food sensitivity)

• Did you wake up with heartburn, cramps, or gas? (These symptoms could mean you have too little stomach acid for proper digestion)

• Did you crave something sweet after eating a full meal? (Cravings could mean you didn’t eat enough fats or carbohydrates in your meal)

• Did you notice a new breakout or mild rash on your skin? (Breakouts could indicate a food allergy or a problem in your intestines)

• Did you have a morning headache for two days in a row? (Recurring headaches could mean you’re dehydrated)

• Did you experience mental fog or trouble focusing today? (This symptom could indicate you need more healthy fats in your meals, or some physical movement)

It is important to track not only what you consume, but also how you feel afterwards—you might notice a pattern. Experiment with small adjustments, but talk to a health care provider before making any large changes to your diet.

Kindly remind yourself that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for what our bodies need for nourishment. No matter what chapter you’re on of your nutrition journey, it’s never too late to start paying attention to your body. You know your body better than anyone, and it will tell you what it needs if you remember to listen. This is your reminder.