Eating 4 Health – A Model for Success
As a former business analyst I took great care in choosing a
nutrition program best suited for my beliefs. I wanted a program that believed
whole foods lead to a healthier life, that the decisions we make today will affect
the health of generations to come. I looked for a flexible program, one that
could work with any personality, any body type. I looked for one that would
teach me for years to come. There was one perfect match - Dr. Bauman’s Eating
for Health model.
Nutritional needs are specific to each person and the
ability to use foods to find ones’ optimum health is a skill to cherish. The
Eating for Health model provides a logical guideline to find these foods. And
by following the model, from its herbal teas to booster foods, it becomes easy
to fit into a diet direction and to start challenging yourself with finding
your optimum health. Even a glass of water with a bit of lemon can give you a
quick shot of energy!
When I go shopping I think “OSNI” (Organic – Seasonal –
Nutrient Rich – Individualized). This simple acronym has made a world of
difference in my meal planning. It has taught me to take great advantage of our
local farmers markets and blessed be the Southern California valleys but we had
fresh local strawberries and asparagus all winter long.
The flexibility of the Eating for Health model allows it to
work for everyone. But it takes teamwork to bring optimum results. Open
communication with my clients will be vital for the success of this relationship
which will begin with a personal interview to assess current diet, habits, goals,
and motivators. Special attention to traits such as their constitution and
personality will be noted and tracked during the relationship.
Since one of the primary challenges will be to change an
existing habit or pattern, the process begins with an understanding of current
eating habits then a desire to change followed by a plan of action. This plan
will start with an education of what and how current eating habits relate to
how they are feeling. Where do they want to be? How do they want to feel? When
discussing diet directions I use my personal experiences with MS and the need
to monitor my daily intake or feel the consequences as an example of proof.
After evaluating current diet, daily pH tests will be
recommended. This easy test gives the client some instant gratification and
feeling of involvement. As an educational tool it becomes a good way to segue
into the need for diet directions especially as the client makes the connection
between their pH levels and their overall health.
As we discuss the diet directions and the client’s goals, we
will look at whether a cleansing, balancing or building direction is called for
(or a combination thereof). The plan will be based on the “build first, then
cleanse” theory. Continual feedback from the client is necessary in order to
keep the client in optimum health!
With any diet direction the meal plans will be design to
ease folks into the transition. Daily successes will lead to beneficial habits
in the long run.
Building Diet
Possibly the client is weak and needs a building or
anabolic diet. This is a protein dominant direction with a carb-protein-fat
break out range of: 20-40%, 30-40%, 30-40%. A client may be on a building diet
from 21-42 days.
After I lost 40 pounds due to my MS
and was looking much like a refugee camp victim, I was in great need for a
building diet. I instinctively went through a balancing-building-cleansing
phase but would have been much better off if I knew what I know now! But it
worked and I built up nice and strong.
Balancing Diet
Similar to what is recommended by our federal
government – a balancing diet provides a carb-protein-fat range of 40-50%,
20-25%, 20-25%, thus providing a regime that can be given for any duration
though a typical range may be 14-21 days. This is a good diet direction to
start with as it familiarizes folks with serving sizes, quantities and the
Eating for Health model. The client will be introduced to the importance of
new foods such as nuts & seeds and booster foods. Remember to check the
client’s pH levels while on a balancing diet. How is their body reacting? How
are their moods and energy levels? Take notes and adjust accordingly.
Cleansing Diet
With the majority of the diet based on quality,
complex carbohydrates, this direction needs to be monitored closely – is the
client feeling spacey? Tired? A cleansing diet may be just three days or as
long as two weeks. Adjust the direction accordingly – go back to a balancing
diet for three days, has the behavior changed? The common carb-protein-fat
range is 60-70%, 15-20%, 15-20%. This is a good direction for someone who has a
high acidic pH range. Cleanse and cool the system for a few days and go back
to balancing. Check the pH levels – have they evened out? (Remember – always
build before cleansing!).
Dr. Bauman suggests a test to see how a body reacts to a
given diet direction with 3 days each of building, balancing, cleansing,
balancing, building. This is a good measuring tool for future recommendations.
Here are some other tips on how to use diet directions effectively:
i.
determine tolerance levels for new foods –add 1 new food per week
ii.
be realistic about taste preference and convenience
iii.
communicate with client and adjust plan accordingly
iv.
provide tools – Eating for Health chart, Daily record (p. 422), etc
v.
develop motivators such as goals, diet evaluation (what works best
w/client’s personality)
vi.
discuss direction to match client’s needs
vii.
develop goals and time lines
viii.
prep the kitchen – shop, prep, package ahead for convenience
Eating for Health will be an on-going educational process
for me and my clientele. From new foods to new recipes we will be exploring
the possibilities together, and that will be an adventure I’m ready for.
