4 Challenges Faced When Trying New Nutrition Trends and How to Overcome Them
Embarking on new nutrition trends can be a daunting journey, fraught with unique challenges and uncertainties. This article demystifies the process, offering pragmatic solutions and expert insights tailored to individual dietary needs. With guidance on mastering gluten-free living, embracing high-fiber diets, and understanding plant-based benefits, readers gain a toolkit for nutritious success.
- Tailor Nutrition Trends to Individual Needs
- Master the Gluten-Free Lifestyle
- Ease Into High-Fiber Diets
- Educate Clients on Plant-Based Benefits
Tailor Nutrition Trends to Individual Needs
One unexpected challenge I faced when exploring intermittent fasting was adapting it to suit the needs of active individuals recovering from injury. While the trend boasts benefits like improved metabolism and better energy levels, I quickly noticed it wasn't a one size fits all solution, particularly for patients who needed consistent nutrient intake to support tissue repair and recovery. For example, a client undergoing post-surgery rehabilitation tried intermittent fasting, but the prolonged fasting periods left them feeling fatigued and slowed their progress in physical therapy. This experience highlighted the importance of tailoring nutritional trends to individual health goals and physical demands.
Drawing on my 30 years of experience in physical therapy and my integrated approach to health, I collaborated with our in-house nutritionist at The Alignment Studio to create a modified plan. Together, we adjusted the client's eating window to ensure their nutritional intake aligned with the most active parts of their day and their rehabilitation schedule. This included incorporating high protein meals after physical therapy sessions to aid muscle repair while still respecting the principles of intermittent fasting. The result was a noticeable improvement in the client's energy, recovery rate, and overall well being. This situation reinforced the value of combining expertise across disciplines to provide personalized care and achieve positive outcomes.
Master the Gluten-Free Lifestyle
As a wellness consultant at our 3 med spas, I'm notorious for trying various "fad diets" just to see how they work out... and to be more knowledgeable about them when meeting with our weight loss clients.
One unexpected challenge I've personally faced when trying a new nutrition trend is trying to be 100% gluten-free. About two years ago, I decided to try a gluten-free lifestyle to find out whether it could help alleviate my chronic bloating and inflammation. Some of the hiccups I encountered included:
- Finding a GF bread that isn't too dense in consistency
- Searching for establishments that offer GF options like pastas, breads, desserts, etc.
- Ordering items from restaurants that are completely free of gluten (the breading on mozzarella sticks or the breading on fish & chips are generally not GF)
- Watching my carb intake while eating GF (because after all, gluten-free does NOT mean carb-free)
Fast forward to today-- I have a much better handle on the gluten-free lifestyle and have found a myriad of foods that can be enjoyed... mostly from home. It may not be the easiest nutrition trend in the world to adhere to but I feel so much better without the bloating and inflammation, so the gluten-free challenge is totally worth sticking to long-term!
Ease Into High-Fiber Diets
Good day,
This leads to one unexpected challenge I encountered when exploring a new nutrition trend: digestive upset when I shifted to a high-fiber, well-planned plant-based eating pattern. Although I had hoped for the rewards of better digestion and overall general health, I did not expect my initial bloating or stomach discomfort, which accompanied increasing fiber to such a large degree so quickly.
The way I got around this was by not just suddenly switching all my meals to fiber-rich ones. I upped my water intake, too, which helped my body get used to the extra fiber. On top of that, I emphasized adding fermented foods and probiotics to maintain gut health and help support digestion. As my body got used to it, the discomfort faded and I began to experience the benefits.
It has made me more mindful about adopting the latest trends, taking a slow approach to dietary shifts instead. It also affirmed the importance of listening to my body and tweaking as needed rather than chasing a trend for trend's sake.
Educate Clients on Plant-Based Benefits
While promoting plant-based diets in my affiliate marketing strategy, I encountered skepticism from my existing customer base, who viewed these products as unsatisfying and unappealing. This resistance hindered the effectiveness of traditional marketing techniques like testimonials. To overcome this challenge, I focused on educating clients about the benefits and quality of plant-based options, highlighting their nutrition and taste to shift perceptions.
