Welcome to the fifth installment in my blog series, Living Well with Lee. Here, I talk about my journey living with chronic conditions — while still living my best life.
I believe that we all have more power over our conditions than ever before. I believe in taking control of my health and making the most out of each and every day. And I love sharing thoughts, tips, and tricks with people like you.
Everything’s connected. It’s one of those things you hear early in life, but don’t really understand until later. And then, later, it takes on even more meaning.
Nutrition is a great example. I would talk about my diet with doctors at an annual checkup. I’d hear, eat more vegetables. Eat less salt. The usual stuff.
But, I never made the connection between what I ate and how I felt. As I learn more about my chronic conditions, I’m starting to see more and more of the relationship between my diet and my health.
Food affects your body. But that’s just the beginning. According to Dr. Eva Selhub, of Harvard Health, “What you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood.”
It turns out that 95% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut. Serotonin, a “neurotransmitter” that regulates everything from mood to sleep to appetite, is key to having a well-functioning body. If your gastrointestinal health is compromised, it’s going to have a ripple effect.Yogurt, plants, nuts, and seeds: foods that promote gut health aren’t the foods I crave. But I’m starting to understand that my staples (chips, cookies, soda) may be playing a role in my chronic conditions.
Selhub writes, “Diets high in refined sugars … are harmful to the brain. In addition to worsening your body’s regulation of insulin, they also promote inflammation and oxidative stress. Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function — and even a worsening of symptoms of mood disorders, such as depression.”Change your diet and you notice it, too.
Taking Control of My Food Choices – and My Body
Since learning about the connection between my diet and my health, I’ve been trying to make better food choices. It’s not always easy, but the BlueStar®* app helps. There are a number of food-related features that help me work toward my health goals.
A few features that I love? The Food Diary lets me record whatever I eat. If I’m feeling lazy, I take a picture and the Food Recognition Software makes sense of what’s on my plate.
If I go out to eat, I always consult the Restaurant Helper. Even if I don’t find the exact menu, I can get a sense of how to navigate, say, an all-you-can-eat buffet.
I’ve even begun making my grocery lists in the app – and placing my orders online in the app. The less time I spend in the store, the fewer boxes of cookies that “accidentally” end up in my cart.
Being aware of the connection between what I eat and how I feel has helped me make better food choices. And meal by meal, and day by day, those choices have changed my life.Yogurt, plants, nuts, and seeds: foods that promote gut health aren’t the foods I crave. But I’m starting to understand that my staples (chips, cookies, soda) may be playing a role in my chronic conditions.
Selhub writes, “Diets high in refined sugars … are harmful to the brain. In addition to worsening your body’s regulation of insulin, they also promote inflammation and oxidative stress. Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function — and even a worsening of symptoms of mood disorders, such as depression.”