Why relationships are more important to your health than diet

Why relationships are more important to your health than diet

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SALT LAKE CITY — Health experts often say that "food is medicine." While a nutrient-dense diet is important, a healthy diet is not a guarantee for health. In fact, putting too much emphasis on perfecting your diet may impede your health.

Americans rank No. 1 in the world for food worry. We put so much thought, stress, and expectations around food that we are missing the whole point. Yes, food is meant to be fuel for our bodies — but it is also meant to be pleasurable. Otherwise, why would we eat?

In this overly nutrition-educated country, we have come to believe that how we eat is the bread and butter (no pun intended) to our health. Yes, we should choose nourishing food that makes us feel good. But it’s not the most significant when it comes to our overall health and well-being.

There are many components to experiencing a healthy lifestyle that don’t include food at all. Sleep, stress management, expressing creativity, satisfaction and connection all affect your wellbeing. In fact, research shows that stress management and social connections might matter more than what you eat. Here's how some of these components affect your overall health.

1. Sleep is a vital aspect of health. Sleep deprivation leads to irritability, increased appetite, and a decreased metabolism. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep. Create healthy night routines and give your body permission to sleep longer when needed. Don’t prioritize an early morning workout over a good night’s rest.

2. Stress is an inevitable part of life. At times, it can be exhilarating to experience the stresses brought on by a job promotion, a new baby, or moving into a new home. A stress-free life would be incredibly boring. However, when life gets too overwhelming find calming activities to manage your stress such as mediation, joyful movement, finding a creative outlet, or disengage with a mindless activity.

3. Satisfaction is an overlooked component of, a healthy diet and this is a key element highlighted in the book "Intuitive Eating." Many studies demonstrate the importance of "Epicurean pleasure" — a concept that includes an ongoing appreciation of the aesthetics of food, their symbolic value, and the pursuit of pleasure. When you eat what is truly satisfying without attaching morality and superiority, you will notice increased psychological and biological health.

4. Connection: Although we live in a world that connects us more than ever before, we are lonelier than ever. Julianne Hold-Lunstad, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University, studied how loneliness and social isolation are connected. Her research found loneliness is a bigger risk factor than obesity and has the same mortality risk as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and alcoholism.

"The effect of this is comparable to obesity, something that public health takes very seriously," Holt-Lunstad said in a press release for the study. "We need to start taking our social relationships more seriously."

We can be surrounded by good people in our lives and still be lonely. According to an article in Psychology Today, feeling lonely is an internal experience of disconnection or rejection. Restricting and worrying about food can create isolation.

To combat feeling lonely, psychologists suggest talking, scheduling contact with friends, using social media purposefully, getting to know your neighbors, getting creative, touching someone, and throwing a dinner party — because food creates connection.

In the end, we face a great deal of pressure when it comes to our food choices but it's important to remember food is only one component of your overall health. When we stress out over every choice, every bite, or every meal, we are essentially taking away all the wonderful health benefits of a varied diet. Don't let food take precedence over sleep, stress management, satisfaction or your relationships.


Devrie Pettit is a registered dietitian and hosts an online membership that focuses on different nutrition topics each month to help you find peace with food + body + exercise. She also facilitates Intuitive Eating Workshops. Email: behappilyfed@gmail.com- - - - - -

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