Self-care is not just a notion nor a fad that an individual practices for a while, or until another trend emerges and captures one’s attention and interest. Self-care actually refers to more than a single activity but several courses of actions in nourishing one’s physical, mental and emotional conditions to be able to function normally and effectively. Nutrition for one is a basic self care behavior.
Nutrition as a Component of Self Care
While self-care initiatives and practices are not the same for everyone, the general consensus is that self-care always starts with proper nutrition. Unfortunately though, it’s an aspect of self-care where many fail. Food can become a person’s enemy as a result of over-indulgence or disinterest. These factors can cause metabolic disorders leading to health problems, such as excessive weight, inflammations and/or autoimmune deficiencies.
Sadder still is when nutrition is impacted by cultural and environmental influences, especially where obesity is a normal condition; regardless of its effect on a person’s mental, physical and emotional well being.
Basic Self Care Practices to Attain Good Nutrition
Good nutrition is a basic requirement of a healthy condition. Comprehend that food deprivation can cause hormonal imbalances, which can disrupt or affect our bodily condition, responses and ability to function well. Nutritional self care behaviors do not have to be complicated as they involve simple routines like the following:
Eating Slowly and Mindfully
Some people live to eat while others eat to live, which are actually extreme self-care behaviors that do not equate to proper nutrition. Slow and mindful eating denotes paying attention to what you eat, when you eat and how you eat, regardless of where you consume food and drinks.
Eat slowly so you can focus on enjoying meals but without overindulging or of being less mindful of the health benefits they provide.
Prioritize Eating Balanced Diets
Eating is an enjoyable activity for many. So much so they sometimes overindulge by consuming food with reckless abandon. Others do the opposite, by ignoring hunger pangs because they have better things to do.
Whether it’s a case of overindulgence or undereating, not paying attention to the nutritional benefits of eating regular well-balanced meals should be corrected. Still, looking to practice self care in terms of nutrition should not be taken as a rigid eating behavior. What is required as an act of self-care is to give priority to balanced meals.
Taking Multivitamins to Augment Nutritional Requirements
Balanced diets though are best achieved by having access to a wide variety of food. However, prioritizing consumption of certain types of food as components of balanced meals, can be affected by our lifestyle, our environment and our financial resources. That is why taking multivitamins as nutritional supplements is also recognized as part of nutritional self care.
Since nutritional self-care could develop as a complex process, it becomes important to consult with one’s physician and possibly, a nutrition specialist. While not everyone has the means to seek help from medical professionals, consumers can find a host of useful information from websites. The content creators also give importance to nutrition as a critical element of self-care behaviors.