Is Your Nutrition Getting in the Way of Good Posture?

At Healthy Habits we help people permanently thrive through posture and alignment, as the root of lasting physical improvement.  So why do we offer nutritional services?  How does nutrition link to posture and alignment?

Since the foods we eat affect the health of all soft tissue and bone it is important that we look after our bodies with a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet.  The typical North American diet of processed foods will not do this.  Did you know that a diet that includes white flour, white sugar, nitrates, sulfites and alcohol will increase inflammation in the body at the cellular level?  This inflammation gets in the way of your body achieving positive, permanent physical change.  In the extreme you may be experiencing rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis or inflammatory bowel disease.

Some nutritious foods such as night shade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant), meat and dairy can also cause inflammation in the body.  A protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, spelt and barley, can also be a problem.

The most effective change you can make is to take processed foods out of your diet. 

Next try reducing the amount of dairy and meat that you consume and replace with lots of vegetables, legumes and fish. 

And finally, explore gluten-free options such as brown rice, quinoa and sweet potato (it is not a nightshade). 

The fall is a great time to make changes to your diet, so get out there and enjoy the harvest.  You’ll not only do wonders for your tissues, you’ll feel re-energized too.