Good nutrition is more than just eating well. it is a balance between healthy enjoyable eating, an active lifestyle, and self acceptance.

These three dimensions of life have a powerful impact on our health, our level of stress, and our energy levels. When these interact and are in balance with one another, individuals are free from psychological and physical illness and disease.

Self Acceptance

We cannot change our genetics and will have great difficulty changing what the society we live in has deemed as beautiful and healthy. Yet as individuals we can make a commitment to do the best we can with the cards we were dealt.

Naturally when we are eating well and getting regular physical exercise we feel better about ourselves. The increased selfesteem results in a more nurturing care of the body and this cycle soon becomes a lifestyle shift. It is in this balance that individuals take the best care of their bodies and their health. Ultimately the benefit is an increased sense of wellness. On the flip side we can easily recognize that when feelings of self acceptance are low, individuals may either overeat or undereat. This in turn impacts on any realistic goals of physical activity Either lethargy sets in and the individual does nothing, or they become exercise anorexics.

By taking care of ourselves we can be our best self and in so doing we will feel good about ourselves, which in turn will encourage positive feelings and self acceptance.

Healthy Enjoyable Eating

Eating must be healthy to insure adequacy of nutrients and energy. It must also be enjoyable. When the enjoyment of eating is lost, individuals suffer from automatic eating, binging, and deprivation cycles.

What we eat has a major impact on how we look..."you are what you eat." If you undernourish your body with inadequate energy, nutrients and water, you will appear listless, tired and pale. However, receiving enough calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat and water in a balanced regular diet will allow you to appear and feel energized, rested, and vibrant.

It is so easy to eliminate whole food groups, as trends often go. Or allow your body to become deficient in key nutrients, as the signs of neglect are easily disguised initially In the long run, however, the body will manifest the effects and it may be too late to reverse the damage. A lifetime of deficient nutrition may result in such ailments as hypoglycernia, adult onset diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, kidney failure and some cancers.

Active Living

Food is essential to life. Proper nutrition is essential to an energetic life. The uptake and utilization of glucose is essential to provide the energy we need for our regular daily physical activity Glucose is the body's most efficient and preferred form of fuel.

Where can you turn for help in developing an optimal eating plan for yourself?

There is much contradictory and scientifically refutable information about nutrition. Many poorly controlled, so called scientific studies, make claims that are unsupported, and either through ignorance or vested interest mislead consumers.

Each individual must take responsibility for sifting through the facts and the fallacies. Whenever claims are made about diet and nutrition determine whether the information is reliable or not.

Unreliable

* Claims made without scientific research to back them up. * Distortion of recognized nutritional facts. * Recommendation of miracle foods or supplements as a cure all. *Elimination of entire food groups. * Recommendations for the use of only certain types of food. *Promises of quick easy results. * Emphasis on personal testimonies. * Lack of professional credentials.

Reliable

* Scientifically supported double blind studies. *Credible source of information such as a registered dietician. *Current research. *All the facts are presented. * No appeal to the emotions. *Absence of sales pitch. * Emphasis on a balanced diet, * Information sources listed.

There is no danger in exploring alternative foods, natural foods, herbs, or vegetarianism, however insure your dietary intake remains nutritionally adequate and balanced. Consult a trained professional and be wary of individuals calling themselves nutritionists, this is a term almost anybody can use. A Registered Dietician has five years of training, including a University degree and an internship at a recognized hospital.