As an osteopath I hear a lot from people about their bodies and their diets. One of the most common things I hear is ‘I know I’ve put on weight’ or ‘I know I really need to lose the extra weight’. This is often said by clients who are limited in how much they can move by a painful body part and since their injury have put on inches at the waist.
As an allied health professional, I can and will use my time with you to help you make better decisions around food. We know diet impacts on heart health through blood pressure, cholesterol and when we gain weight, we put ourselves at higher risk of a raft of health problems we’d rather not have.
In this blog I wanted to share three books that have changed my own habits and helped me to keep the spare tyre at bay.
Book 1: Gut by Giulia Enders
This book taught me about variety and foods that are good for your gut bacteria. It is the reason that pears and artichokes are in my food repertoire and on my shopping list. This wasn’t this book’s greatest gift to me though.
Gut talked about our pooing habits and the link to bowel (colon) cancer. We were designed to squat but our western toilets do not allow us to do this without spoiling our manners.
Since I read Gut I have been the proud owner of a ‘squatty potty’ or pooping stool as it is affectionately known in my house. It allows nature to take it’s course as intended – quickly, efficiently, and with a complete feeling that I miss whenever I am staying away from home without one.
My family are converted and our health is better for it. Thank you Gut!
Book 2: Ultra-processed People by Dr Chris van Tulleken
This was a fantastic listen. I cannot claim to be able to read a book cover to cover anymore like I did as a child, but Audible has me covered. Not only was the research in this book backing how toxic this new food is for our health and the environment, it also highlights that we have the ability to know what we need in terms of nutrients.
A fantastic chapter talked about how toddlers, like animals, can know inherently what foods they need for a balanced diet and when given the opportunity to feed themselves from a varied choice of quality foods, can eat themselves out of any deficiency.
What I took from this book was a desire to avoid UPF (ultra-processed food) as much as possible and this has meant a few changes to the weekly shop. I now buy fresh bread rather than any plastic wrapped supermarket bread. I am much better at reading the small print and avoid emulsifiers as a rule. This may mean that I will chose a baked bean brand or mayonnaise brand that doesn’t have gums, stabilisers and emulsifiers in compared to a brand that does. I know I am still buying and eating some UPF, but it is slightly better than what I was blindly buying before.
Book 3: Glucose Revolution by Jesse Inchauspe
In October I signed up for Zoe. This was mainly motivated by me wanting to know if I had ‘good gut bacteria’ but also because Davina McCall was selling it and she looks so trim and happy so I clicked buy like the marketing companies wanted me to.
After a lot of money and no more discipline from me than normal – I hate tracking food and have never been able to stick to doing it – I found out that I had excellent gut bacteria (thank you Gut!) My blood fat responses weren’t too bad either but what surprised me was that my blood glucose levels were all over the place and nearly classed as ‘poor’. I had no idea why and because I didn’t track my foods properly whilst doing Zoe, I wasn’t really much wiser.
Roll on a few months and whilst on a course to help with women’s health, Glucose Revolution was recommended by the lecturer for any woman with PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome), but also for the rest of us to read too. The promise of flattening my glucose curves, reducing the oxidative stress that is linked with the peaks of a high blood glucose level and ageing, and to wake up feeling amazing was very enticing.
The book definitely delivers. Jesse writes simply, with a clear evidence base, and in a way that means you will remember your ‘hacks’. The ones I am now using daily are to start the day with a savoury breakfast, to eat my veggies first, to eat something sweet immediately after dinner rather than wait for a few hours and to put ‘clothes’ on my carbs. Every now and then I also have some apple cider vinegar before a calorific meal. Safe to say I am feeling better for it, less tired in the mornings and with less bloating. I think I am also the lightest I have been in a while without some kind of stressful life event so it’s a winner!
If you would like help with a painful condition that is stopping you being active or looking after yourself and your family, get in touch on Whatsapp 07706 483 797 or book in below.
Hannah Beard Family Osteopath 