They say you are what you eat, and there’s some truth to that old adage that’s worth thinking about during Nutrition Month.
Dietitians of Canada’s theme for this year’s nutrition month is ‘nourish to flourish,’ meant to spotlight the connections between food and overall well-being. Dietitians note the “integral role” of nutrition in mental health, as well as the importance of food in fostering social and cultural connections.
“[The month] will encapsulate the transformative role that food and nutrition play in our lives, going far beyond simply meeting physical needs,” said John-Paul Cody-Cox, CEO of Dietitians of Canada, in a press release. “It’s about fostering emotional resilience, building social connections, and empowering communities to thrive.”
As we’ve reached a point in the year when many of us will have lapsed on any new year’s resolutions around healthy eating, nutrition month can be a motivator to try to get back on track. However, it’s important to note that major changes to one’s diet shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Whether starting a weight-loss program, cutting sugar, going vegan or whatever the case may be, there can be potential health risks. The guidance of a dietitian-nutritionist is generally going to be better-informed than that of a social media influencer.
While goals to lose weight, resolve digestive issues or lessen one’s environmental impact might be well-intentioned, dietitians advise against making sudden changes based on random advice from unverified sources, and remind that altering eating habits can have harmful health consequences. Professional guidance is recommended, and http://dietitians.ca is a potential starting point.
Access to nutritious food can vary greatly for people in our community, with inflation lifting grocery costs out of control and food bank dependency increasing. But often, we do have choices about how we fuel ourselves, and if we make an effort to nourish to flourish, we’ll benefit our bodies and our minds.
