Today we are joined by Jordan Yseth, Registered Dietitian and aged gouda fanatic. Jordan and Leora went to college together, and today we learn that “all foods fit”, so maybe all those late night Taco Bell runs weren’t so bad after all!
Jordan’s food philosophy is that people don’t need to cut foods out of their diet entirely, and should instead focus on balance, enjoyment, and moderation. Jordan believes that you don’t need to eat perfectly to be healthy, and, food is supposed to be enjoyed! Yas queen!
Jordan recommends sustainable eating, which includes eating foods that are nutritionally dense, but also making room for reasonably sized portions of Doritos if that’s your thang.
We also learn a lot about eating patterns, including the difference between “disordered eating” and eating disorders. Jordan provides her insights to help us develop a healthier relationship with food. We learn how to handle a “bad body image day” and give ourselves a little self-care rather than restricting our food intake or putting ourselves down.
Jordan dismantles terrible nutrition advice she has heard, including teaching us that CARROTS ARE NOT THE FUCKING PROBLEM!
Food can be self-care, and since we are eating every day, we might as well use that to feel good about taking care of ourselves and nourishing our bodies and enjoying foods we like.
We get into the new research on nutritional psychiatry and learn crazy shit like 95% of the serotonin in your body is produced in your intestinal tract and our gut has as many neurons as our brain! Sometimes all we can say is “I don’t even understand, help”.
We learn the difference between a fad diet, and sustainable eating patterns that have flexibility, variety and allow you to enjoy food, your life, and a healthier mind and body.
Jordan drops some serious knowledge about inflammatory vs. anti-inflammatory foods, and what those terms really mean. We learn what foods to add to our diet more frequently in order to potentially reduce anxiety symptoms, and how to maintain even blood sugar levels so that we can promote feelings of calmness rather than gettin’ too hangry.
Finally, we learn the importance of eating foods that give our bodies adequate nutrients and minerals, rather than taking vitamin supplements- and this turns out to be much simpler than you might think! Variety is the spice of life, and, apparently, the secret to ensuring your body gets the nutrients it needs to properly fuel your body and your brain.
Today’s Takeaways for your Toolkit
Registered Dietitians
If you are able, meet with a registered dietitian. Registered dietitians are there to help you figure out what foods are best for you. As Jordan says, “what is right for me may not be what is right for you”, and a registered dietitian can help you design the eating style that will be sustainable and healthy for your life. Beware that anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist”, while “registered dietitian” is a protected title, so by meeting with a registered dietitian, you can be sure you're getting advice from someone with the education and qualifications needed to provide sound advice.
Food as Self-Care
Food is something we all need to consume on a daily basis. However, we don’t always think of food as self-care. The truth is, food can be daily, non-optional self-care! We don’t necessarily mean eating comfort food when you’re feeling down, although we’ve certainly been there. Cooking meals for yourself and being thoughtful about choosing foods that taste good and provide your body with the nourishment it needs can be the ultimate self-care. You are literally caring for your insides, and it turns out, your brain and mental health can benefit from the right foods, too!
Finding Balance
Jordan teaches us that it is important to choose a variety of foods that you enjoy eating. Some foods are more dense in nutrients than others, and it is good to focus on having more of those foods in your diet (examples include fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken, tofu, beans, legumes, etc.). However, this does not mean you need to cut anything out of your diet. You can have foods you enjoy, and “all foods can fit in a healthy, balanced diet”. Jordan reminds us that food is not just fuel, it is also about enjoyment and socializing. Balance is the name of the game.
Citations
Naidoo, U. (2019). Nutritional strategies to ease anxiety. Naidoo, U. (2019). Nutritional strategies to ease anxiety - Harvard Health Blog. [online] Harvard Health Blog. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-strategies-to-ease-anxiety-201604139441.
Selhub, E. (2019). Nutritional psychiatry: Your brain on food - Harvard Health Blog. [online] Harvard Health Blog. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626.
Resources
National Eating Disorders Association
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics