Alright friends, as some of you know I decided to take a sabbatical leave due to a construction project happening with the building I work in. It has been a little over two weeks and I feel compelled to write about this topic today because I know it’s something that many of us could use more of: PLAY.

We all know the importance of play for children. Now, do you remember a time in your own childhood when you were utterly happy in an activity and lost in the moment as though it felt like time didn’t exist? Now take it to the present day. When was the last time you experienced this? Has it been awhile? If so, it’s okay because adulting is hard and life gets crazy busy. I believe that taking this much needed time off for myself brought up an awareness that all of us could really benefit from blowing off some steam by making it a priority to play more. Among its benefits, play can actually boost your creativity, help you not take life so seriously and can help you cope better with stress.

Any recreational activity that brings you joy and excitement counts as playing and just know that making time for it can have substantial benefits for your mental and physical well-being! In fact, studies have shown that spending more time doing things that bring you happiness and pleasure can have a lasting relaxing effect that helps you manage stress better, keeps you physically active and brings more life satisfaction. For the record, having some good old fashion fun is not a waste of time. If truth be told, it’s right up there with everything else we could be doing to maintain good health like eating well, moving our bodies, getting plenty of restful sleep and being part of community.

I understand that adulting can be extremely demanding and tough when we’re constantly going from one thing to the next but even setting aside 30 minutes per day for yourself is enough time to reap the benefits! It may not seem like a lot but so much FUN can happen within that period. Especially, if you are able to make it a consistent daily practice, I promise you that life will start to feel so much sweeter.

So, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by your list of tasks or have the inclination to drop it all and flee the country, I encourage you to be selfish and let your inner child play!

In health and happiness,

Katrina

One of the main reasons I was drawn to taking the Nutritional Therapy Program as opposed to other holistic nutrition programs was because it was not only inspired by Weston A. Price’s research but also because they emphasized using a bio-individual approach. What is Bio-Individuality you ask? Well you see, bio-individuality is the idea that there is no one-size fits all approach to health and nutrition. Rather, you and I are so unique in our biological makeup and requirements. Meaning, that we all have our own special dietary and lifestyle needs based on factors like: genetics, epigenetics, ancestry, age, environmental exposures, health status, socioeconomic status, geography, activity level, etc. Therefore, our bodies react differently to various foods, habits and the like which I find very refreshing don’t you think?

So from here on out, you can stop googling and experimenting with The best diets of 2024 and give yourself some grace if for whatever reason it didn’t work for you yet magically somehow worked for others. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re simply unique and all that really requires is finding what works for you and only you. Trust me when I say that I completely understand how frustrating it is to follow a diet or protocol that is supposedly optimal for every single person in the world then come to experience it’s actually wreaking havoc on your health.

I have literally tried every diet from vegan, vegetarianism, ayurvedic-inspired, pescatarian, mediterranean, intermittent fasting, fodmap, paleo, keto and carnivore all just to learn that none of these were supporting my bio-individual longterm health. In fact, all I ever felt was moody, bloated, gassy, deprived with strong cravings and out of control. I also experienced irregular and painful periods, low self-esteem, adult acne, brittle nails, hair and teeth, extreme fatigue, severe depression and anxiety and an overall negative outlook on life (It’s still a wild ride but I’ve come a long way).

With all of this being said, would you agree that for a short period of time, it’s easy to follow a “diet” with rules of what you can and can’t put on your plate? Although, when it comes to intuitively listening to what your body is trying to tell you things can get complicated. That is where I come in! I can help steer you in the right direction to what is optimal for you by ensuring that you have an appropriate balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins based on your bio-individuality and circumstances.

Establishing a healthier relationship with food is also part of what we do together because food should neither be labeled as good nor bad. Ultimately, it’s about fine-tuning what specific nutrient-dense foods nourish your body best in this moment and then adjusting it along the way. I could geek out about this all day but isn’t it fascinating to learn that all of our different bodies have an innate intelligence of seeking homeostasis? All we have to do is honor it and lean in.

And so to answer your question above, “What is the best diet for me?”

I can’t entirely answer that for you but what I CAN offer you is my support in navigating your unique nutritional and lifestyle requirements that will sustain you and help you thrive.

Still interested in healing your special gut? Please fill out the Nutritional Therapy Inquiry Form and we’ll get you set up for your free 20 minute consultation. I can’t wait to work with you!

In health and happiness,

Katrina