How do I know if foods don't agree with me?
Did you know that as we age our bodies can be less tolerant to certain foods?
You may have already experienced this and noticed that the ice cream you loved in your 20's is making you feel pretty terrible in your 40's. Dairy is a common intolerance as we get older. Our bodies need a specific enzyme called lactase to break down the sugar in dairy products and our body produces less lactase as we age. Only a small group of people maintain high lactase levels throughout their life.
Over the last few years, my once iron stomach has shifted and I've learned what foods I need to spread out more carefully over my week. For example, a daily apple can give me a lot of stomach pain- but I can eat all the bananas I want!
Understanding what makes our bodies feel really good (or not so good) is a powerful tool in your journey to feeling your best.
This varies from person to person. Someone with Hashimotos or thyroid issues is generally going to feel much better by avoiding 1-2 key foods, like my client Sara. Someone with inflammatory or digestive issues, like my client Becca, may need to try a lower FODMAP way of eating to identify the culprits, which for her were otherwise healthy foods - onions and garlic.
If you don't feel your best, play around with the foods you are consuming and the combinations of foods you are consuming. Having oatmeal for breakfast can be energizing for some, while for others it can lead to cravings an hour later because their metabolism required more protein to start the day.
Writing down what you notice can be really eye-opening. How hungry are you two hours after a meal? Which meals stick with you for 3+ hours? What are you reaching for at 3pm or 9pm? Why? How hungry are you at those times?
Your body can teach you a lot about what it needs and prefers if you slow down and pay attention to the signals.
