We all know we’re individuals right? But have you ever stopped to think about what makes your body’s needs different to someone else’s?
The term ‘Bio-individuality’ is what we’re talking about here… meaning that we ALL have a unique interaction with nutrition. So this means it’s about OUR ideal diet, NOT the ideal diet.
Generally speaking, there are 7 questions to ask ourselves when we’re looking at our health and nutrition (some examples also.)
These are, and yes starting with the toughest one first…
1. Genetics? Certain genes have a greater need for folate.
2. Age? As we get older, our Vitamin D ‘power’ declines.
3. Gender? Women tend to have lower iron levels than men.
4. Environmental? Household cleaners, livestock dips and exhaust fumes increase the need for calcium.
5. Drug consumption? Drinking too much alcohol will deplete our B12 levels. Prescription medications deplete many different nutrients, therefore in both cases, we need extra nutritional support.
6. Current health conditions? Poorly controlled or undiagnosed diabetes can lead to losses in the nutrient chromium (which helps to regulate your blood sugar levels.)
7. Emotional response? e.g. If you’re feeling stressed, your cortisol increases, which decreases Vitamin C in your adrenals.
So a simple way to look at it is this… Everyone who eats salt, won’t ALL get high blood pressure. It depends on the questions above, which can help paint a picture of your own story.
Think of these questions as a very general lens, when looking at YOUR own health needs. You’ll begin to develop an awareness of what works and what doesn’t work for you.
Our body is an amazingly intricate system and nothing is ‘black and white’ when it comes to our health. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have our own power. We can learn to listen to our inner knowing, to sort through some of the puzzle ourselves.
So, have you run across any other examples of these questions?
P.S. If there’s anyone in your life (friend, family, employee) who feels they want to do better with their health, please share this post. It might be the fresh perspective they need to feel better.