the six
FOUNDATIONS of HEALTH
Image credit: Nutritional Therapy Association
There’s no one way to eat in order to achieve optimal health.
However, there are some key nutritional areas to support the proper function and overall balance of the body.
In Nutritional Therapy, we call these the
6 Foundations of Health.
Foundation 1:
Nutrient-dense Diet
Our culture may lead you to believe otherwise, but real food is the true foundation for achieving optimal health. While not the single factor that controls health, it is the single source that supplies us with the nutrients we need to live, function, and thrive.
Foundation 2:
Digestion
Even the perfect diet would be rendered useless if you can’t absorb and use the nutrients you consume. That’s where digestion comes in. It’s critical to optimize your digestion because literally every cell in your body - and countless functions - depend on a well-oiled digestive machine to absorb and utilize the nutrients you require to thrive.
Foundation 3:
Blood Sugar Regulation
Thanks to the SAD Standard American Diet, environmental toxins, and record levels of stress, we have an emergency need to lower blood sugar for the first time in human history. When balance is what your body needs, the roller coaster of spikes and crashes is anything but a joyride, wearing you down and leading to fatigue, hormone imbalance, and impaired brain health, mood, and memory/cognitive function.
Foundation 4:
Fatty Acids
Newsflash! Fat is our friend. Healthy dietary fats and essential fatty acids in ample quantities and an appropriate balance are key to consistent energy, stable/healthy weight, balanced blood sugar, healthy hormones, healthy moods, focus, and more. It also regulates inflammation, which is associated with many modern diseases.
Foundation 5:
Mineral Balance
There are 118 known minerals, and at least 18 are necessary for optimal human health. That may not sound like a lot, but each is involved in literally 100s of body functions, from immune health, to carrying oxygen throughout the body, to building strong bones. Our bodies cannot make any of these minerals, however, so we must get them - in the quantities and balance - from what we consume.
Foundation 6:
Hydration
Water makes up 55-60% and plays countless roles in our bodies. Unfortunately, many Americans are chronically dehydrated - thanks to busy lifestyles, challenges with recognizing and adequately quenching thirst, and a lack of water in modern processed foods - causing fatigue, anxiety, headaches, constipation, back pain, joint pain, and more.
Find Balance.
Feel Good Again.
Find out which of the 6 Foundations your symptoms indicate could need some support by taking a 1-Time Nutritional Assessment.