Can Diets Do All the Heavy Lifting?

diet long-term mental health mind body spirit Jul 25, 2024

Picture of weight over top of woman under pressure looking at salad

Can Diets Do All the Heavy Lifting?

"Diet alone is like a house with one wall; it can't provide all the stability and support needed to weather the storms

Is your diet doing all the heavy lifting? Most popular diets solely focus on the body. In my opinion, expecting the diet to do all the heavy lifting is like having your house feel supported with 1 wall.

Can your diet alone fully address stress, emotional eating, cravings, hunger, tiredness, grief, fast-paced living, eating too quickly, indigestion, and the myriad of other challenges we face daily?

From keto, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, or any other popular diets, it’s crucial to ask: Is it healthy and sustainable? More importantly, does it support your mental health?

Despite the plethora of diets available, the prevalence of diseases continues to rise. Mental health disorders, for instance, are a growing concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 264 million people. Anxiety disorders are also widespread, impacting nearly 40 million adults in the United States alone.

These mental health issues often correlate with poor eating habits and stress, creating a vicious cycle that diet alone cannot break.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, with the American Heart Association reporting that nearly half of all adults in the United States have some form of cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is another alarming issue, with the International Diabetes Federation estimating that 463 million adults were living with diabetes in 2019, a number expected to rise to 700 million by 2045. Cancer rates are also high, with the American Cancer Society noting that approximately 1.8 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2020 in the U.S. alone.

Digestive disorders are becoming increasingly common. The American Gastroenterological Association states that up to 70 million Americans suffer from digestive diseases. Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are prevalent despite the various dietary regimes people adopt in hopes of improving their health.

If you’re at the movies and not enjoying the show, you don’t blame the screen—you recognize that the issue lies with the film in the projector. Similarly, our diet cannot handle all the burden of maintaining mental health. We need to go to the source, our "projector," and start editing, pruning, or even ejecting the "film" that represents our stressors, emotional eating triggers, relationships, and overall life satisfaction.

Diet can’t resolve issues like emotional eating, stress, relationships, career challenges, or financial concerns. These areas require a different approach—one that involves changing the narrative in our minds, much like inserting new tapes or focusing on motivational and inspirational strategies to stay on course.

"You can't out-diet your way out of stress and emotional struggles. True health comes from a balanced approach that includes mental well-being." — Anonymous

Adopting a healthy eating pattern is important, but it’s equally vital to have a supportive structure and mindset that can weather life's storms.

I often say that honeymooners, lottery winners, and those who achieve weight loss have something in common: sustaining the romance, the thrill, and the progress requires a mindset and a foundation that supports long-term success.

So, by all means, I encourage you to embrace a healthy way of eating in the truest sense of the word "diet"—from the Greek word "diata," meaning a way of life.

This way of life offers the balance and variety needed to build a solid foundation for health while supporting mental and emotional well-being.

I recommend starting with these 4 strong walls as a start to bringing back the true meaning of the word Diet as your way of life:

1) Mental & Emotional Support: Be sure to find support for ways to sustain healthy eating with mental health included to know what you are truly hungry for.

2) Physical Support: Include activity that supports your physical and mental health.

3) Nutritional Support: A diet rich in nutrients to help with current nutritional goals and to lower risks of disease.

4) Nurturing Support: Stay connected to nature, your gifts and talents, your dreams and goals, intuitive eating, spiritual, music, reading. The very things we may be craving more of in life.

Affirmation

"I nourish my body and mind with mindful eating, balanced choices, and supportive habits. I am building a foundation for lasting health and happiness with likeminded supports."

For more Nourish to Flourish ways of life and support, call Karie to help with some of the heavy lifting. You don’t have to do it alone.