Holistic Nutrition Diet

Holistic nutrition is the practice concerned with integrating body, mind and spirit in the field of nutrition. Creating a diet plan based upon a holistic point of view involves balancing these various aspects in a way that best serves the individual's nutrition needs. Age, gender, activity level, lifestyle and weight all affect the formation of a holistic diet plan to be most beneficial to the individual.

Food

Food is the main component of a holistic diet and should be balanced according to types, flavors and nutritional benefits. Organic foods and local foods are often chosen because they have not been genetically altered or sprayed with pesticides. This helps to keep unhealthy chemicals and hormones out of the body which can cause an imbalance. A variety of whole grains, colorful vegetables, lean protein sources and dairy products should be eaten daily.

Balance

A wide array of foods should be chosen when following a holistic diet plan. This means a variety of whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, wheat berries, teff and millet. Vegetables should be chosen based upon a rainbow of colors, most importantly dark green, orange, yellow and red. Explore new flavor combinations when cooking meals to highlight fresh produce, whole grains and lean proteins. Beans, nuts and seeds should account for part of the overall protein while red meat should be kept to a minimum.

Digestion

Good digestion is an integral part of a holistic diet plan. This means getting enough healthy probiotics from sources such as yogurt and miso to facilitate productive bacteria in the digestive tract. Getting enough fiber is also crucial to healthy digestion, which is found in whole grains, whole fruits and vegetables. The human body digests whole foods better than foods that have been processed, so remember this when creating a holistic diet plan.

Personalization

Holistic nutrition specialists believe that every person is unique and should have a diet created based upon their individual needs. Meeting with a holistic nutrition consultant is useful as she will ask numerous questions and tailor a diet plan specifically for the individual. A physician could also help come up with a holistic diet plan based upon individual needs if a holistic nutritional consultant is not available.