Nutritional Health Counseling

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Lofty Salon & Wellness Center offers nutrition and health counseling focused on total nourishment principles: healthy eating, integrated movement, and stress-management practices, all designed to increase your mind-body-food awareness. We offer small group programs and customized individual programs.

April 2012 – Eat More Veg!

Is there anyone who doesn’t know we should all be eating more fruits and vegetables? Plant-based foods are low in calories, and excellent sources of nutrients and fiber But the Standard American Diet (“SAD,” as it is referred to by nutrition and health professionals) is woefully deficient. It’s important for all of us to be aware of the balance on our plates, and to keep experimenting with new ideas that keep our tastebuds inspired, like the creative bean salad recipe Mona posted this month.

When we say a food is “plant-based”, we are very simply talking about whole foods that grow as plants. That includes beans and whole grains in addition to vegetables and fruits. Consumption of plant-based foods is directly linked to improved health, making life much more enjoyable. 

Check out the Harvard School of Public Health’s “Nutrition Source” on the web. They have an excellent diagram of a well-balanced plate, and you’ll notice that it is 75-100% plant-based depending on which source of protein you include in your diet.  Half the plate on their graphic is made up of vegetables and a little fruit. Make that a goal for each meal and you will be moving your diet and health in the right direction.

Eating an abundance of fruits and vegetables every day also makes you more beautiful.  It’s been scientifically proven!  Recently, a study was published in the journal PLoS ONE that found people who eat more vegetables and fruits are considered more attractive by others. Why? It’s the carotenoids.  Carotenoids are made by plants as they ripen in the sun. These red and yellow plant pigments give your skin a warm glow.

Eating more fruits and vegetables also means filling up on lower-calorie foods, leaving less room for processed, calorie-dense choices that can weigh you down. Add an abundance of whole, fresh foods on a daily basis. You’ll feel a corresponding increase in energy and, as this study confirms, those around you will begin to notice your luminous skin tone and healthy glow.

Author: Laurie Young is a Certified Health Counselor and owner of NutriCurious. She supports clients in developing individualized eating and health plans using practical tools and personalized coaching. She offers private sessions, and teams with other health practitioners to help clients Jump Start their Health through 6-week small group programs incorporating nutrition and movement. This article was originally published on www.nutricurious.com.