October Challenge: Get Your Head In The Game

I often hear, "I know what to do, but I don't do it". The assumption is made that it is lack of motivation and self-discipline that prevents behavior change. I'd like to challenge this assumption.What if what's holding you back is biological? What if you could control your biology?If you could impact your body chemistry in a way that made it easier to maintain motivation, focus and concentration, would you do it?There is power in food.I attended two conferences in Chicago last month, Integrative Medicine in Mental Health and the International Celiac Disease Symposium. The conferences left me feeling inspired and empowered.At these conferences it was made clear that improvement in mental health and body function comes from building a strong nutritional base. A weak base will negatively impact your mental capacity. In the case of mental illness, a weak nutritional base will increase the use of and side effects of medications.Our brains are demanding.The need for a strong nutritional base applies to you if you have depression or anxiety, or if you have attention deficit disorder, a difficult time concentrating or a poor memory. Our brains are the most nutrient dense organs in our bodies. Our brains demand nutritious food!Because behavior is shaped by our thoughts, emotions and perceptions, you must feed your brain right in order to maintain mental energy to live life to its fullest.Be a good host.On the way to the hotel in Chicago, I shared a taxi with someone else that was on my flight. She commented, "Integrative Mental Health is such a different area than Celiac Disease". I smiled. Little did she know that they both involve the gut, and more specifically, the gut bacteria that we host, and therefore they are closely related.This month your goal is to Get Your Head In The Game, using food to do it! Stay tuned.Material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is general information that may not apply to you as an individual, and is not a substitute for personalized nutrition or health advice or healthcare. Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking medical care because of something you have read or accessed through this website.